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Pedro Abarca ArandaSpanish statesman and diplomat
Date of Birth: 21.12.1718
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda
- European Travels and Diplomatic Missions
- Public Service and Reforms
- Diplomatic Achievements and Political Intrigues
- Later Life and Legacy
Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda
Early Life and Military CareerPedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda, was born on 21 December 1718, in Sietamo, Spain. A man of varied interests, he pursued theological studies in Bologna and Rome before switching to military training at the academy in Parma. In 1740, Aranda joined the ranks as a captain and served in the War of the Austrian Succession. However, a severe injury in 1743 forced him into retirement.
European Travels and Diplomatic Missions
Undeterred, Aranda embarked on a grand tour of Europe to expand his knowledge and diplomatic skills. He studied military tactics in Prussia, met with Enlightenment figures such as Diderot, Voltaire, and D'Alembert in France, and explored Italy and Great Britain. In 1755, he returned to military service and was dispatched as ambassador to Portugal. Two years later, he took command of the artillery.
Upon the accession of King Charles III, Aranda was sent as an envoy to the Polish court of August III. In 1762, he led Spanish troops in an invasion of Portugal, capturing Almeida. However, the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful due to British support for Portugal.
Public Service and Reforms
Back in Spain, Aranda held several high-ranking positions. As General-Captain of Valencia (1763), he quelled the Madrid riots in 1766. King Charles III rewarded his loyalty by appointing him General-Captain of Castile and President of the Royal Council of Castile. In this influential role, Aranda sought to curb the abuses of the Catholic Church, limit the power of the clergy and the Inquisition, and promote Enlightenment ideals.
Aranda's reforms included the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain and its colonies in 1767. He also attempted an agrarian reform to distribute communal lands to peasants, but this met with fierce resistance from the nobility.
Diplomatic Achievements and Political Intrigues
In 1773, Aranda was sidelined due to the influence of the Dominicans and sent as ambassador to France. As ambassador, he played a pivotal role in negotiating the advantageous Treaty of Paris (1783) with Great Britain.
Returning to Spain, Aranda became State Secretary in 1792, but was soon replaced by the Queen's favorite, Godoy. Aranda's liberal views and opposition to war with revolutionary France drew the ire of Godoy, who exiled him to Jaén (1794).
Later Life and Legacy
Aranda returned to his estate in 1795 and passed away in Epila on 9 January 1798. His memory is honored by a bust in Zaragoza, commemorating his significant contributions to Spanish history.
