This thesis examines the development and success of Spanish naval policy during the reign of Ferdinand VI focusing on the period from the end of the War of Austrian Succession in 1748 to Ferdinand’s death in 1759. During this time, more specifically during the premiership of the Marquis de la Ensenada which ended in 1754, the navy was made the object of a major expansion programme intended to improve its ability to enforce and defend Spanish interests within Europe and in the Americas. Ensenada aimed at expanding Spain’s navy by building ships and creating a solid supporting infrastructure for them. He sought to modernise the technology used in the Spanish navy through studying that of its rivals, while at the same time developing the domestic agricultures and industries that supplied it and encouraging service in it, whether at the arsenals or on ships, by offering good conditions and attractive pay. Although Ensenada achieved some success, his removal from power at an early stage prevented his project from reaching fruition. Furthermore, the cutbacks that followed his removal demonstrated the extent to which the Spanish Navy depended upon the support of a monarch or minister for political and financial backing since the idea that Spain needed a powerful navy was not necessarily high on the agenda at the Spanish Court. This was probably because the navy, though effective in carrying out routine operations such as the transport of Crown property or troops, had not had the kind of success nor demonstrated the kind of aggression necessary in defending Spanish interests at sea that would suggest a policy of reliance on it as a suitable political strategy.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:676932 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Scheybeler, Catherine Elisabeth Cecilia |
| Contributors | Philpott, William James ; James, Alan Mackenzie ; Lambert, Andrew David |
| Publisher | King's College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-study-of-spanish-naval-policy-during-the-reign-of-ferdinand-vi(8591a85e-edef-4749-a6de-80ed4d929229).html |
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