Guerra, venalidad y asientos de soldados en el siglo XVIII

Abstract

During the XVIII century, every time the Hispanic monarchy was in need of new military units for war, they resorted to the private levy system, since this was the most effective, fastest and cheapest system to provide the king with soldiers. The compensation always consisted in the granting of blank patents to the army contractors or troop raisers for them to appoint military positions to those who provided a certain amount of money or its equivalent in recruited men. This study analyzes the historical evolution of contracts for the raising of armies, revises the concept of contract to grant it a meaning wider than the one given by historiography to date, analyzes the different types of contracts according to the size of the armies to be raised, studies the chronology of contracts throughout the entire century and, lastly, presents a model of troop raising to illustrate the two key elements that converged in those who ventured to raise new military units: wealth and previous experience. Finally, this survey addresses the study of the venality of military positions which entailed the raising of troops. © Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca.