In the political culture of the Ancien Régime, in which there was no division between public and private sectors, the role of the interpersonal relationships was prioritizing in any project of social upgrading. In a society ruled by the logic of personal favoring, friendship was an essential element. Outstanding personalities of the validos or privados emerge in this scenario and they are closely linked to the center of the power benefiting, in many cases of the royal mercy, which enabled then to act decisively as an instance of the ruling power. Cardinal Richelieu, Duke of Olivares and the Marquis of Pombal can be classified as validos. This article aims at discussing some dimensions of this aspect of the political life during Modern Age.
Political culture; Favoring; Patronage