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Royal Decree of 1762

Date
1762
Archive
Archive of the Promotion of National Work
Document type
Textual
Reference code
CAT-AFTN-0-2
Link to the archive
Description

The Royal Decree of 1762 is part of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), a global conflict in which Spain, allied with France, faced Great Britain. This decree obliged merchants to declare all the species coming from England, as a measure of economic and political control. It is part of the mercantilist and centralizing policies of the Bourbons, which sought to strengthen the monarchy’s control over trade and limit British influence. It also reflects enlightened despotism, where the king acted to promote the economic development and security of the State, while maintaining absolute power. This decree is an example of how foreign policy and war directly influenced the internal regulation and economic life of the country.