Greed to be their vassals: Letters of genoese Rolando Levanto to Cúllar´s council about the sale of their jurisdiction, “alcabalas” and “tercias” (1628-1629)

Abstract

It is published four letters between genovese Rolando Levanto and Cullar´s council about the sale of jurisdiction, “alcabalas” and “tercias” from his Majesty´s and the offer of Cúllar to be duke of Alba´s vassals. Those letters supposes an interesting documentary cast that it seen complex negotiations carried on by councils –that is to say new oligarchies that control them raised after repopulation - and ligurian agents in massive sales of jurisdictions at the beginning of king Felipe IV´s reign. Some towns´ jurisdiction passed from the Crown to lordships with great difficulties to realize financial transactions because of revolution of prices, inflation and “premio de la plata”.