Origin of Name :-
The name refers to a pear-shaped, white pearl of
excellent orient, with a weight of not less than 126 carats (504
grains), originating in the New World, and reputed to be the largest
pearl in Europe in the early 17th-century, brought to Spain in 1620 from
the West Indies by Spanish merchant Francois Gogibus, a native of
Calais, who sold it to Philip IV of Spain. Thus the name of the pearl
reflects the name of the original owner of the pearl, who
purchased it in one of the islands of the West Indies, when he
joined one of several fleets of Spanish ships that sailed to the New
World, after Christopher Columbus discovered pearls for the first time
in Venezuela, during his third voyage in 1498.
Characteristics of
the Gogibus Pearl
The weight of the
pearl
The Gogibus Pearl is a pear-shaped pearl which
according to G. F. Kunz weighed no less than 126 carats (504 grains).
Thus, the exact weight of the Gogibus Pearl is not known. The minimum
range of the pearl's weight is given, but not the maximum range. Thus, a
pear-shaped, white, saltwater pearl with an excellent luster and orient
believed to be of 17th-century origin, and weighing approximately 143
carats, that appeared recently in the website of Paul Fraser
Collectibles, and has been offered for sale might well be the long-lost
Gogibus Pearl, as claimed in the website.
The shape of the
pearl
The shape of the pearl is pear-shaped according to
Kunz's account in the "Book of the Pearl." GIA classifies
pearls into three basic shapes :- 1) Spherical 2) Symmetrical and
3) Baroque. Pear-shape comes under the category of symmetrical pearls.
These are pearls having a single line of symmetry through which the
pearl can be divided into two equal halves. Other shapes that come under
symmetrical are oval shape, drop shape and button shape. Being
pear-shaped one end of the pearl is broader and the other end narrower.
The maximum height and width of a pear-shaped pearl, are two of the
dimensions that commonly denote its size. But, these dimensions are not
known.
The color and
overtones of the pearl
The color of the pearl is white, the most
sought-after color in saltwater pearls. The source of saltwater pearls
in the Caribbean, is the Atlantic pearl oyster species Pinctada
imbricata, which produces three main color grades of pearls - white,
yellow and pink. The white color of the pearl is associated with the
lack of color-causing pigments, that usually combine with the protein
part of nacre, conchiolin. In the absence of pigments, the white color
of aragonite platelets (calcium carbonate), the other component of nacre
shows through.
It is not known whether the pearl was associated with any
overtone colors, such as silver, rose or cream. However, the pearl that
is claimed to be the long-lost Gogibus Pearl, has a silvery-white color,
in which white represents the body color and silver, the overtone color.
Overtones colors, that are overlying colors, appearing to float over
the surface of the pearl, are caused by an optical effect like
iridescence, due to interference of light as it passes through the
alternating layers of aragonite and conchiolin.
The luster and orient
of the pearl
Being a saltwater pearl, the luster and orient of the
pearl must be exceptional. Kunz described the pearl as having the finest
orient. Orient also known as iridescence is an optical property caused
by the scattering of light as it passes through alternating layers of
aragonite and conchiolin in the nacre. Luster of a pearl is a
measurement of the quality and quantity of light that reflects from the
surface and just under the surface of the pearl. The luster of a pearl,
like its orient and overtones, depend on the thickness of the nacre.
Most natural pearls like the Gogibus Pearl, have undergone their full
course of development under natural conditions, inside the pearl oyster
before they were discovered, and are made up of 100% nacre. Thus, their
luster, orient and overtones are usually exceptional.
History of the
Gogibus Pearl
What George Frederick
Kunz says about the "Gogibus Pearl" in his book "The Book of the Pearl"
?
Chapter 16 : Famous Pearl Collections. Page 461
The Gogibus Pearl - This famous pearl said to have
been the largest in Europe, weighed no less than 126 carats (504
grains). It was pear-shaped and of fine orient, and was brought from the
West Indies, in 1620, by Francois Gogibus, a native of Calais, who sold
it to Philip IV of Spain. As no match could be found for this
magnificent gem, it was mounted as a button in the royal cap. (Robert de
Berquen, "Les Merveilles des Indes Orientales et Occidentales," Paris,
1661, p. 78)
Chapter 13 : Value & Commerce of Pearls. Page 350
Many times a dealer put nearly all that he
possessed into a fine pearl or necklace, frequently without a reward;
often gradually buying more and more, hoping for some great patron to
relieve him. When the client appears, there is happiness, but when he
does not, there is woe. This instance is well illustrated when Philip IV
of Spain asked of the merchant Gogibus: "How have you ventured to put
all your fortune into such a small object?" "Because I knew there was a
king of Spain to buy it of me," was the quick reply. And Philip rewarded
the faith of the jeweler by purchasing the pearl.
