The millones were an indirect tax on food in Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were first imposed by Philip II and were approved by the 4 April 1590. The tax was initially intended in 1590 as a temporary measure to replace the Spanish Armada, which had been lost in attacking England. The millones was voted by the Cortes of Castille in 1590 as a 6-year grant for 8 million ducats. It was originally levied on the cuatro especies of wine, meat, olive oil and vinegar. The tax was renewed by the Cortes in 1596 and was used also by Philip's successors Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II. Under Philip III, the tax brought in 3 million ducats a year, but that fell back to 2 million ducats a year because of population loss and recession at the end of his reign. In 1626, Philip IV and his