Spanish Empire Under Habsburg Rule: 16th-17th Centuries
The Spanish Empire Under the Habsburgs
Shifting Focus to a More Hispanic Monarchy
This period saw a move away from European possessions, equipping the Spanish monarchy with a more Hispanic character. Philip II’s closest associates were mostly Spaniards, and international politics and royal marriages increasingly took into account the interests of Castile, which financed most of his policies. Philip II’s foreign policy was inspired by the same principles as his father’s: the defense of Catholicism
Read MoreBaroque Architecture: Italy, France, and Spain
1. Introduction: Urban and General Characteristics, Baroque Architecture in Italy, Bernini and Borromini, The Palace of Power: Versailles
Introduction to Baroque: The seventeenth century in Europe was a time of general crisis. After the Council of Trent (1545-1648), the final split of Christendom occurred into two rival blocs: Protestants and Catholics. This art was developed through two currents: the Church and the European powers. By the first third of the eighteenth century, the Rococo style appeared,
Read MoreSpanish History: Monarchy Crisis to Civil War (1898-1939)
The Decline of the Monarchy and the Rise of the Republic (1898-1939)
The Decline of the *Turno* (1898-1917)
The Conservative Reformist Stage
The reign of Alfonso XIII (1902) began with a crisis caused by the disaster of 1898. This led the dynastic parties to initiate reforms to regenerate Spanish political life. While *Turno* parties were losing influence, the opposition became stronger:
- The Republicans increased their electoral influence.
- Catalan nationalist groups achieved a broad victory in 1907.
- Socialism
Argentina’s Political and Economic History: 1886-1930
Unicato (1886-1890)
Unicato refers to the political system implemented by Miguel Juárez Celman during his presidency (1886-1890). He concentrated power by simultaneously serving as President of the Nation and head of the National Autonomist Party (PAN). Initially, President Celman brought in his advisor, Miguel Juárez Celman. However, upon assuming the presidency, Juárez Celman rebelled against his political mentor. He then imposed what he termed the Unicato.
The ensuing revolution was bloody.
Read MoreSpanish History: 16th and 17th Century Politics and Society
Spain in the Sixteenth Century: The Political Model of the Habsburgs
The first two Habsburgs increased royal power and improved the administration of the state. They tried to surround themselves with lawyers and modest officials, away from the aristocracy of politics.
In each kingdom, a viceroy was placed representing the king, except in the Netherlands, where a governor general ruled. To advise the king in decision-making, councils were formed by lawyers, officials, nobles, and ecclesiastics. These
Read MoreThe Rise and Fall of Primo de Rivera’s Regime
Introduction
Captain General of Catalonia, Miguel Primo de Rivera, carried out a military coup with the support of the Catalan bourgeoisie, beset by anarchist terrorism, effective from the Liceo pump.
The significant silence of the King provided the stimulus needed for the coup. Alfonso XIII commissioned Primo de Rivera to form a new government.
Causes
The factors behind the military dictatorship as a solution to the crisis in the country were among the upper bourgeoisie, the middle classes, and the
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