Spanish Dynastic Shift: Reforms and Conflicts
Dynastic Change and Internal Reforms
War of Succession and the Treaty of Utrecht
The death of Charles II without an heir triggered an international conflict. Two candidates vied for the throne: Archduke Charles and Philip of Anjou. Charles II’s will designated Philip of Anjou as his successor, leading to the War of Succession.
Austria, unwilling to concede the Spanish throne, allied with the British. They captured Gibraltar, and Archduke Charles gained control of the Crown of Aragon. French support
Read MorePrimo de Rivera’s Dictatorship: Causes, Coup & Consequences
The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera
Causes:
The main causes were:
- The government’s refusal to increase war budgets to avenge the humiliation of Annual.
- The dissolution of the Boards.
- Significant public opinion demanding an end to the war.
The right wing disapproved of the rise of nationalism in Catalonia and the Basque Country. The formation of the PCE (Spanish Communist Party) and the rise of socialists and republicans also contributed. Social struggles led the ruling classes to consider an authoritarian
Read MoreOctober Revolution of 1934: Causes, Consequences, and Aftermath
The October Revolution of 1934
The entry of three CEDA ministers into the government in October 1934 was interpreted by the Socialists as a surrender of the Republic to its enemies. This event triggered a revolution that had been long in preparation. The insurrectionary movement had the support of the Generalitat, the PCE, and the CNT, but it largely became a political general strike in the major cities. In some instances, the conflict lasted a week, with attempts at armed insurrection by the socialist
Read MoreWorld War I: Key Events and Turning Points
The Outbreak of War
On June 28, 1914, Franz Ferdinand, heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, which had been occupied by Austria-Hungary since 1908. The assassin was a Bosnian student with links to Serbian nationalist organizations. Austria-Hungary, encouraged by Germany, accused Serbia of the murder and declared war on July 28. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary to protect Serbia, and Germany declared war on Russia and France. Britain declared
Read MoreThe First Carlist War: Dynastic Succession and Ideological Conflict
The First Carlist War
The Carlist civil war, a dynastic succession dispute, was an ideological conflict marked by the struggle between liberal revolution and traditionalist absolutism.
On September 29, 1833, Fernando VII died, leaving the dynastic crisis unresolved. Carlos Maria Isidro, his brother, exiled in Portugal, published the Abrantes Manifesto on October 1, asserting his dynastic rights over those of his niece Isabella. This ignored Ferdinand VII’s amendments to the law on succession, which
Read MoreCarlist Wars and the Foral Question in 19th Century Spain
The Opposition to the Liberal System: The Carlist Wars and the Foral Question
Shortly before his death, Fernando VII abolished the Salic Law (in force in Spain since Philip V), which excluded women from the throne if there were male heirs in direct or collateral lines. He issued the Pragmatic Sanction, allowing his eldest daughter to inherit the throne even if she had no sons. His brother, Carlos M. ยช Isidro, excluded from the throne due to his niece, did not recognize Isabel as heir and asserted
Read More