landsValladolid is Spain's short-lived capital due to land speculation

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>real estate bump is not limited to townhouses or seaside apartment complexes. in the seventeenth century greatest genius field of speculation was francisco gomez de sandoval-rojas y borja known as duke lerma. it building houses huge skyscrapers. he went further moving capital kingdom saw fit.>

The Duke of Lerma had a great influence on Philip III, a monarch 25 years younger than him and known for his passion for hunting and theater. His position as a Walid gave him considerable power, and his ability to play his part did the rest. He used various stratagems to persuade the king to move to Valladolid, offering him a luxurious royal palace, which he purchased and gave to Philip III after he decided to establish a royal residence in Valladolid.

Herzog Lerma showed a good eye by acquiring real estate in Valladolid and even better by selling it to the nobles and the crown.

He also bought land in Madrid when prices in the city fell after the royal court moved to Valladolid. He eventually convinced Philip III to return to Madrid, where he also acquired many properties. The numbers speak for themselves - the Duke of Lerma is said to have earned some 55 million maravedis and received a significant portion of the 250,000 ducats donation that Madrid offered to restore its status as capital.

The Duke's moves were so lucrative that he is often referred to as the "king of real estate," the creator of Spain's "first real estate strike" or even "the ultimate corruptor." His real motives may have been more complex and beyond the simple search for profit due to the privileged information he possessed about the plans of the royal court. One theory is that the move to Valladolid was an attempt to remove the king from influences incompatible with his interests. But whatever the reasons, the story of Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas is fascinating and proves that he also became a cardinal of the Roman Church after he changed his position.