Discovery of pearls
in the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1498.
Pearls were discovered for the first time in the New
World in 1498, off the coast of Venezuela, by Christopher Columbus,
during his third voyage. But, Columbus had to pay a high price for this
discovery, for he was arrested and brought back to Spain in chains, for
failing to report the discovery in time to the King of Spain. The news
of the discovery had reached the king long before the discovery was
reported by Columbus himself, and the king ordered his immediate arrest.
The discovery of pearls was actually accidental, as
Columbus reached the Island of Cubagua, off the Caribbean coast of
Venezuela. Inquisitive about the fishing activities of a boatload of
native fisherman, Columbus sent a team of his own sailors in one his
boats to find out. The sailors followed the boat to the shore, and when
they approached the boat to have a closer look, a sailor saw a woman
with a string of pearls around her neck. The sailor who had carried a
dish of Malaga with him, was able to exchange the dish for some strings
of pearls, large and white. Columbus who was surprised to see such large
white pearls, immediately ordered more sailors to the shore, carrying
useful items like needles, scissors, knives, buttons etc. to be bartered
for pearls. The second batch of sailors returned with around 48 ounces
of pearls, with several good quality pearls among them. Columbus who was
surprised to see the pearls, declared to his sailors, "We are in the
richest country of the world. Let us give thanks to the Lord."
Columbus, then left the Island of Cubagua and reached the shores of
mainland Venezuela, where large crowds had gathered to see their sailing
craft. He found that most of the native Indian women wore pearl
necklaces and bracelets, and when he inquired from them, from
where they collected them, they pointed towards the Cubagua Islands.
New Cadiz in the
Venezuelan Island of Cubagua established in 1515, was the first Spanish
town in the New World, that became the hub of the lucrative pearl trade
After the discovery of pearls in 1498, the king of
Spain sent a second expedition in 1499, headed by Pedro Alonso Nino and
a team of around 30 sailors, some of whom had accompanied Columbus on
his 3rd voyage. This expedition returned to Galicia with 96 pounds of
pearls. with many high-quality, round and lustrous pearls of around 5 to
6 carats or more. Nino was also accused of stealing pearls and cheating
the king, but the expedition went down in history as the first
financially profitable voyage to the New World. Thus, the pearl fishery
at Cubagua became famous, and more expeditions were carried out by the
Spanish, operating from their base in the Caribbean Islands of
Hispaniola, just 900 miles away, that subsequently became Haiti and the
Dominican Republic. The Spanish had a resident governor at Hispaniola,
who in the early 16th-century was Diego Columbus, the son of the
discoverer, Christopher Columbus. In 1508, large numbers of experienced
native Indian divers were carried from the Islands of Bahamas and
Lucayan, to work in the pearl banks of Cubagua, and this eventually
culminated in 1515, in the establishment of the first Spanish town in
the New World, called New Cadiz, on the Venezuelan Island of Cubagua.
The town became the hub of the Spanish pearl trade in the New World,
serving as the center for harvesting pearl oysters, and collecting
pearls.
Pearls were the first
natural resource exploited by the Europeans in the New World that gave
substantial profits, before the discovery of mineral resources like
gold, silver and emeralds
The pearl industry was the first and single greatest
industry of the European people in the New World for many years, before
the discovery of other mineral resources such as gold, silver and
emeralds. It has been estimated that between 1513 to 1530 at least 118
million pearls were harvested from the pearl banks near Cubagua Island. In 1527, 1,380 kg of pearls were harvested by the Spanish in Venezuela.
These pearls reached Seville in Spain, the principal pearl market for
pearls originating in the New World, from where they reached other pearl
markets in Europe, such as Venice in Italy, and Lisbon in Portugal.
