Spanish Road
Encyclopedia
The "Spanish Road" was a military supply/trade route used from 1567–1620, which stretched from Northern Italy to the Low Countries
. It crossed through relatively neutral territory, and was therefore Europe's most preferred military route. In the days of its use it was known in French as "le chemin des Espagnols".
Soldiers were able to march the 1000 km (621.4 mi) from Milan
to Flanders
an average of 23 km (14.3 mi) a day. Sea transport was much faster, able to cover about 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) a day, but was highly exposed to storms and enemy attacks. For large groups, overland communication was more reliable, allowing the Spanish to send over 123,000 men compared to only 17,600 by sea, between 1567 and 1620.
between the Spanish King Philip II
and the Dutch rebels in the Spanish-ruled Habsburg Netherlands
, culminating in the Eighty Years' War, symbolized the prominent European power struggle of the 16th century between Catholics and Protestants. In 1550, the wars had stretched Spain's finances thin. 1566 was known as the "Year of Hunger" or "Year of Wonders." When social, political and religious unrest culminated in the Compromise of Nobles
and the Beeldenstorm
, apparently endangering the government of Philip's Regent in Brussels
, Margaret of Parma
, Spanish troops under the Duke of Alba
were dispatched to restore order and punish the perceived insurrectionists. Those troops could at the time not be transported by sea and Philip was therefore forced to find a route to move troops from his garrisons in Spanish Italy
overland to his Netherlands domains, crossing neutral territory. The Spanish Road was surveyed and mapped out in 1566, and Alba used it in July, 1567.
in 1565, when he realized he was going to have to travel to the Netherlands, and wanted to use his own land and neutral territory. Merchants regularly used parts of the road between France and Italy to trade goods with neighboring countries. Despite this fact, it was fully mapped out by European militaries as going through lands ruled by Spain, the main ones being Franche-Comté
, Burgundy
, Luxembourg
, or allied as Lorraine
and Savoy
.
The layout of the Spanish Road was a large improvement over the previous system of moving troops through neutral territory. Maps used for Spanish expeditions had only the information that pertained directly to the military, excluding any other details. However, this forced the armies to use guides and scouts when they crossed unfamiliar terrain, since their extremely generalized maps could not guide them. Travelling along the road took an average of 12 miles a day, although, in 1577 Spanish veterans left the Netherlands and marched 15 miles a day because of the heat, and in 1578, they made the trip in 23 miles a day during the cold month of February.
that had no furniture and temporary crockery that was guarded, because the providers were scared their possessions would be vandalized, burned or stolen.
The Spanish Road was only used once or twice per year by the military, and the rest of the time by merchants. Because of this, military magazines were seen as unimportant by some countries. The military did, however, use a system of providing staples called etapés. This system was going to be put into place after the successful proposal of Don Cristóbal de Benavente to the Council of War in Madrid. Unfortunately, the Spanish King was not impressed, so Madrid did not support them. However, some "governor
s" did think the etapés were a good idea, so they set them up along the Spanish Road, using commissioners sent by Low countries
governor or by Milan
governor to work out pricing details, so that the providers were always paid for their services. The first type of etapés was permanent and found only in Savoy
. It consisted of a place where soldiers and other travelers had access to food and shelter when they passed through. The second type was in Franche-Comté
, Lorraine
and the Low Countries
, and was created only when arranged for in advance by a private contractor, who would work out the payments, shipments and quantities of food based on the type and schedule of each individual military excursion. This system made the use of the Spanish Road more practical.
. The route's large communications of people played an important role in the circulation of the disease, and affected civilians in many of the surrounding towns of the Spanish Road. In addition, the Spanish Road established permanent diplomatic agreements such as permanent embassies in Savoy
and the Swiss Cantons, which were under the supervision of the Spanish government in Lombardy.
The Spanish Road also helped fuel the religious conflicts of France. When the religious civil wars broke out in France, the Spanish and others used the Spanish Road to provide personnel and material support to the French Catholics in their fight against the Protestant pretender to the French throne, Henry of Navarre
.
(January 17, 1601) forced the Spanish Road to be reduced to a narrow valley and a bridge over the Rhône. This loss of territory made Spanish passage on the road dependent on the approval of France. The last Spanish and Italian army allowed to use the Spanish Road did so in 1620. Savoy's anti-Spanish Treaty in 1622 ended Spanish travel on the Spanish Road forever.
