Jean Orry
Encyclopedia
Jean Orry was a French economist whose broad financial and governmental reforms in early 18th-century Bourbon Spain helped to further the implementation of centralized and uniform administration in that country.
Jean Orry's career as a munitioneer for the army of Italy between 1690 and 1698, demonstrated his capacities.
Louis XIV of France
, whose grandson had just succeeded to the Spanish throne as Philip V
(November 1700), sent Orry to Spain in 1701 to report on the finances of that kingdom, at the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession
(1701–14). Orry, working on information gathered during several residences at Madrid, drew up detailed memoranda advising not only the centralization of financial administration but also recommending a thoroughgoing reform of the basic governmental system on the French model; in Orry's proposals, political power would be transferred from the royal councils, dominated by nobles with strong vested interests, to a number of ministers, similar to the French secretaries of state, who would be loyal to the crown, from which all their authority would originate.
Under pressure because of the war, Philip first put Orry in charge of Spain's military finance. He reorganized and increased tax collection and devised various expedients to pay for troops and provisions for the war. He also instituted proceedings to recover stolen or alienated royal property. Shortly after May 1705 a position of secretary of war and finance was created, an initial step in Orry's reform program.
Except for the interval when Orry was recalled to France in the summer of 1706 and did not return to Spain until April 1713, he joined the royal favourite
, the self-styled Princesse des Ursins
, who had arrived in 1701 as Camarera mayor de Palacio
to the young queen, as the de facto rulers of Spain. Orry continued his efforts to bring financial administration more fully under the control of the central government. He also packed the royal councils with his candidates, who would support his policies with their votes; he created four new secretaries of state who reported to him. Towards the end, by a royal decree composed by Orry (23 December 1713), traditional local governments (the Cortes
) were centralized by the division of Spain into twenty-one provinces. The Consejos Territoriales were superseded by an intendant
directly responsible to Orry. Some of the local councils, such as the Council of Castile
retained influence through less direct channels.
Before his reforms could be fully implemented, however, Orry— who was inextricably connected with the disgraced French favourite— was dismissed through pressures brought to bear by the Parmesan contingent round the new queen, Elisabetta Farnese, and Giulio Alberoni
, who within not much more than a year of his arrival was made a duke and grandee of Spain, and now became a member of the king's council and would soon be made cardinal by Pope Clement XI
, under pressure from the court of Spain (July 1717); Orry was ordered from Spain (7 February 1715). The King signed the Decreto de Nueva Planta later that year, revoking most of the historical rights and privileges of the different kingdoms that conformed the Spanish Crown, unifying them under the laws of Castile, where the Cortes
regained some of its power.
Though certain of Orry's reforms did not survive his departure, Giulio Alberoni
, the cardinal who succeeded him in power, continued the main lines of his financial reorganization and his repression of the power of the royal councils in favour of a bureaucracy wholly dependent upon the central power. Orry's creation of secretaries of state and intendants continued as a significant element in Spanish governmental administration.
Jean Orry's career as a munitioneer for the army of Italy between 1690 and 1698, demonstrated his capacities.
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, whose grandson had just succeeded to the Spanish throne as Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
(November 1700), sent Orry to Spain in 1701 to report on the finances of that kingdom, at the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
(1701–14). Orry, working on information gathered during several residences at Madrid, drew up detailed memoranda advising not only the centralization of financial administration but also recommending a thoroughgoing reform of the basic governmental system on the French model; in Orry's proposals, political power would be transferred from the royal councils, dominated by nobles with strong vested interests, to a number of ministers, similar to the French secretaries of state, who would be loyal to the crown, from which all their authority would originate.
Under pressure because of the war, Philip first put Orry in charge of Spain's military finance. He reorganized and increased tax collection and devised various expedients to pay for troops and provisions for the war. He also instituted proceedings to recover stolen or alienated royal property. Shortly after May 1705 a position of secretary of war and finance was created, an initial step in Orry's reform program.
Except for the interval when Orry was recalled to France in the summer of 1706 and did not return to Spain until April 1713, he joined the royal favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
, the self-styled Princesse des Ursins
Marie-Anne de la Trémoille, princesse des Ursins
Marie Anne de La Trémoille, princesse des Ursins , lady of the Spanish court, was the daughter of the duc de Noirmoutier and his wife Renée Julie Aubri...
, who had arrived in 1701 as Camarera mayor de Palacio
Camarera mayor de Palacio
The Camarera mayor de Palacio was the Official of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain, who was in charge of the person and the rooms of the Queen of Spain....
to the young queen, as the de facto rulers of Spain. Orry continued his efforts to bring financial administration more fully under the control of the central government. He also packed the royal councils with his candidates, who would support his policies with their votes; he created four new secretaries of state who reported to him. Towards the end, by a royal decree composed by Orry (23 December 1713), traditional local governments (the Cortes
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
) were centralized by the division of Spain into twenty-one provinces. The Consejos Territoriales were superseded by an intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
directly responsible to Orry. Some of the local councils, such as the Council of Castile
Council of Castile
The Council of Castile , known earlier as the Royal Council , was a ruling body and key part of the domestic government of the Crown of Castile, second only to the monarch himself. It was established under Queen Isabella I in 1480 as the chief body dealing with administrative and judicial matters...
retained influence through less direct channels.
Before his reforms could be fully implemented, however, Orry— who was inextricably connected with the disgraced French favourite— was dismissed through pressures brought to bear by the Parmesan contingent round the new queen, Elisabetta Farnese, and Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni was an Italian cardinal andstatesman in the service of Philip V of Spain.-Early years:He was born near Piacenza, probably at the village of Fiorenzuola d'Arda in the Duchy of Parma....
, who within not much more than a year of his arrival was made a duke and grandee of Spain, and now became a member of the king's council and would soon be made cardinal by Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI , born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death in 1721.-Early life:...
, under pressure from the court of Spain (July 1717); Orry was ordered from Spain (7 February 1715). The King signed the Decreto de Nueva Planta later that year, revoking most of the historical rights and privileges of the different kingdoms that conformed the Spanish Crown, unifying them under the laws of Castile, where the Cortes
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
regained some of its power.
Though certain of Orry's reforms did not survive his departure, Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni was an Italian cardinal andstatesman in the service of Philip V of Spain.-Early years:He was born near Piacenza, probably at the village of Fiorenzuola d'Arda in the Duchy of Parma....
, the cardinal who succeeded him in power, continued the main lines of his financial reorganization and his repression of the power of the royal councils in favour of a bureaucracy wholly dependent upon the central power. Orry's creation of secretaries of state and intendants continued as a significant element in Spanish governmental administration.
Further reading
- Anne Dubet, 2006. Jean Orry et la réforme du gouvernement de l'Espagne (1701-1706) (Clermont-Ferrand)