Salt Tax Revolt facts for kids

The Salt Tax Revolt was a big fight in Spain between 1631 and 1634. It happened in a place called Biscay. People were very angry about a new tax on salt. This protest quickly grew into a bigger fight against unfair economic rules.

The Salt Tax Revolt

The Salt Tax Revolt was a major event in the Spanish region of Biscay. It lasted for about three years, from 1631 to 1634. This revolt was mainly about money and who owned salt. It involved many angry protests against the tax rules set by King Philip IV. Soon, it became a wider protest against unfairness in how wealth was shared.

Why the Salt Tax Started

The trouble began on January 3, 1631. King Philip IV's chief minister, Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, made a new rule. This rule raised the price of salt by a lot, about 44 percent! The government also said that all salt stored in Biscay now belonged to the king. From then on, only the royal treasury could sell salt.

This new rule went against the special rights and tax exemptions that Biscay had. The king needed more money to pay for his expensive army. His army was fighting wars in Northern Europe. Before this salt tax, the king had tried other ways to get money. For example, he added fees to trade in wool or woolen cloth.

People Fight Back

The people of Biscay were very angry about these new taxes. They protested strongly against the king's officials. In October 1632, things got very serious. People even killed the local court official, called the procurator of the Court of Corregidor.

The revolt also stopped important meetings in Guernica in 1633. The people demanded that all the unfair taxes be removed. They also wanted their special tax-free rights back.

The Revolt Ends

The rebellion continued on and off for more than three years. It finally ended in the spring of 1634. The main leaders of the revolt were caught and punished. King Philip IV decided to forgive the other rebels. He also agreed to stop the original order about the price of salt. This was a way to calm things down and end the fighting.