The reform of the Military Corporatism: the Duke of Montemar’s Political Action as War Ministry

This article examines the ephemeral War Ministry which had been held by the Duke of Montemar between 1737 and 1741. This experience is situated in the political context of the Bourbon’s Army since the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, which was dominated by powerful lobbies of “felipistas” veterans, particularly present in the Royal Guards. Hence, the War Ministry has been an attempt to centralize from above the different branches of the army. Despite being theoretically subordinate to the State Secretary of War, Montemar acted in a way that caused the hostility of the privileged army corps. It is what is studied through the conflict for the control of the “Real Brigada de Carabineros” and the reform of the recruitment of the foreign regiments