Who protects soldiers? Collective representation and the practice of protection in early modern spanish armies

Abstract

The precarious situation of officers and soldiers in Early Modern Spain, and the problems of meritocracy and venality, caused professional disaffection and loss of social prestige. This contribution raises the problem of collective representation of the military and the administrative solutions proposed. We focus on two of the many possible responses: the Habsburg institutionalized figure of the ‘Protector of Soldiers’, and the protection praxis by the Bourbon military inspectors. Conclusions confirm that the ‘Protector of Soldiers’ was an answer empty of legal content, while Bourbon inspectors faced a stiff opposition in their attempts to extend their jurisdiction all over the army. Limits to collective representation claimed by the military, on the one hand, and solutions offered by the institutions, on the other, allow us to advance in a political approach to social assistance, and the lack of resources to cover the healthcare needs and professional expectations of the military.