Aristocratic Power in the Spanish Monarchy: The Borromeo Brothers of Milan, 1620-1680

Aristocratic Power in the Spanish Monarchy challenges the myth of the Borromeo family of Milan as a rare example of paternalist aristocrats who withstood the temptations of self-enrichment during Spanish rule. The book reveals how the family sought to rationalize and conceal their controversial relationship with the patronage of the Spanish kings, reinventing themselves as paternalist courtiers committed to delivering good governance. It offers new perspectives on broader questions about aristocratic power in the seventeenth century and the reproduction of social inequality in our own times.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Borromeo family of Milan, renowned for their paternalistic aristocracy during the Spanish rule in Italy, has long been held as a rare example of resistance to the temptations of self-enrichment. However, Aristocratic Power in the Spanish Monarchy, the first comprehensive study of the family in the seventeenth century, challenges this myth and delves into the origins of this perception. Through extensive research in the previously inaccessible Borromeo private papers, the book provides a detailed account of the Borromeo family's increasing reliance on and dependence on the patronage of the Spanish kings.

At the heart of the analysis lies the family's efforts to rationalize and conceal their controversial relationship in the face of widespread opposition to their methods of gaining political power. As their self-seeking behavior came under scrutiny, the clients of successive minister-favorites reinvented themselves as paternalist courtiers dedicated to delivering good governance to the subject populations under their rule. This transformation offers valuable insights into broader questions about aristocratic power in the seventeenth century. By examining the case of three brothers from a representative noble family, the book sheds light on a significant shift in aristocratic power, revealing how dissimulation and subterfuge became essential tools for preserving social privilege in an era of unprecedented challenges to established power from below.

Drawing upon sociological and anthropological research on elite power, this captivating story from seventeenth-century Italy offers valuable perspectives on the reproduction of social inequality in our contemporary times. The Borromeo family's tale reminds us of the enduring dynamics of power and privilege, and the complexities involved in navigating the treacherous waters of political influence.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 240 x 162 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198872597