The Portuguese Servants of the Prince of Esquilache, Viceroy of Peru, 1615-1621

Abstract

When the Prince of Esquilache became Viceroy of Peru, he brought four Portuguese servants as part of his large entourage. Although they were vassals of the same monarch, the Portuguese had the status of foreign-ers: they were among the people who were forbidden to t to the Indies and trade with them. However, they carried licenses for the trip and would later hold high positions within the Spanish-American administration. The purpose of this article is to give an account of the possibilities that these foreign individuals had to accede to the grace and favor of the viceroy, regardless of not possessing letters of naturalization. The article also analyzes the levels of the social ties and economic activities achieved by these confidants of the viceroy, and the extent to which the latter benefitted from their proximity to political power.

Keywords

• príncipe de esquilache: portugueses
• extranjeros
• criados
• siglo xvii
• vínculos sociales