• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

1700-1810 - Bourbon Chile

The Habsburg dynasty's rule over Spain ended in 1700. The Habsburgs' successors, the French Bourbon monarchs, reigned for the rest of the colonial period. In the second half of the eighteenth century, they tried to restructure the empire to improve its productivity and defense. The instructions sent by the court of Versailles to Marsin, the ambassador at Madrid, in 1701, contain the following observations: — "The rights of the crown of the Western "Indies have been sacrificed to the avarice of viceroys, governors, and "inferior officers." And again, — "The different councils of Madrid "are full of abuses, and that of the Indies particularly so. In it, so far from punishing malversations, the guilty are supported in proportion to their bribes. The excesses of the viceroys and other officers " remain unpunished. This impunity, and the immense property "which they bring back, encourage their successors to follow the same "example. On the contrary, if any one, from a principle of honor, pursues a different course, his disinterestedness is punished by a shameful poverty. If he is a subaltern, the reproach which his conduct draws on his superiors, or the attention he bestows to throw light on theirs, exposes him to hatred. He soon feels the effects, in the loss of his employments; for truth never reaches the king of Spain; distance gives facilities for disguising it, and timely presents can always obscure it."

Meanwhile, the ambitious and enterprising court of Louis XIV had turned its views to the advantages to be derived from a colony on the western coast of South America, or, at least, an exclusive right of commerce. Accordingly, having obtained the privilege of supplying Peru and Mexico with slaves, instead of the Dutch, the French ships began to trade thither; and, as opportunity occurred, men of science in different branches were sent to observe and report on the state of the country. Father Feuille, who provided the best botanical account of Chile, where he resided for three years, was one of these; and Frezier, whose "Voyage to the South Sea" can never be sufficiently commended for its accuracy, was another. But the consequences of this French commerce, as exclusive as that of the Spaniards themselves, were far from beneficial to Spain or the colonies. The French traders were formed into two companies, which interfered with the rights of the Spanish merchants, and excluded all others.

In 1709 the following remarkable passage was transmitted by the French minister, Amelot, from Madrid, in the memorial on the state of Spain: — " The riches of Peru and Mexico, those inexhaustible sources of wealth, are almost lost to Spain. Not only are complaints made against the French merchants for ruining the trade of Cadiz and Seville, in spite of the regulations of the French court against those who infringe the established rules; but the enormous abuses of the administration of the viceroys continue in full force. Avarice and pillage are unpunished; fortresses and garrisons are neglected; all things seem to portend a fatal revolution." At this period the viceroys were recalled; and an attempt was made to restrain the enormous profits arising from their offices. Chile was then under the viceroyalty of Peru, and the captains-general often, if not always, nominated by the viceroys; so that the same system of extortion went on, in order to furnish means for the same system of bribery, in a subordinate degree, at the vice-court of Lima, as pervaded the council of the Indies at Madrid.

The feeble monarchs of the house of Bourbon in Spain were too much harassed by their continual domestic struggles with their people, who never heartily loved or respected the French dynasty, and by the share they took in all European wars, and in that between England and her North American colonies, to have either leisure or power to ameliorate the condition of the western kingdoms. Indeed after the provincial edicts of 1718, drawn up with ability, and well adapted to the circumstances of the country, it does not appear that any considerable effort was made in Europe in favor of the colonists.

The main period of Bourbon reforms in Chile lasted from the coronation of Charles III (1759-88) in Spain to the end of Governor Ambrosio O'Higgins y Ballenary's tenure in Chile (1788-96). The Bourbon rulers gave the audiencia of Chile (Santiago) greater independence from the Viceroyalty of Peru. One of the most successful governors of the Bourbon era was the Irish-born O'Higgins, whose son Bernardo would lead the Chilean independence movement. Ambrosio O'Higgins promoted greater self-sufficiency of both economic production and public administration, and he enlarged and strengthened the military. In 1791 he also outlawed encomiendas and forced labor.

Ambrosio O'Higgins, an Irish soldier, who, having served in the Spanish armies, afterwards commanded the troops on the frontier of Chile, and having repulsed the Indians, who had once more begun to threaten the tranquillity of that state, he put many of the frontier towns and forts in a state of proper defence, discovered the ruins of Osorno, which he rebuilt, and made an excellent road from Valdivia to that city, thereby facilitating the intercourse with Chiloe. These services were rewarded with the title of Marquis of Osorno, and the office of captain-general of Chile. He continued his beneficent and splendid works on his removal to the capital. He built bridges, he formed the present road by the Cumbre pass across the Andes from Santiago to Mendoza, on which he caused rest-houses to be built for the accommodation of travellers, and he caused the broad carriage-road from Valparaiso to the capital to be constructed in such a manner, that, though it has not since been repaired, it has resisted the rains and earthquakes so often destructive in Chile.

On his removal to Lima, as viceroy of Peru, the same disinterestedness as to private fortune, the same regard to public utility, continued to distinguish his character. To him the Limanians are indebted for the fine road between their city and the port of Callao, and for other works of usefulness and ornament. His justice and beneficence, during his administration, are still remembered with gratitude, both in Chile and Peru; and his death, in 1799 or 1800, when he left his family far from rich, was most sincerely regretted.

The Bourbons allowed Chile to trade more freely with other colonies, as well as with independent states. Exchange increased with Argentina after it became the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776. Ships from the United States and Europe were engaging in direct commerce with Chile by the end of the eighteenth century. However, the total volume of Chilean trade remained small because the colony produced few items of high unit value to outsiders.

Freer trade brought with it greater knowledge of politics abroad, especially the spread of liberalism in Europe and the creation of the United States. Although a few members of the Chilean elite flirted with ideals of the Enlightenment, most of them held fast to the traditional ideology of the Spanish crown and its partner, the Roman Catholic Church. Notions of democracy and independence, let alone Protestantism, never reached the vast majority of mestizos and native Americans, who remained illiterate and subordinate.