The Spanish Habsburgs Spymasters (1598–1663): The First Official Attempts at the Efficient Coordination of Intelligence Networks

This paper will link concepts of secrecy, deception, reason of state, observation, advice, surveillance, and political prudence to the role played by information (secret and open) in 16^th and 17^th century Spanish government.  It is focused primarily on the consequences of the official appointment of the "Major Spy of the Court or General Superintendent of the Secret Intelligences" in 1599. Concepts such as coordination of spies,recruitment, secret payments, validation of the information or protection are well conducted in the daily work detailed in the Spymaster’s records. This makes possible the systematic study of the informant networks deployed by the monarchy in major information centers, cities and special urban spaces in Europe and America.