Feeding Mars: the Policy of Military Supplies to the Spanish Army in the Eighteenth Century

Abstract

Any army is based on its relations with society and the underpinning political and organisational arrangements. Army victualling is an essential part of this relation otherwise the army would be incapable of operating. The sheer amount needed, moreover, sucks in a huge amount of economic and social resources. This article analyses how the Bourbon state went about its armyvictualling procedures, which methods it chose and the knock-on effects for the state itself and the country as a whole. We conclude that the Bourbon state turned to businessmen throughout the whole century because this option allowed it to maintain its authority and pursue mercantilist policies.