Francisco Frutos del Río: a model case of political and social promotion by means of the “Mesta” and transhumant sheepbreeding during the seventeenth century

[EN] Contribution to the study of the social and economic profile of the transhumant sheepbreeders in the Crown of Castile during the Modern Age, illustrated by the detailed reconstruction of the vital trajectory of a single individual. He was born in the North-East Castilian town of Ágreda, within a modest middle-class family, and when he was still very young migrated to Madrid at the beginning of the seventeenth century, to work there as a public notary. He carried out an intense activity within the institution of the “Mesta” (Guild of breeders of transhumant sheep), and made huge inversions in the purchase of transhumant sheep flocks. This way he became one of the main sheepowners and producers of wool of the highest quality in Castile. At the same time he succeeded in his social and political promotion, because he attained the noble status and became alderman in the city of Segovia[ES] Contribución al estudio del perfil socioeconómico de los propietarios de ganado trashumante en la Castilla de la Edad Moderna, mediante la reconstrucción en detalle de la trayectoria de un único individuo. Nacido en la villa soriana de Ágreda, en el seno de una familia pechera de mediana posición, emigró muy joven a Madrid a principios del siglo XVII para ejercer allí como escribano. Desarrolló después una notable actividad en el seno de la Mesta, a la vez que realizaba grandes inversiones en la compra de ganados trashumantes. De este modo llegó a convertirse en uno de los mayores propietarios y productores de lana de la máxima calidad en toda Castilla, y logró al mismo tiempo ascender en los planos político y social, al ser reconocido como hidalgo y conseguir un oficio de regidor en SegoviaPeer reviewe