By Andalusian Archives
Archivo Histórico Provincial de Granada
An innovative project to standardize taxation
The Ensenada Cadastre was a census-type investigation in the Crown of Castile region to find out, record, and evaluate the assets, incomes, and liabilities of inhabitants. Their names and those of their families, servants, and dependents also had to be formally registered.
Caniles. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Caniles (1753/1758)Andalusian Archives
This investigation (averiguación) was carried out between April 1750 and April 1756, except in the neighborhood Villa y Corte, where it ended in spring 1757.
Cozvíjar. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada,Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Cozvíjar (1752)Andalusian Archives
The Cadastre was designed to gather information about people's assets and income so the tax system could be changed.
Dúrcal. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada,Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Dúrcal (1753/1758)Andalusian Archives
Zenón de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, Marquess of Ensenada, was the driving force behind the single tax. He was Secretary of the Treasury, Army, Navy, and Americas, and patron of the great Cadastre, which is why it is known as the Ensenada Cadastre.
Dúrcal: The bridge over the river with the mill and its millstones or grindstones.
Guadix. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada,Particular responses of the secular neighborhood of Guadix (1753/1758)Andalusian Archives
The aim was to have citizens pay tax based on the assets they owned rather than their wills.
Guadix: The episcopal city with the cathedral tower, churches and palaces.
The Crown of Castile prepares for a huge undertaking
On October 10, 1749, King Ferdinand VI signed the Royal Decree ordering the Cadastre in the 22 provinces that made up the Kingdom of Castile at the time: 90 cities, 3,237 towns, 12,648 places, and 295 inns, as well as uninhabited areas, municipal districts, farms, farmhouses, and country houses.
Loja. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Autos, general answers and states of Loja (1752/1756)Andalusian Archives
The Administration created a central governing body for the task known as the Royal Single Tax Board.
Senior officials were appointed to lead the Cadastre in the capitals of the 22 provinces (Single Tax Accountants’ Offices) and collect, supervise, and standardize the books and papers used.
Maracena. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Maracena (1752)Andalusian Archives
The board chose a number of people as assistants to manage the investigations in the various towns.
It provided the significant financial resources needed to cover the extraordinary cost of the endeavor, ran tests, trained those in charge, and, finally, controlled the entire process.
Marbella. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Autos, general answers and states of Marbella (1752/1754)Andalusian Archives
Boats in the port with the Fuerte de San Luis bastion and city walls, in Marbella.
The Kingdom of Granada
Luis González de Aguilar Torres Navarra, Marquess of Campoverde, Superintendent General of Incomes and Chief Magistrate of Granada, was appointed to carry out the investigation across the extensive Kingdom of Granada.
Montejícar. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Montejícar (1752)Andalusian Archives
The investigation began in the small town of Gabia la Grande in the Vega de Granada and took place between April 3 and July 27, 1750.
Nigüelas. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Nigüelas (1752)Andalusian Archives
Magnificent detailed watercolor of Nigüelas featuring key elements of the town, roads, and crops.
A focus on Nigüelas with the Pilar del Aljibe well in Plaza de la Iglesia.
Orce. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada,Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Orce (1753/1758)Andalusian Archives
The Cadastre collected individual declarations and information from every local and foreigner—churchmen and laypeople alike—who had assets or income in the area.
Alcazaba of the Seven Towers and Santa María de Orce Church, in Orce.
Otura. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Otura (1752/1758)Andalusian Archives
Individual answers from the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Otura.
Padul. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Padul (1752/1758)Andalusian Archives
Individual answers from the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Padul.
The hamlet of Padul with cave dwellings, Vía Crucis (Stations of the Cross), Santa Elena Cross, and stone column (rollo) at the crossroads.
Puebla de Don Fabrique. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Puebla de Don Fabrique (1753/1758)Andalusian Archives
The aim of this great investigation was to find out more about the Crown of Castile region. At the time, little was known about its demographics, economics, and geography.
Restábal. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Restábal (1752)Andalusian Archives
An Unexpected Result: the Beauty of the Maps
The Marquess of Ensenada was a trailblazer when it came to encouraging the creation of overview maps in Spain. The varying skill of the cartographers is clear: there must have been different teams working in the Kingdom of Granada.
Beautiful watercolor of Restábal.
Rubite. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Rubite (1752/1758)Andalusian Archives
Some maps simply showed local boundaries and cardinal directions, while others were created by talented expert artists who used perspective and highlighted the key features of each area: mountains, rivers, streams, canals, marshes, land uses (rainfed and irrigated), crop types (olive groves, vineyards, meadows), forests, and tree-covered areas.
Saleres. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Particular responses of the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Saleres (1752/1758)Andalusian Archives
Individual answers from the ecclesiastical and secular neighborhood of Saleres.
The Molino Alto next to the Albuñuelas River, in Saleres.
Santa Fe. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Autos, general answers and states of Santa Fe (1752/1756)Andalusian Archives
Several of the drawings show archaeological remains that can still be seen today: castles, watchtowers, walled enclosures, city access gates, bridges, windmills, olive mills, sugar mills, wells, waterwheels, stone columns, crosses, inns, and more…
The encampment city of Santa Fe founded by the Catholic Monarchs.
Vera. Cadastre of the Marquis of La Ensenada, Autos, general answers and states of Vera (1752/1754)Andalusian Archives
In the Kingdom of Granada, 279 towns and places were recorded in 715 manuscripts and four files.
Boats in the port of Garrucha near Vera.
The Cadastre of the Marquess of Ensenada
Organized by:
Ministry of Culture of the Regional Government of Andalusia
Curator: María Rosa Eva Martín López. Historical Archive of the Province of Granada
Text: Francisco Leiva Soto. Historical Archive of the Province of Granada
Photographs: Historical Archive of the Province of Granada
Digital Exhibition: Charo Andreu Abrio.
Directorate General of Cultural Innovation and Museums.
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