ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the mechanisms for dependence and collaboration set up between the Catholic Monarchy and two of the main commercial republics of the time, Genoa and the United Provinces, whose naval and financial services were fundamental to maintaining the Spanish imperial structure. The high level of autonomy in each of the territories forming a polycentric structure such as that of the Spanish Monarchy, and the zealous defence of local privileges, meant that the Catholic King had to deal with different ways of gaining citizenship in each of his dominions. Rather than as subjects, the Castilians liked to describe themselves above all as residents and as members of a local community integrated into the kingdom, whilst zealous defenders of its autonomy and privileges. Rather than as subjects, the Castilians liked to describe themselves as residents and as members of a local community integrated into the kingdom, whilst zealous defenders of its autonomy and privileges.