Apart from pearls discovered from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela and
Colombia, other important locations where pearls were discovered by the
Spanish, include the islands off the Pacific coast of Panama, and the
Gulf of California in Mexico. The Spanish also exploited the pearl
oyster resources of these locations too. The Gulf of California in
Mexico, became famous for its black pearls formed in the pearl oyster
species Pinctada margaritifera. Thus black pearls that reached Europe
during the 16th and 17th centuries came mainly from the Gulf of
California in Mexico.
Depletion of pearl
oyster resources of Venezuela and Colombia in the mid-17th century led
to the closure of the industry.
The continuous intensive exploitation of pearl oyster
resources of Venezuela and Colombia for almost 150 years since their
discovery, led to a depletion of these resources and by 1650, oysters
became so scarce, that the industry had to be abandoned
totally. Even after Colombia and Venezuela gained independence from
Spain in 1823 and 1829 respectively, the pearl industry could not
be revived, even though the oyster bearing coral reefs had been
restored, after being left undisturbed for more than 150 years. This was
due to imposition of heavy taxes and frequently changing government
regulations that discouraged investors.
Controlled
exploitation of pearl oyster resources begin after 1895
However, after 1895, concessions were granted to
individuals and private companies for the exploitation of pearl oyster
resources in certain defined areas, for limited periods of time, the
government taking 10% of the turnover of these companies as royalties.
The use of mechanical methods of harvesting that destroyed the oyster
beds were totally banned. Only mechanical devices that does not remove
all oysters from the bed, but help spread the oysters were permitted
Where was the Gogibus
Pearl discovered ?
According to George Frederick Kunz's account of the
Gogibus Pearl in his book "The Book of the Pearl," the Gogibus Pearl was
brought from the West Indies in 1620, by Francois Gogibus, a native of
Calais, who sold it to Philip IV of Spain. The account does not specify
where the pearl was discovered. It is important to remember, that the
term "West Indies" was a general term used in the 16th and 17th
centuries, to refer to the entire newly discovered region by Christopher
Columbus. It did not mean the West Indies Federation or the modern day
West Indies, as we know it today. Garcilaso de la Vega wrote during the
16th-century, that pearls from the "West Indies" were so abundant in
Seville "that they were sold in a heap in the India [custom] house ...
just as if they were some kind of seed." Pearls from the "West Indies"
in this account actually refer to abundant pearl supplies coming from
Venezuela, the richest pearl banks in the New World. Thus, the reference
to the Gogibus Pearl being brought from the West Indies in 1620, might
well mean that the pearl was actually brought from Venezuela, where it
was discovered. The Islands of the West Indies as we know it today, no doubt are also within the
geographic range of the Atlantic pearl oyster species Pinctada imbricata.
Thus, there is some possibility that the pearl might have been discovered off the
coast of one of the islands of the West Indies as we know it today.
However, during the
Spanish period, Islands of the Caribbean such as Cuba and Hispaniola
were actually used as springboards from which further colonization and
exploitation of the Americas were carried out. As pointed out earlier,
Hispaniola was the regional administrative center headed by a Spanish
governor, from where the exploitation of the pearl resources of
Venezuela was launched, by first transferring large numbers of skilled
pearl divers from the Bahamas to the Cubagua Islands, where the first
Spanish township in the New World was established and came to be known
as New Cadiz. By the year 1620, when the Gogibus pearl was discovered,
Spain was exploiting pearl oyster resources from at least four different
locations in the New World. These were the Cubagua pearl banks of
Venezuela, the pearl banks off the Caribbean coast of Columbia, the
pearl banks off the Pacific coast of Panama and the Gulf of California
in Mexico. The Pacific coast of Panama and the Gulf of Mexico, also in
the Pacific, do not fall within the range of the Atlantic pearl oyster,
and cannot be the source of the Gogibus Pearl. Thus the possible sources
of the Gogibus Pearl could have been the pearl banks of Venezuela or Columbia.
Venezuela, was the most likely source given the volume of production of
pearls :- 1,380 kg in 1527 and 118 million pearls harvested between 1513
and 1530. Pearl exploitation in Venezuela, continued until the mid-17th
century, when it was abandoned due to depletion of resources.
