Juan Lozano Machuca and the Construction of the Global Spanish Monarchy in the Sixteenth Century

Juan Lozano Machuca grew up as part of the household of the Duke of Béjar, Francisco de Zuñiga y Sotomayor, uncle of the Duke of Medinasidonia, Alonso Pérez de Guzmán y Sotomayor, the admiral of the Spanish Armada of 1588. As a skilful servant, he became familiarized with the household’s accounts. His connections, including the powerful Corzo family, were a springboard for his ambitions and secured him passage on the same fleet that took the viceroy of Peru, Don Francisco de Toledo. These contacts also tied his future to that of his patrons and this frequently made individuals vulnerable to political changes. This article analyzes his career, situated within the Spanish Empire as a polycentric and localized entity that relied entirely on personal relations and patronage to run, expand, and consolidate its dominions. These connections also provided private financing that bankrolled military ventures and the empire’s global expansion.