The virtues of the best friend: the construction of the ideal of Perfect "Privado" in 17th Century Spain

Abstract

The controversial character of the "privado" was the cause for innumerable controversies during the 17th century in the scope of the Hispanic Monarchy, mainly in the context of the reigns of Philip III and Philip IV. Various authors studied the subject in order to attack the figure of the favorite, but innumerable others have defended its legitimacy as devoted friends of the king to help him conduct the businesses of the Empire. Inherent to this phenomenon is the creation of the literary genre called mirror of "privança". This article intends to question the logic behind these positive constructions in the scope of the thought Spanish political thought of the 17th century.