The pearl oyster
species that produced the Gogibus Pearl - Pinctada imbricata
Given the characteristics of the Gogibus Pearl, that
it is a pear-shaped, white, saltwater pearl of excellent orient, the
most probable oyster species in which the pearl must have been produced
is the Atlantic pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata, which is closely
related to Pinctada radiata (Persian Gulf oyster, Ceylon oyster),
Pinctada fucata (Akoya pearl oyster) and Pinctada martensii (Akoya gai
pearl oyster). The main geographic range of the Atlantic pearl oyster is
the Caribbean Sea, but it can extend beyond the Caribbean Sea, as far
north as North Carolina and south up to Brazil. The main pearl oyster
beds of this species were situated off the coast of Venezuela and
northeastern Columbia. In Venezuela, the pearl beds were situated around
the offshore islands of Cubagua, Margarita and Coche. In Columbia, the
pearl oyster beds were situated, off the Guajira Peninsula, near the
Venezuelan border, almost a 1,000 km west of the Venezuelan pearl oyster
beds.
Pinctada imbricata shells can reach a maximum length
of 7-8 cm, and pearls produced by these oysters had an average
weight of 2 to 5 carats, with a size of around 5 to 8 mm. They also
produced seed pearls that are less 2 mm in size. Occasionally, this pearl
oyster can also produce pearls of extraordinary sizes, such as the Gogibus pearl, having a weight of not less than 126 carats in weight,
and a size of around 50 - 60 mm (5-6 cm) in comparison with the size of
the pearl, now claimed to be the lost Gogibus pearl. However, such
occurrences are extremely rare. The oyster that can reach a maximum
shell length of 70-80 mm, no doubt can accommodate a pearl of size 50-60
mm.
What happened to the
Gogibus Pearl after Philip IV's death in 1665 ?
After King Philip IV purchased the Gogibus Pearl he
got it mounted on his royal cap or crown, where it possibly remained
during his life time. Precise information on what exactly happened to
the pearl after his death in 1665, is not exactly known. Perhaps, the
pearl would have remained with the royal family as part of the crown
jewels, and might have undergone a change of setting at different times,
but eventually nothing further was heard about the pearl, believed to
have entered some unknown private collection. However, 345 years after
Philip IV's death, the Gogibus Pearl appears to have resurfaced again in
2010, in an 18th-century setting, and has been offered for sale at a
renowned collectibles website.
The long lost Gogibus
Pearl makes its appearance on the website of Paul Frazer Collectibles on
January 21, 2010 ?
On Thursday, January 21, 2010, a report appearing on
the Paul Frazer Collectibles website, has offered a pear-shaped, silvery
white, natural, saltwater pearl, weighing 143 carats and believed to be
of 17th-century origin for sale. The website claims the pearl to be the
long-lost Gogibus Pearl, that was purchased by Philip IV of Spain in
1620, from the merchant Francois Gogibus, a native of Calas. The pearl
was subsequently mounted as a button in the royal cap, as no match could
be found for this magnificent gem, according to "The Book of the Pearl"
written by G. F. Kunz. The pearl claimed to be the Gogibus pearl has
dimensions of 2½ inches (6.35 cm) by 2 inches (5.08
cm), which represents the maximum height and width of the pear-shaped
pearl.
The long lost Gogibus Pearl?
Photo credit: paulfrasercollectibles.com
The pearl has been authenticated
as a natural saltwater pearl by Dr. Jack Ogden, the chief executive of
the Gemological Association of Great Britain, a leading authority on
pearls. According to Dr. Ogden, the pearl shows signs of age, and parts
of the present gold mount may date back to the 18th-century. The slight
crack at the top of the pearl, extending downwards as seen in the
photograph of the pearl, may be a sign of its old age. The pearl is
presently mounted on gold as a pendant to a gold necklace. Another
interesting feature of the pearl is the presence of a man-made cavity,
on the reverse side of the pearl, which is covered with a gold leaf as
seen in the photograph.
The reverse side of the long lost Gogibus Pearl
Photo credit: paulfrasercollectibles.com
Evidence used to associate the pear-shaped pearl with the long lost
Gogibus pearl.
There are many lines of evidence that can be used to
strongly associate the pear-shaped pearl with the long-lost Gogibus
Pearl.
1) The pearl is a large pear-shaped pearl. The
Gogibus Pearl was also a large pear-shaped pearl.
