Arbitrios frente a la crisis y oposición municipal. El Consejo General de Valencia ante la coyuntura financiera de 1610-1612
Resumen
A su ya crónico déficit financiero la Ciudad de Valencia sumó desde 1610 los efectos derivados de las acuñaciones clandestinas de menuts falsos por los moriscos, las dificultades de abastecimiento de cereal y la falta de numerario, factores que la condujeron a una profunda agudización de la crisis. Para afrontarla, la junta de expertos nombrada al efecto propuso, entre otros arbitrios, la aplicación de nuevas sisas. Esta medida, impuesta finalmente por Felipe III, provocó una fuerte oposición en el Consejo General, algunos de cuyos miembros en un evidente intento de impedir la imposición de los gravámenes exigidos por el rey- se esforzaron en elaborar memoriales que ofrecían soluciones diferentes y quizá poco originales pero, sin duda, exponentes de lo que podría ser el arbitrismo valenciano del momento. No obstante, la reacción del monarca, severa y amenazadora respecto a la exigencia del estricto cumplimiento de sus órdenes, consiguió, después de varios meses, romper la resistencia del Consejo General a acatar sus mandatos.
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PALABRAS CLAVE: Valencia, crisis financiera, arbitrios, monarca, oposición, Consejo General.
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Adding to its chronic budget deficit, the City of Valencia also experienced from 1610 the effects of the forged coinage of menuts by the Moorish minority, a grain supply shortage and the lack of cash flow; factors which caused the economic crisis to worsen. A Council of Experts was set up with the aim of tackling the crisis. One of the proposals put forward was to raise a number of taxes, particularly the sisa, a tax related to the movement and transport of goods. This measure would be finally implemented by Philip III, but the General Council was adamantly opposed to it. Their intention to stop the new royal taxes was evident. Indeed, some of the Councils members worked very hard drafting up economic reports that pointed out many other alternatives, but perhaps these were short of originality in the majority of cases. The proposals could be regarded as clear examples of the Valencian application of the Castilian arbitrism political doctrine at the time. Eventually, the monarchs reaction was severe and menacing, demanding his orders must be strictly followed and after a few months, the General Councils resistance was broken.
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KEY WORDS: Valencia, financial crisis, taxes, arbitrism, monarch, opposition, General Council
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PALABRAS CLAVE: Valencia, crisis financiera, arbitrios, monarca, oposición, Consejo General.
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Adding to its chronic budget deficit, the City of Valencia also experienced from 1610 the effects of the forged coinage of menuts by the Moorish minority, a grain supply shortage and the lack of cash flow; factors which caused the economic crisis to worsen. A Council of Experts was set up with the aim of tackling the crisis. One of the proposals put forward was to raise a number of taxes, particularly the sisa, a tax related to the movement and transport of goods. This measure would be finally implemented by Philip III, but the General Council was adamantly opposed to it. Their intention to stop the new royal taxes was evident. Indeed, some of the Councils members worked very hard drafting up economic reports that pointed out many other alternatives, but perhaps these were short of originality in the majority of cases. The proposals could be regarded as clear examples of the Valencian application of the Castilian arbitrism political doctrine at the time. Eventually, the monarchs reaction was severe and menacing, demanding his orders must be strictly followed and after a few months, the General Councils resistance was broken.
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KEY WORDS: Valencia, financial crisis, taxes, arbitrism, monarch, opposition, General Council
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Palabras clave
Historia politico-económica
Revista semestral presente en:
Tiempos Modernos: Revista Electrónica de Historia Moderna
ISSN: 1699-7778