(Conflicts in Catamarca at the End of the 18th Century: Treasury funds in Power Disputes)

Abstract

Conflicts were an intrinsic part of the political framework of the Ancien Régime, and the ways in which power was exercised within the Spanish Empire can be better understood through their analysis. Given the diversity of political factions integrated under the same monarchical structure, the relative decentralization of power elevated the role of local elites and regional administrative positions. Therefore, adopting a local perspective is essential to understanding specific political and administrative practices. This paper aims to analyze the conflicts that arose among the principal ministers, subdelegates, lieutenant treasurers, and cabildantes (municipal council members) of the city of Catamarca regarding the management of the royal treasury office. Through this approach, it seeks to shed light on the specific practices associated with revenue administration and the exercise of power in the context of the implementation of the intendancy system, by focusing on the main actors involved in these disputes. The creation of the intendancies and the office of subdelegate was intended to reinforce control over treasury administration. However, this reform gave rise to numerous reports of irregularities within the principal treasury. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that in Catamarca there was an almost complete overlap between members of the local elite and the holders of offices representing both the Crown and the municipal government. Moreover, most of the conflicts appear to have stemmed not from the defense of royal interests, but from rivalries among different factions within the local elite. The documentation used for this study is preserved in the Government Funds of the Historical Archive and Library of Salta, where the records submitted to the principal treasury office were centralized.