Sobre las armadas de Indias: La práctica del "beneficio" y la crisis de la Avería (1660-1700)

Abstract

This article aims at discovering the relationship between the crisis of the avería and the development of new models of funding for the armadas of Indies in 17th century. Through an analysis of general accounts of the "receptores" (receivers) in the General Archive of the Indies, especially the "relaciones juradas" (sworn testimonies), it is possible to determine that the Crown made money by selling offices in Spain and America, which was spent it to pay the armadas after the crisis of 1660.