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. It crossed through relatively neutral territory, and was therefore Europe's most preferred military route. In the days of its use it was known in French as "le chemin des Espagnols".
Soldiers were able to march the 1000 km (621.4 mi) from Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
to Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
an average of 23 km (14.3 mi) a day. Sea transport was much faster, able to cover about 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) a day, but was highly exposed to storms and enemy attacks. For large groups, overland communication was more reliable, allowing the Spanish to send over 123,000 men compared to only 17,600 by sea, between 1567 and 1620.
Necessity
The conflictDutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
between the Spanish King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
and the Dutch rebels in the Spanish-ruled Habsburg Netherlands
Habsburg Netherlands
The Habsburg Netherlands was a geo-political entity covering the whole of the Low Countries from 1482 to 1556/1581 and solely the Southern Netherlands from 1581 to 1794...
, culminating in the Eighty Years' War, symbolized the prominent European power struggle of the 16th century between Catholics and Protestants. In 1550, the wars had stretched Spain's finances thin. 1566 was known as the "Year of Hunger" or "Year of Wonders." When social, political and religious unrest culminated in the Compromise of Nobles
Compromise of Nobles
The Compromise'of Nobles was a covenant of members of the lesser nobility in the Habsburg Netherlands who came together to submit a petition to the Regent Margaret of Parma on 5 April 1566, with the objective of obtaining a moderation of the placards against heresy in the Netherlands...
and the Beeldenstorm
Beeldenstorm
Beeldenstorm in Dutch, roughly translatable to "statue storm", or Bildersturm in German , also the Iconoclastic Fury, is a term used for outbreaks of destruction of religious images that occurred in Europe in the 16th century...
, apparently endangering the government of Philip's Regent in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Margaret of Parma
Margaret of Parma
Margaret, Duchess of Parma , Governor of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567 and from 1578 to 1582, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V and Johanna Maria van der Gheynst...
, Spanish troops under the Duke of Alba
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
were dispatched to restore order and punish the perceived insurrectionists. Those troops could at the time not be transported by sea and Philip was therefore forced to find a route to move troops from his garrisons in Spanish Italy
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
overland to his Netherlands domains, crossing neutral territory. The Spanish Road was surveyed and mapped out in 1566, and Alba used it in July, 1567.
Construction
To get to the Netherlands, the armies and travellers of the 16th century had to overcome many obstacles including extremely high mountain passes, large rivers, deep forests, and roadways filled with criminals. Therefore, it was necessary to find a route that would go around these barriers, for safer and easier travel, and the Spanish Road proved to be the answer. Contrary to its name, Spain was not the primary discoverer or user of the Spanish Road. Parts of it were devised by Philip IIPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
in 1565, when he realized he was going to have to travel to the Netherlands, and wanted to use his own land and neutral territory. Merchants regularly used parts of the road between France and Italy to trade goods with neighboring countries. Despite this fact, it was fully mapped out by European militaries as going through lands ruled by Spain, the main ones being Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, or allied as Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
and Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
.
The layout of the Spanish Road was a large improvement over the previous system of moving troops through neutral territory. Maps used for Spanish expeditions had only the information that pertained directly to the military, excluding any other details. However, this forced the armies to use guides and scouts when they crossed unfamiliar terrain, since their extremely generalized maps could not guide them. Travelling along the road took an average of 12 miles a day, although, in 1577 Spanish veterans left the Netherlands and marched 15 miles a day because of the heat, and in 1578, they made the trip in 23 miles a day during the cold month of February.
Utilization
For military purposes, the Spanish Road was first used by the Duke of Alba in 1567, and the last army passed through it in 1620. It was not only utilized by troops, but also traders, and both were in need of food and shelter to complete their journeys. Shelter was rarely given to those who traveled on the road, especially soldiers. Officers would sometimes be able to stay in a nearby town, but their armies had to sleep under bushes or flimsy huts that they would make themselves. Residents of towns along the "road" were rightfully fearful of the armies that passed through because they would often find themselves victims of a robbery if they offered up their generosity. In 1580, the officers of the passing Spanish "tercios" occupied a house in Franche-ComtéFranche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
that had no furniture and temporary crockery that was guarded, because the providers were scared their possessions would be vandalized, burned or stolen.
