JUAN DE VALDES AND THE IMPERIAL IDEOLOGY OF CHARLES V (SPAIN)

In the transitional age of the Renaissance a consciousness of state emerged, the Burkhardtian state as a work of art. In Spain this consciousness became submerged within a greater imperial con- sciousness during the reign of Charles V. A small group of Spanish humanists sought to develop an imperial ideology and policy which emphasized the hegemony of Spain within Europe and promoted universal humanist ideals of reform in Church and state. In so doing the first modern theory of empire emerged. It was disassociated from outmoded medieval titles of emperor and pope and was based entirely on the superiority of a particular state's dedication to the common good of Christendom. This imperial ideology could last no longer than the humanistic values upon which it was based; toleration, dialectic and belief in perfectability were out of vogue once religious warfare began in the 1540's.;Since ideas never arise in a vacuum, the first two chapters will analyze the social, political and intellectual environment from which this imperial ideology originated. The next three chapters will relate Juan de Valdes' education, diplomatic career and theology to the evolution of Spanish imperial policy. Juan worked closely with many of Spain's leading humanists, political leaders and theologians to help maintain the loyalty of Lutheran princes in order to defend Spanish hegemony from the Franco-Turkish alliance. For his loyal services Juan de Valdes was branded a heretic post mortum by the Papal and Spanish Inquisitions. Yet his career and thought can not be disassociated from the imperial goals of Charles V.;The background, education, and career of Juan de Valdes (c.a. 1500-1541) is an excellent medium for analyzing the origin, evolution, and implementation of Spanish imperial ideology. Though universally recognized as one of the most famous Spanish humanists, most twentieth century Valdesian historians have isolated his theology from his political career. While some recent Spanish intellectual historians have mentioned Juan de Valdes as an important imperial agent, there has not been a complete study of his career in its relation to Charles V's imperial policy. This relationship is the aim of this study.