«Sacar la sustancia al reino». Comercio, contrabando y conversos portugueses, 1621-1640

Abstract

In this article, we see the important role that the Portuguese conversos played in the illegal trade that developed as a consequence of the commercial blockade politics deployed by the Spanish Monarchy, initially against the United Provinces and, later, over France and Portugal. The Portuguese business houses used the breaking of the truce with Holland in 1621 to become a channel for the development an important contraband trade. They had a commercial presence along the key points of the commercial routes from Amsterdam to Madrid and controlled some of the most important customhouses. Analysis of the routes, the people involved and the methods to develop this smuggling trade gives us a clearer view about the role of the Portuguese conversos. The attempts of the monarchy to break this traffic proved unsuccessful because of the venality of the royal officials, the predisposition to forgive the smugglers in return for a share of the profits, and the powerful demand for imports from northern Europe. The concession of licenses to import products from the enemy powers, and the subsequent abuses, entailed recognition of this failure. The participation in this contraband was essential for the enrichment of the business houses of the conversos that came from the northeast of Portugal and soon integrated in the business of rent farming. However, these activities generated intense opposition, blaming the Portuguese converso merchants of draining the kingdom to the benefit of its enemies.