Olivarez

Olivarez, GASPARO DE GUZMAN, COUNT OF, Duke of San Lúcar, was born January 6, 1587, at Rome, where his father was ambassador. He became the friend of Philip IV., his confidant in his amours, and afterwards his prime-minister, in which capacity he exercised almost unlimited power for twenty-two years. Olivarez showed ability for government; but his constant endeavour was to wring money from the country that he might carry on wars against Portugal, France, and the Netherlands. His attempts to rob the people of their time-honoured privileges provoked insurrections in Catalonia and Andalusia, and roused the Portuguese to shake off the Spanish yoke in 1640. But the continued ill-success of the arms of Spain at length thoroughly roused the nation, and the king was obliged to dismiss his favourite in 1643. He was ordered to retire to Toro (Zamora), and died there, 22d July 1645. See De la Rocca, Histoire du Ministère du Comte-Duc d'Olivares (1673).