Spain’s Transformation: From Bourbon Succession to Liberal Revolutions (1700s-1800s)
Posted on Jul 12, 2025 in Geography
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714)
Causes of the Conflict
- Death of Charles II of Spain without an heir.
- Clash of candidates: Philip of Anjou and Charles of Austria.
Conflicting Sides
- International Alliance: Austria, Holland, Portugal, and Britain supported Charles of Austria.
- France: Supported Philip V of Bourbon.
- Spain: The Crown of Aragon supported Charles of Austria; the rest of the territory recognized Philip V.
Resolution: Peace of Utrecht (1713)
- International recognition of Philip V as King of Spain.
- Territorial compensation for other powers.
- Impact on Spain:
- Suppression of the Crown of Aragon’s institutions (from 1707).
- September 11, 1714: Suppression in Barcelona.
- 1715: Occupation of Mallorca.
The Absolutist Monarchy: Bourbon Reforms (Post-1714)
Centralization and Administrative Reform
- Cancellation of traditional institutions and constitutions: Generalitat, Courts, Council of One Hundred.
- Imposition of Spanish laws and institutions: Nueva Planta Decrees.
- Courts established for the whole of Spain.
- Abolition of the Council of Aragon.
- Imposition of Captains General, Audiencias, and Corregidores in cities.
- Reorganization of the Hacienda (land registration).
Economy and Society in the 18th Century
Society by Estates
- Privileged Estates: Nobility and Clergy.
- Farmers under the seigniorial system.
- Small growth of the bourgeoisie.
Agrarian Economy
- Land primarily in the hands of the nobility and clergy (entailed properties).
- High agricultural taxes.
- Weakness of industry and foreign trade.
Bourbon Reformism and the Enlightenment
Enlightened Ideas and Figures
- French influence on enlightened ideas.
- Spanish Enlightened Figures: Jovellanos, Floridablanca.
- Key Concerns: Education and economic backwardness.
Enlightened Despotism under Charles III
- Origins: Charles III’s arrival from Naples, bringing enlightened ideas.
- First Conflict: Squillace Mutiny.
- Regalism: Expulsion of the Jesuits, civil laws.
- Society: Limitation of noble privileges.
- Education: Reform of universities and schools, creation of academies and economic societies.
Economic Transformation in the 18th Century
Population Growth
- Limited by subsistence crises.
- Greater growth on the periphery.
Agricultural Changes
- Limitation of Mesta privileges.
- Initiation of agrarian reform.
- Freedom of grain trade.
- Expansion of vine cultivation.
Freedom of Trade
- Decree of free trade with America.
- Expansion of Catalan trade with America.
Freedom of Industry
- Establishment of royal manufactures.
- Private manufacturing (e.g., Indianas in Catalonia).
The Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814)
Causes of the War
- Abdications of Bayonne.
- Joseph Bonaparte proclaimed King of Spain.
- Popular uprising of May 2, 1808.
Beginning of the Conflict
- Power vacuum and inability of authorities to confront the invasion.
- Formation of the Supreme Central Junta.
- Popular resistance through guerrilla warfare and sieges.
Ideological Positions
- Afrancesados (supporters of Joseph Bonaparte).
- Patriotic Front (Absolutists, Liberals, Enlightened).
Evolution of the Conflict
- Napoleon’s domination of the peninsula (1809).
- Guerrilla warfare leading to French attrition.
- Anglo-Spanish offensive (1812-1813).
- Napoleon’s withdrawal.
- Annexation of Catalonia to France (1812): Catalan as official language, economic and legal reforms, popular resistance.
The 1812 Constitution: “La Pepa”
- Drafted by the Cortes of Cadiz in 1812, gathered on the Isle of León under French siege.
- Liberal in nature, known as “La Pepa” because it was approved on Saint Joseph’s Day.
- Promulgated by the Regency on March 19, 1812.
- Revoked: By King Ferdinand VII on May 4, 1814.
- Restored: In 1820 by General Riego.
- Repealed: By the French (Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis) in 1823.
- Restored: In 1836 after the events of La Granja on August 13, 1836.
- Valid until October 24, 1836, when a new text was introduced and promulgated on June 18, 1837.
- This constitution was the first in Spain, and the first with a progressive character.
Restoration of Absolutism (1814-1820)
- Return of Ferdinand VII (March 1814).
- Repeal of the Cadiz Constitution.
- Persecution of Liberals and restoration of the Old Regime.
- Serious economic situation.
- Liberal pronouncements (pronunciamientos).
The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)
- Riego’s Pronunciamiento.
- Ferdinand VII swears to the 1812 Constitution.
- Liberal reforms, causing confrontation with the Church, nobility, and peasants.
- Royalist uprisings in Catalonia.
The Ominous Decade (1823-1833)