Fabricación y comercialización de armas en el valle del Deba (1550-1600)

Abstract

Basque Country, and in particular the Deba Valley, have had a special signification in the arm-making at the beginning of the Modern Period. The Castilian Monarchy rested on the rich infraestruture along the valley to obtain a large quantity of guns needed for his continuous wars. Basque Country was able to offer the necessary answers: a iron industry, a proved hability in arm-making, a perfect coordination among the different corporations, and a wide transport capacity, by mainland and by see, taking in consideration the particular orographical difficulties. A arm examiner or veedor controlled both the process and the quality of the arms. Due to the special economic difficulties of the Monarchy, the armeros had to support delay or cancellations of payments. As the control of the real officers was very strict, the private market was almost closed, and there were tensions with the veedor and complains of the gunmakers, since they suffered the lack of a open private market, even if the King was a secure customer