The Health and Welfare System in the Armies of Charles II, 1665-1700

Abstract

The main interest of this work was to analyze the situation of health care in the armies of Charles II. It has analyzed documentation of the Archivo General de Simancas (Valladolid, Spain)and the archive of the Crown of Aragon (Barcelona, Spain). The main conclusions would be the economic of the monarchy, insurmountable difficulties in the second half of the 17th century, brought ruin to the sanitary system of the armies of Charles II, both fittings of the Peninsula in the North of Africa. As it was spent a minimal amount of money in military hospitals, the result was a negative policy, as the recovery of the King's soldiers was not only a moral obligation, but also the best measure to preserve professional soldiers.