Spanish Baroque literature

Spanish Baroque literature is the literature written in Spain during the Baroque, which occurred during the 17th century.

The literary Baroque took place in Spain in the middle of the Golden Age of Spanish Literature. Spain was governed in that period by Philip II, Philip III and Philip IV, the last reigning until 1665.

During the previous century, Spain had reached its greatest unity and territorial extension. Through inheritances, diplomatic conquests, agreements or royal marriages, Flanders, Germany, Hungary, Naples, Portugal and Sicily, as well as new and rich territories in the Americas, came under the sceptre of Charles V. Then, the "Philips" lost, one by one, all the European territories. This caused serious religious, political, internal and international problems.

During this century under the House of Austria Spain entered a period of progressive decay. As in the 16th century, the monarchs delegated their power to unpopular court favourites.

Philip III (1598–1621) inherited a great empire in bankruptcy, and the hostility of England and the Netherlands. The Duke of Lerma moved the court to Valladolid in 1600; six years later it returned to Madrid. He signed a truce with England in 1604, and later with the Netherlands (1609–1621). He expelled the moriscos from the Peninsula (1609), a decision which impoverished agriculture and commerce in the country.

The Duke of Uceda succeeded the Duke of Lerma. Spain then took part in the Thirty Years' War. The nobility increased their power, while the economy stagnated and copper coinage started to replace gold and silver.

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