Treaty of Madrid (1670) facts for kids
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| Context | A treaty for the composing of differences, restraining of depredations, and establishing of peace in America, between the crowns of Great Britain and Spain, concluded at Madrid the 8/18 day of July, in the year of our Lord 1670. |
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| Signed | 8 July 1670 |
| Location | Madrid |
| Condition | 28 September 1670 |
| Negotiators |  William Godolphin Gaspar de Bracamonte Count of Peñaranda |
| Signatories | William Godolphin Gaspar de Bracamonte Count of Peñaranda |
| Parties | England Spain |
| Ratifiers | Charles II of England Mariana of Austria for Charles II of Spain |
| Language | Latin |
The Treaty of Madrid, also known as the Godolphin Treaty, was an important agreement between England and Spain. It was signed in July 1670 in Madrid, the capital of Spain. This treaty was made to "settle all disagreements in America" between the two powerful countries.
This agreement officially ended a long conflict that had started in 1654. This conflict was mainly fought in the Caribbean Sea, where England had taken control of Jamaica. The 1670 Treaty of Madrid was very good for England. It officially made England's control over its lands in the Caribbean and other parts of the Americas legal.
Before 1670, Spain believed that almost all of the Americas belonged only to them. The only exception was Brazil, which was Portuguese. This belief came from the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas. That earlier treaty had confirmed Christopher Columbus' claim of the "New World" for Spain back in 1492.
Contents
Why Was the Treaty Needed?
The conflict between England and Spain began in late 1654. England joined France in its fight against Spain in Europe. In Europe, the war ended with other treaties, but England and Spain never signed a peace treaty for their own conflict.
The fighting continued in the Caribbean. England had tried to take Hispaniola but failed. However, they successfully took over Jamaica. This meant the region stayed at war. English privateers, like buccaneers Christopher Myngs and Henry Morgan, attacked Spanish ships and towns.
These attacks were ordered by the Governor of Jamaica, Thomas Modyford. He believed Jamaica would not be safe until Spain officially recognized England's ownership of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. In 1667, another Treaty of Madrid was signed. This treaty helped England with trade, but it did not mention who owned the American colonies or Caribbean islands.
Because of this, attacks continued. Henry Morgan led brutal raids on Spanish towns like Portobello and Maracaibo.
Spain's Weakness and England's Opportunity
In 1669, Mariana of Austria, who was ruling Spain for her young son, ordered attacks on English ships. In response, King Charles II of England told Governor Modyford to allow English ships to attack Spanish ones. Modyford again sent Morgan to raid Spanish territories.
At this time, Spain was weak. It had been through many years of war and political problems. King Charles II of England saw this as a great chance. He felt it was the right time to negotiate a treaty with Spain because England had a strong advantage. Spain's only real options were to try and take back Jamaica or hope that France and Holland would join them in a war. Charles wanted to avoid a bigger war.
Negotiations for the treaty started in late 1669. Spain was represented by Gaspar de Bracamonte, who was the Count of Peñaranda. England's representative was William Godolphin, who was an important diplomat.
The original treaty was written in Latin. Its full English title was "A treaty for the composing of differences, restraining of depredations, and establishing of peace in America, between the crowns of Great Britain and Spain, concluded at Madrid the 8/18 day of July, in the year of our Lord 1670".
What the Treaty Said
The 1670 Treaty of Madrid was a big step. In Article VII, Spain officially recognized that England's subjects had settled in certain parts of the Americas. Before this treaty, Spain had legally considered almost all of the Western Hemisphere as its own. The only exception was Brazil, which was Portuguese according to the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas. That earlier treaty had recognized Christopher Columbus' claim of the Western Hemisphere for Spain in 1492.
The Madrid treaty changed the Treaty of Tordesillas. It allowed England to have a legal presence in the Americas.
Here is a part of what Article VII said:
Article VII. All offences, damages, losses, injuries, which the Nations and People of Great Britain and Spain have at anytime heretofore, upon what cause and pretext soever, suffered by each other in America, shall be expunged out of remembrance and buried in oblivion, as if no such thing had ever past. Moreover, it is agreed, that the Most Serene King of Great Britain, his Heirs and Successors, shall have, hold, keep, and enjoy for ever, with plenary right of Sovereignty, Dominion, Possession, and Propriety, all those Lands, Regions, Islands, Colonies, and places whatsoever, being situated in the West Indies, or in any part of America, which the said King of Great Britain and his Subjects do at present hold and possess, so as that in regard thereof, or upon any colour or pretence whatsoever, nothing more may or ought to be urged, nor any question or controversy be ever moved concerning the same hereafter.
Under the treaty, Spain agreed to stop issuing "letters of reprisal." These were official documents that allowed privateers to attack enemy ships. Both countries also agreed to help each other's ships if they were in trouble. They also allowed ships to repair in each other's ports.
England promised to stop piracy in the Caribbean. In return, Spain agreed to let English ships move freely in the region. Both countries also agreed not to trade in each other's Caribbean territories. They would only trade within their own lands.
The treaty was officially approved on September 28, 1670.
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What Happened After the Treaty?
In Spain and its colonies, many people disliked the treaty. They saw it as a humiliating surrender. Spain's military and economy were weak, so it could not force its will. England had easily taken advantage of this. Spanish merchants especially did not want to accept the treaty. The Spanish government even had to give them special tax breaks as a way to make up for their losses.
On the other hand, the treaty was very good for England. The fact that Spain recognized England's colonies in the Americas was a huge win. In all previous treaties, Spain had always insisted that the "New World" west of Brazil belonged only to them.
England now had a strong position in the western Caribbean. It used Jamaica as a base to support new settlements. These settlements stretched along the Central American Caribbean coast, from the Yucatán to what is now Nicaragua. These new areas were used for cutting logwood. Spain accepted these new areas but did not officially recognize them. Many former privateers became logwood cutters.
The treaty did not set exact borders between the two countries. Instead, in Article 7, Spain and England agreed to the idea of "actual possession." This meant that whoever was already living on and controlling the land got to keep it. In Northern America, this agreement made England's ownership legal as far south as Charleston. It also made Spain's ownership legal as far north as Santa Elena Sound. This upset the Spanish in Florida, but they had to accept the new English colony of Charleston.
Even though piracy was supposed to be stopped, English ships could now travel the Caribbean freely. England had tried to get this freedom in talks with Spain in 1655, but Spain had refused. Spain's agreement in 1670 changed its old rule. Before, any English person in the West Indies was considered an intruder or a pirate.
However, news of the treaty did not reach the Caribbean in time for Henry Morgan. On January 28, 1671, he launched a huge attack on Panama City. The Spanish were very angry. The English realized that Morgan and Governor Modyford had broken the new treaty. To fix relations, both Modyford and Morgan were called back to England and arrested. But they were not punished. They were released, and Morgan was even knighted by King Charles. He was then made Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica.
Spain and England remained at peace after this treaty until 1702. That's when the War of the Spanish Succession began.
Images for kids
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Map of Jamaica from the 1670s
See also
In Spanish: Tratado de Madrid (1670) para niños
