Habsburg War Finance and Noble Credit-Brokerage in the Southern Netherlands under Charles VI

Abstract

When in 1715 the Southern Netherlands passed formally into the hands of Vienna, one of the formerly wealthiest regions of northern Europe became a part of the Austrian Habsburg composite monarchy. For nearly 100 years, the Austrian Netherlands played an important role in the financial management of that Monarchy in the form of contributions, subsidies, credit, and loans accommodated by the provincial Estates in wartime. This paper considers a key opening episode in that financial relationship during the reign of Charles VI. Two key issues are considered. First, the problem of tax farming will be analysed on the basis of the example of the county of Hainault and the tax negotiations between its Estates and the government. Second, the intermediary role played by the area’s leading nobleman, the duke of Arenberg, between provincial Estates and emperor will elucidate the problem of wartime borrowing and debt management.