Monarchy, aristocracy, and recruitment in the 17th century. The formation of noble regiments during the ministry of Count Duke of Olivares (1632–1643)

From the early 1730s, and faced with the growing possibility of entering into conflict with France (which finally occurred in 1635), the Spanish monarchy (at the urging of the Count-Duke of Olivares) implemented a series of measures to confront this new threat. Many of these measures focused on the aristocracy, as they were the ones with the greatest means, and at the same time, their example would serve as an incentive for the rest of the population to willingly accept (or with the least possible resistance) the new sacrifices that would be required. One of these measures was to commission several of the main Castilian noble houses to form, recruit, and finance a military unit known as a regiment or colonelcy. Although this new requirement initially meant adding yet another obligation to already overburdened estates, the reality was very different, and the nobles who participated in this project did so under more than advantageous conditions, while receiving substantial and varied favors in exchange for their assistance.