Liberty in Absolutist Spain: The Habsburg Sale of Towns, 1516-1700. 1, 108th Series, 1990 / Edition 1

by Helen Nader

Overview

Throughout early modern Europe, one of the most extraordinary royal fund-raising schemes was the seizure and sale of church property to finance foreign wars. The monarchs of Habsburg Spain extended these seizures to municipal property and used the revenue to maintain their empire. They sold charters of autonomy to hundreds of villages, thus converting them into towns, and sold towns to private buyers, thus increasing the number of seigniorial lords. In Hapsburg Spain, therefore, absolutism did not mean centralization. Rather, the kings invoked their absolute power to decentralize authority and allow their subjects a surprising degree of autonomy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801847318
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	08/01/1993
Series:	The Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science , #108
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Helen Nader is professor of history and associate dean of research and graduate development at Indiana University. She is the author of The Mendoza Family in the Spanish Renaissance, 1350-1550.

Editorial Reviews

A masterpiece of the historian's craft . . . This work will stand as a landmark in the historiography of early modern Spain.
—American Historical Review

With this parhbreaking book Nader has substantially advanced our knowledge of how early modern Castilian society was organized. In refutation of the conventional wisdom about rural stagnation and absolutist oppression, her research reveals a dynamic, prosperous, politically decentralized society composed of self-governing municipalities . . . [A] magnificent achievement.
—Journal of Interdisciplinary History

One of the best-documented reassessments of Castilian history in recent years . . . Nader's rich and suggestive book opens up a problem which most historians of Spain have shirked.
—English Historical Review

The most stimulating work on Spanish cities to have been published in years.
—Journal of Modern History

From the Publisher

One of the best-documented reassessments of Castilian history in recent years . . . Nader's rich and suggestive book opens up a problem which most historians of Spain have shirked.

English Historical Review

A masterpiece of the historian's craft . . . This work will stand as a landmark in the historiography of early modern Spain.

American Historical Review

The most stimulating work on Spanish cities to have been published in years.

Journal of Modern History

With this parhbreaking book Nader has substantially advanced our knowledge of how early modern Castilian society was organized. In refutation of the conventional wisdom about rural stagnation and absolutist oppression, her research reveals a dynamic, prosperous, politically decentralized society composed of self-governing municipalities . . . [A] magnificent achievement.

Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Analyzes the brilliant Habsburg stroke of selling charters of autonomy to villages, thus converting them into towns, and selling the towns to private buyers--thus bestowing administrative autonomy upon the towns while gaining money to finance imperial pursuits. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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