2) The weight of the pearl is approximately 143
carats. The Gogibus pearl according to Dr. George Frederick Kunz was not
less than 126 carats, and claimed to be the largest in Europe at that
time. Perhaps, Dr. Kunz not knowing the exact weight of the pearl, had
given its weight, in comparison with a known pearl, whose weight was
known to be 126 carats, and perhaps believed to be the largest pearl in
Europe before the discovery of the Gogibus pearl. Thus, the weight of
143 carats for the pearl, agrees with the comparative weight of "not
less than 126 carats" for the Gogibus pearl.
3) The pearl is a silvery-white, natural, saltwater
pearl with excellent luster and orient, as authenticated by Dr. Jack
Ogden of the Gemological Association of Great Britain. The Gogibus Pearl
was also a natural saltwater pearl discovered from the Atlantic pearl
oyster, of "fine orient" as described by G. F. Kunz, and invariably
having the silvery-white color characteristic of Atlantic saltwater
pearls, even though Kunz does not specify the color of the pearl in his
account.
4) The pearl is believed to be of 17th-century
origin. and said to show signs of age according to Dr. Ogden, including
a slight crack at the top of the pearl, extending a little downwards.
The signs of antiquity on the pearl no doubt provides strong evidence to
support the belief that the pearl is most probably the long-lost Gogibus
Pearl.
5) Another evidence that points to the antiquity of
the piece of jewelry in which the pearl has been set, as a pendant to a
gold necklace, also provides support to the belief that the pearl is
most probably the long-lost Gogibus Pearl. According to Dr. Ogden parts
of the present gold mount of the pearl may date back to the
18th-century. This agrees with the known facts, as the pearl in the
17th-century was actually mounted as a button in the royal cap of Philip
IV, which may also mean the crown of the king. It appears that the pearl had
been removed subsequently from the crown in the 18th-century, and
mounted as the centerpiece of a pendant to a necklace.
6) The final strong and direct evidence that
identifies the pearl with the long-lost Gogibus pearl, is the presence
of a man-made cavity on the reverse side of the pearl, presently covered
by a gold-leaf as seen in the photograph, which suggests that it could
be the spot, where the pearl was connected to the royal cap or crown.
Is the price tag of
$3.0 million placed on the Gogibus Pearl justified ?
Thus, the above lines of evidence convincingly prove
that the pear-shaped pearl offered for sale by Paul Fraser Collectibles
is without any doubt the long-lost Gogibus Pearl. In the context of this
evidence, which consolidates its ancient historical provenance, the $3
million sale price placed on the pearl is justifiable, given the fact
that the drop-shaped, "La Regente Pearl" of early 19-th century
provenance, weighing 302.68 grains, fetched a record price of $2.5
million at an auction in November 2005. Likewise the 133.16-grain,
pear-shaped "La Pelegrina Pearl" also of 17th-century origin and gifted
by Philip IV to his daughter Maria Therese, on the occasion of her
marriage to Louis XIV of France, fetched a record sum of $463,800, at a
Christies auction in 1989.
The 302.68-grain "La Regente Pearl" with a history
dating back to 1811, is the most expensive single pearl in the
world today, fetching a record price of $2.5 million, at a magnificent
jewels sale, at Christie's in Geneva in November 2005. The "Gogibus
Pearl" weighing 504 grains, is heavier than the "La Regente Pearl."
Likewise, the historic provenance of the Gogibus Pearl, goes back
further than the "La Regente Pearl" to the early 17th-century (1620).
Thus, the price of $3.0 million placed on the "Gogibus Pearl" in
comparison to the value of the "La Regente Pearl" is more than
justified.
Philip IV of Spain
His early life,
academic and literary pursuits, patronage of the arts
Philip IV was the king of Spain, Spanish Netherlands,
Naples and Sicily from 1621 to 1665, and the king of Portugal from 1621
to 1640. Philip IV born in Valladolid on April 8, 1605, was the eldest
son of Philip III and his wife Margaret of Austria. Philip who was
academically inclined, learned Latin, Geography, foreign languages that
included French, Portuguese and Italian, and astrology. He undertook a
translation of
Francesco Guicciardini's texts on political history, which he wrote
with his own hand, in the course of acquiring a knowledge of political
history, as preparation for the task of governance. He also took an
interest in literature and poetry and became a keen theatre goer. His
interests in the arts and literature, manifested itself during his
reign, in the patronage of artists like Diego Velazquez, Rubens and
Cano, that led to the building up of the royal collection of paintings,
which later became the basis of the Prado Museum. His patronage of
dramatists like Calderon de la Barca, Tirso de Molina and Lope de
Vega continued the great tradition of Spanish drama during his reign.
