Floridablanca Ministry

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Jose Monino, conde de Floridablanca Floridablanca2.jpg
José Moñino, conde de Floridablanca

The Floridablanca Ministry was a Spanish government that served between 1777 and 1792 during the reigns of Charles III of Spain and Charles IV of Spain. It was headed by the Count of Floridablanca, a prominent reformer, who sought to press on with the program of reforms initiated by his predecessor Grimaldi.

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One of the pillars of Floridablanca's beliefs was that friendly relations with Britain were crucial for the general improvement of Spain. It was considered ironic that in 1779 Spain, at the urging of the King, entered the American War of Independence on France's side, declaring war in Britain.

Despite his reluctance, Floriblanca took much of the credit for the war, as a Spanish force took advantage of the overstretched British Navy and took several of their colonies in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. In the peace treaty that followed, Spain was awarded Minorca and Florida which had been lost to the British earlier in the century.

The war strengthened the governments position during the 1780s, and they pressed ahead with many reforms. A new threat to power began to emerge in the form of Manuel Godoy, a royal favourite and a Francophile, who grew increasingly influential. Following the outbreak of the French Revolution the reforming liberalism of Floridablanca and his followers rapidly fell out of fashion, and he was dismissed to make way for Godoy in 1792.

Cabinet

Floridablanca's first government

19 February 1777 – 8 July 1787
PortfolioImageHolderTerm
First Secretary of State (PM) Pompeo Girolamo Batoni - Don Jose Monino y Redondo, Conde de Floridablanca - 1974.386 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg The Count of Floridablanca 19 February 1777 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for Grace and Justice 30 August 1782 – 8 July 1787 (acting)
Secretary of State for Indies 17 June – 8 July 1787 (acting)
Portrait of Jose de Galvez.jpg Marquess de Sonora 19 February 1777 – 17 June 1787
Secretary of State for Grace and Justice Pompeo Batoni - Retrato de D. Manuel de Roda - Google Art Project.jpg Manuel de Roda Arraiera 19 February 1777 – 30 August 1782
Secretary of State for War Ambrosio de Funes Villalpando 19 February 1777 – 15 July 1780
Miguel de Muzquiz y Goyeneche, I conde de Gausa y I marques de Villar de Ladron.jpg Miguel de Múzquiz y Goyeneche15 July 1780 – 21 January 1785
Secretary of State for the Treasury 19 February 1777 – 21 January 1785
Mariano Salvador Maella - Pedro Lopez de Lerena.jpg Pedro López de Lerena21 January 1785 – 8 July 1787
Secretary of State for War 21 January 1785 – 29 June 1787
Jerónimo Caballero y Vicente del Campo29 June – 8 July 1787
Secretary of State for the Navy Don Pedro Gonzalez de Castejon.jpg Pedro González de Castejón19 February 1777 – 9 March 1783
AntonioValdesYFernandezBazan 1222533.jpg Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán 9 March 1783 – 8 July 1787

Floridablanca's second government

Supreme Council of State 8 July 1787 – 28 February 1792
PortfolioImageHolderTerm
First Secretary of State (PM) Pompeo Girolamo Batoni - Don Jose Monino y Redondo, Conde de Floridablanca - 1974.386 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg The Count of Floridablanca 19 February 1777 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for Grace and Justice 8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790 (acting)
Antonio Aniceto de Porlier, marques de Bajamar por Francisco Goya.jpg Antonio Aniceto Porlier25 April 1790 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for Grace and Justice of Indies8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790
Secretary of State for the Treasury Mariano Salvador Maella - Pedro Lopez de Lerena.jpg Pedro López de Lerena8 July 1787 – 16 October 1791
Diego de Gardoqui.jpg Diego de Gardoqui 16 October 1791 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for War Jerónimo Caballero y Vicente del Campo8 July 1787 – 27 April 1790
Manuel Negrete de la Torre27 April 1790 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for the Navy AntonioValdesYFernandezBazan 1222533.jpg Antonio Valdés y Fernández Bazán 8 July 1787 – 28 February 1792
Secretary of State for War, Treasury, Commerce and Navigation of Indies8 July 1787 – 25 April 1790

Bibliography