El camino a Carlos II. Haro, Felipe IV y la restauración del gobierno personal en España = The Road to Carlos II. Haro, Felipe IV and the Restoration of Personal Government in Spain

La relacion entre Espana y Francia a partir de 1661 revistio un interes particular a causa de la confluencia de dos fenomenos: el fin de la hegemonia hispanica y la extincion del valimiento en ambas coronas. Esto ultimo dio paso al restablecimiento del gobierno personal, primero en Francia, en marzo de aquel ano, y luego en Espana, en noviembre. En el caso espanol, menos conocido que el frances, Felipe IV llevo a cabo esta restauracion no solo, ni principalmente, por la necesidad de emular a su sobrino Luis XIV, sino, recurriendo a la tradicion de su propia historia y dinastia, con el objetivo de incluir este modo de gobierno en el legado del futuro Carlos II, consciente de que la persistencia del valimiento en Espana con un rey nino haria inviable la Monarquia. Abstract The relationship between Spain and France from 1661 has a particular interest owing to the coincidence of two political phenomena: the end of the Hispanic hegemony and the abolition of the favouritism in both countries –and consequently the restauration of the personal rule, first in France, in March 1661, and then in Spain, in November. The Spanish case is less known but is very interesting. Philip IV decided to restore the absolute government not only to emulate his nephew Louis XIV, but above all to guide the future rule of his son, Crown Prince Charles, according to the historical tradition of the Habsburg dynasty. The ultimate goal of Philip IV was to avoid the weakening or even the disappearance of the Spanish Monarchy during the Royal minority of Charles II –a four-year-old child in 1665.