King Philip IV of Spain
Apart from his academic and literary
pursuits, Philip also acquired other skills identified with the royalty,
such as horse-riding, hunting and bull-fighting. Thus, in keeping with
his status as a monarch, Philip became a fine horseman, a keen hunter
and a devotee of bull-fighting.
His marriages and
children produced
When he ascended his father's throne in 1621 at the
age of 16, he had the intellectual capacity to take his own decisions,
but instead chose Conde de Olivares, an able and efficient
nobleman close to the royal family, as his prime minister, who also
became his most trusted adviser. Soon, Philip adopted a relaxed attitude
towards the affairs of the state, entrusting all day to day activities
to his prime minister, but only taking important policy decisions.
Philip married Isabella (Elizabeth) of France in 1615, at the age of ten
years. With age and maturity he became a responsible father, and the
marriage produced seven children, out of whom six were daughters and
only one son. Like most royalties in the past, Philip also took several
mistresses, many of whom were actresses, the most famous of these being
actress Maria Ines Calderon, who bore him a son Juan Jose in 1629, who
was brought up as a royal prince, even though he was legally excluded
from any claim to the throne. Ironically, it was in the same year 1629,
that Queen Isabella gave birth to his only son Baltasar Carlos, who was
brought up with great care by the king, being his only legal successor,
but unfortunately died young at the age of 17 years in 1646, of small
pox. Queen Isabella, predeceased her son by two years, dying in 1644.
The death of the queen and his son was a big blow to the king, yet he
decided to re-marry in 1646, hoping for a son by this second marriage.
He took as his second wife, Maria Anna of Austria, his niece, and the
daughter of Emperor Ferdinand. Maria Anna gave birth to five children of
whom only two survived, one of whom was a son, who succeeded him as
Charles II of Spain in 1665.
King Philip IV of Spain
The fall from power
of Conde de Olivares and the appointment of Luis de Haro as chief
minister
The trusted Conde de Olivares remained Philip's
confidant and chief minister for nearly twenty years, until his fall
from power during the crisis of 1640-43, precipitated by the war with
France and the defeat of the Spanish at Rocroi. Conde Olivares was a victim of not only failed
policies but also jealousy from the nobles excluded from power. It is
believed, that Queen Isabella played a significant role in conspiring
with other disgruntled nobles to remove Olivares from the court in 1643.
Philip then announced that he would rule alone without a chief minister,
and during this period Queen Isabella was able to exert considerable
influence over Philip. However, Philip soon reverted back to the
old system of ruling through a royal favorite, by appointing Luis de Haro, a nephew of Olivares and his childhood playmate as the chief
minister.
Philip IV reluctantly
agrees to a more aggressive role for Spain in the "Thirty Years War" and
renew hostilities with the Dutch
Philip IV's rule coincided with the challenging
period of the "Thirty Years War" that began in 1618 and ended in 1648.
Spain actually entered the "Thirty Year War" during the final years of
his father, Philip III's rule, who was persuaded to do so by his foreign
minister Baltasar de Zuniga. After Philip IV ascended the throne in
1621, Baltasar de Zuniga, who was appointed as principal foreign
minister and Conde de Olivares, the prime minister, persuaded the king
that Spain should play a more aggressive role in the war in alliance
with the Holy Roman Empire. Philip IV, who was a man of peace and well
aware of the horrors of war, reluctantly agreed to his ministers'
suggestion which led to the renewal of hostilities with the Dutch in
1621, under the "Netherlands first" policy introduced by them. The war with the Dutch went well, but at great expense, with Spain
capturing the key city of Breda in 1624. However, by the end of that
decade Spain had to choose between the war in Netherlands and its
relationship with France, during the War of the Mantuan Succession
(1628-31). The Spanish chose to continue the war in Netherlands,
antagonizing Louis XIII of France.
