Juntas

The juntas were extraordinary commissions created specifically by the sovereign to resolve specific issues in a shorter time than those in the normal bureaucratic process. Already used by Philip II (1527-1598), especially in the latter part of his reign, the juntas became a hallmark of the governments of the validos. The favourite of the king, in fact, placed the men of his trust in these organizations in order to avoid potential opposition and delays in the Councils. Countless juntas were created during the reigns of Philip III and Philip IV by their respective favourites, the Duke of Lerma and the Count-Duke of Olivares (1587-1645).