Spain Under the Habsburg Dynasty: A Concise History
Carlos V (Holy Roman Emperor) / Carlos I (Spain)
- Inheritance (Maternal): Castilla, Navarra, Aragon, Italian territories
- Inheritance (Paternal): German lands, Netherlands, Franche-Comté
Domestic Policy
Uprisings against a foreign king:
- The Revolt of the Comuneros in Castilla: Nobles, bourgeoisie, and peasants protested increasing taxes. The Battle of Villalar (1521) resulted in the deaths of Bravo, Padilla, and Maldonado.
- Germania Revolts in Valencia and Mallorca: The nobility defeated the rebels.
Foreign
Read MoreFrench Revolution & Napoleonic Empire: Key Events
The Removal of the Old Regime
The Work of the Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)
- The Constituent Assembly aimed to dismantle the Old Regime in France and draft a new constitution.
- In 1789, it passed the Decree on the Abolition of Feudal Rights, eliminating the tithe and jurisdictional privileges, and granting all citizens access to any public office.
- Subsequently, it drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, recognizing and guaranteeing personal freedoms, equality before the law,
Bourbon Absolutism and the French Revolution: Causes and End of the Old Regime
Bourbon Absolutism
The first Spanish Bourbons followed the example of their relatives and implemented the French model of absolute, centralized power. All power resided in the monarch, and the courts were rendered void. To govern, the king relied on a few advisors or secretaries appointed directly by the monarch, assembled in what became known as the council or cabinet of ministers. The Cortes disappeared, except for the Castilian one, and legislative work depended exclusively on institutions controlled
Read MoreThe Democratic Sexennium in Spain (1868-1874)
The Democratic Sexennium (1868-1874)
The 1868 revolution, known as La Gloriosa, was a military coup with popular support. Local and provincial groups, organized as Volunteers of Liberty, joined the movement. The revolution’s success stemmed from aligning with numerous interests and the conspirators’ promises, including the abolition of unpopular taxes.
However, after Queen Isabella II’s exile, the conspirators, including Serrano, Prim, and Sagasta, moved to halt the revolution. The new government
Read MoreSpanish History: From Charles IV to Alfonso XIII
Charles IV (1788-1808)
Charles IV halted enlightened reforms. Napoleon offered Manuel Godoy the throne of Portugal if Spain joined France against Portugal. Through the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Spain and France agreed to invade Portugal, but the French army occupied Spain, leading to the popular uprising known as the Motín de Aranjuez. Charles IV deposed Godoy and abdicated in favor of Ferdinand VII.
Joseph I Bonaparte (1808-1813)
Napoleon summoned Charles IV and Ferdinand VII to Bayonne, where they
Read MoreUnderstanding Modern Imperialism: Key Events and Concepts
Understanding Modern Imperialism
Modern imperialism usually refers to the attitude of some powers, principally in Europe, from the modern era to the decolonization process after World War II. More specifically, it refers to the Age of Imperialism, a period from 1871 to 1919, when there was a race to build empires, notably the division of Africa.
Key Events and Concepts
- Berlin Conference: Held from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885, in Berlin, called by France and England to address the challenges