The new aggressive
policy of Spain precipitates an unpopular war with France, leading to
the defeat of the Spanish at Rocroi, and wide-scale revolts across
Spanish territories
Subsequently, in spite of Spain's
successes in 1634 against the Swedish-led Protestant forces at the
Battle of Nordlingen, increased tensions with France made war between
the two countries unavoidable. The Spanish-French war started in 1635,
and at the beginning went in favor of the Spanish, but later Spain was
defeated at Rocroi in 1643 by the French led by the Great Conde.
Immediately after the Spanish defeat at Rocroi, there was wide-scale
revolts across the Spanish territories in protest against the rising
cost of the conflict.
Spain is compelled to
sue for peace, that results in the Treaty of Westphalia, ending the war
in Netherlands and Germany
In response, Philip IV was compelled to dismiss
his prime minister, Olivares, who was replaced subsequently by Luis de Haro. Unable to sustain the war effort, Philip IV abandoned his
policy of "Netherlands first" strategy, cutting off funds for the war
effort against Netherlands, and concentrating against the
French-supported rebels at Catalonia. The king now instructed his
ministers and ambassadors, including the newly appointed prime minister,
Luis de Haro to seek a peace treaty. The result was the "Peace of
Westphalia" that ended the "Eight Years War" in Netherlands, and the
wars in Germany, but the conflict in France continued.
The war with France
continues until the defeat of the Spanish at Dunkirk in 1658, resulting
in the Treaty of Pyrenees, and the marriage of Philip IV's daughter to
the young King Louis XIV
King Louis XIII
of France died in 1643, and his five-year old son Louis XIV was
installed on the throne, with his mother as the regent. Cardinal Mazarin
who was serving as the prime minister had a new crisis in his hands, the
Fronde rebellions of 1648, and was desperate to seek peace with the
Spanish. Philip IV saw this as an opportunity and mounted a fresh and
successful offensive against the French in Catalonia in 1651. However,
in 1658, the Spanish lost Dunkirk to an Anglo-French force, forcing
Philip IV to sue for peace, that resulted in the "Treaty of Pyrenees" in
1659. This treaty and the marriage of Philip's daughter Maria Theresa to
the young king Louis XIV, finally brought Philip IV's long-running
European wars to an end.
The costs of the
Thirty Years War for Spain
The costs of the Thirty Years War for Spain was
enormous in terms of territorial loss. In 1940, Spain lost control of
Portugal after widespread revolts in that country, precipitated by
Spain's preoccupation elsewhere. Spain had to recognize the independence
of the United Provinces of Netherlands, at the Peace of Westphalia in
1648. Spain lost Roussillon and part of the Spanish Netherlands to
France, in the Treaty of Pyrenees signed in 1659.
The legacy of Philip
IV
Philip IV, though well educated and capable of ruling
on his own, had to pay a high price for depending on ministers and
advisers who had their own agenda to advance and made a mess of his
rule. His rule characterized by political and military decay, has been
identified as the main cause for the decline of the Spanish Empire. He
is remembered for his enormous contribution to the arts, literature and
drama, that earned him the nickname "planet king" who built a new palace
for the display of his art collections and the rituals of court. The
palace included its own theatre, ballroom, galleries, bullring, gardens
and artificial lakes, that became the center for artists and dramatists
from across Europe. His collection of paintings became the basis of the
Prado Museum. Philip is also credited with the development of the
Spanish Armada (Navy), started by his predecessors Philip II and Philip
III, into a modern and powerful navy in the world, that was able to
defend successfully Spain's trade routes to the New World,
at a time when the Atlantic and the Caribbean were threatened by the
scourge of sea-piracy and also to continue to maintain their hold on
their far-eastern possessions, the Philippines, that was colonized
in 1565, sustaining the lucrative Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. He died in 1665 and was succeeded by his son Charles II, with
his wife Mariana as regent.
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Related :-
1)
Black Beauty Pearl
External Links :-
1)
Paul Fraser Collectibles - Is this the long lost Gogibus pearl ? www.paulfrasercollectibles.com
References :-
1) The Book of the Pearl - Chapter 16 : Famous Pearl Collections. Page 461
- George Fredrick Kunz
2) Philip IV of Spain - From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
3) Philip IV -
www.nndb.com
4) Thirty Years War - From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
