El clero regular mendicante frente al reformismo borbónico. Política, opinión y sociedad

Abstract

This essay tries to analyse the relationships between monarchy and religious orders during the XVIII Century, far beyond the reformist politics. Views on regular clergy and their role where increasingly critical. We will try to show how different sectors of society share such opinions, further than ruling elites and intellectual minority. We will present some clear expressions and evidences of social disaffection. On the other hand, we will also try to explain how some enlightened and reformist politics did affect the clergy, eroding their economic position and power. And we will also see how these politics found support from local authorities and other sectors from towns and villages reaching a wider social approval.