Sicilia, el "impuesto del millon" y el fin de la tregua de los doce años (1618-1621)

Abstract

The last years of the reign of Philip III and the beginning of that of Philip IV were characterized by an expansion of the fronts of conflict: from the Mediterranean, to the north- ern part of the Italian peninsula, the heart of Europe. The military engagement, especially on imperial territory and Flanders (since 1621), demanded an increase in the tax burden in all domains of the Monarchy. In Sicily, to encounter the demands of “socorros” from Madrid, it became necessary to revise and streamline the entire administrative apparatus / tax and iden- tify new taxations forms. This study aims to offer a reflection on the measures taken between 1618 and 1621 in order to rearrange the writing accounting of the Kingdom, and the analyses of the expedients agreed by the Viceroy, the Tribunale del Real Patrimonio and Council of State and Council of Italy, in order to meet the demand of one million scudi in support of the troops engaged in the Thirty Years’ War.