The Spanish Road was only used once or twice per year by the military, and the rest of the time by merchants. Because of this, military magazines were seen as unimportant by some countries. The military did, however, use a system of providing staples called etapés. This system was going to be put into place after the successful proposal of Don Cristóbal de Benavente to the Council of War in Madrid. Unfortunately, the Spanish King was not impressed, so Madrid did not support them. However, some "governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s" did think the etapés were a good idea, so they set them up along the Spanish Road, using commissioners sent by Low countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
governor or by Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
governor to work out pricing details, so that the providers were always paid for their services. The first type of etapés was permanent and found only in Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
. It consisted of a place where soldiers and other travelers had access to food and shelter when they passed through. The second type was in Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
and the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, and was created only when arranged for in advance by a private contractor, who would work out the payments, shipments and quantities of food based on the type and schedule of each individual military excursion. This system made the use of the Spanish Road more practical.
Effects
Along with the Spanish Road's speeding of military movements and being a convenient commercial route to the Netherlands, it had one other important affect. This was the Spanish Road's effect on the spread of the plague or Black DeathBlack Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
. The route's large communications of people played an important role in the circulation of the disease, and affected civilians in many of the surrounding towns of the Spanish Road. In addition, the Spanish Road established permanent diplomatic agreements such as permanent embassies in Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
and the Swiss Cantons, which were under the supervision of the Spanish government in Lombardy.
The Spanish Road also helped fuel the religious conflicts of France. When the religious civil wars broke out in France, the Spanish and others used the Spanish Road to provide personnel and material support to the French Catholics in their fight against the Protestant pretender to the French throne, Henry of Navarre
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
.
Fall
The Treaty of LyonTreaty of Lyon (1601)
The Treaty of Lyon was signed on January 17, 1601 between France, Spain, and Savoy. Based on the terms of the treaty, Henry IV of France relinquished Saluzzo to Savoy. In return, he acquired Bugey, Valromey, Gex, and Bresse. Eventually, the territory of Bresse was attached to the French military...
(January 17, 1601) forced the Spanish Road to be reduced to a narrow valley and a bridge over the Rhône. This loss of territory made Spanish passage on the road dependent on the approval of France. The last Spanish and Italian army allowed to use the Spanish Road did so in 1620. Savoy's anti-Spanish Treaty in 1622 ended Spanish travel on the Spanish Road forever.
Recorded expeditions
| Recorded expeditions between 1567 & 1593 | |||||
| Year | Chief | Soldiers | Start | Arrival | Days |
| 1567 | Alba | 10.000 | 20/06 | 15/08 | 56 |
| 1573 | Acuña | 5.000 | 04/05 | 15/06 | 42 |
| 1578 | Figueroa | 5.000 | 22/02 | 27/03 | 32 |
| 1578 | Serbelloni | 3.000 | 02/06 | 22/07 | 50 |
| 1582 | Paz | 6.000 | 21/06 | 30/07 | 40 |
| 1582 | Carduini | 5.000 | 24/07 | 27/08 | 34 |
| 1584 | Passi | 5.000 | 26/04 | 18/06 | 54 |
| 1585 | Bobadilla | 2.000 | 18/06 | 29/08 | 42 |
| 1587 | Zúñiga | 3.000 | 13/09 | 01/11 | 49 |
| 1587 | Queralt | 2.000 | 07/10 | 07/12 | 60 |
| 1591 | Toledo | 3.000 | 01/08 | 26/09 | 57 |
| 1593 | Mèxic | 3.000 | 02/11 | 31/12 | 60 |
See also
- Oñate treatyOñate treatyThe Oñate treaty or Onate agreement of 29 July 1617 was a secret treaty between the Austrian and Spanish branches of the House of Habsburg....
- Electoral Palatinate or County Palatine of the Rhine (German: Kurpfalz), a historic state of the Holy Roman Empire, including
- County Palatine of Lotharingia 915–1085
- County Palatine of the Rhine 1085–1356
- Rhineland-PalatinateRhineland-PalatinateRhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
(Rheinland-Pfalz), federal state in western Germany- Palatinate (region) (Pfalz or Rheinpfalz), in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Palatinate (wine region)Palatinate (wine region)Palatinate is a German wine-growing region in the area of Bad Dürkheim, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate. Before 1993, it was known as Rhine Palatinate . With under cultivation in 2008, the region is the second largest wine region in Germany after Rheinhessen...
, in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Upper PalatinateUpper PalatinateThe Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
(Oberpfalz), administrative region in Bavaria