Spanish Monarchy in 18th Century: From War of Succession to Enlightenment
The War of Succession and the Treaty of Utrecht
In 1700, the death of Charles II, the last Habsburg monarch of Spain, triggered a power struggle known as the War of Succession. Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, and Archduke Charles of Habsburg, son of the Austrian Emperor, were the main contenders. Charles II’s will favored Philip, who became Philip V of Spain. This ignited conflict among European powers, with England, Holland, and Portugal backing the Austrian candidate. The war
Read MoreThe Rise of Fascism in Italy: From Constitutional Monarchy to Totalitarian State
Executive power belonged to the King who exercises it through the government, with ministers, which may be impeached by the House and tried by the Senate. The average duration of 70 governments between 1848 and 1922 there was just over a year and dissolutions of the House were normal. Political practice was changing the meaning of the statute, and evolved into a parliamentary system, among other reasons because the successive kings did not abuse their powers. Until the 80s the system could be described
Read More18th Century Spanish Political and Cultural Landscape: A Historical Overview
18th Century Spanish Political and Cultural Landscape
Political and Cultural Decline
The 18th century witnessed a decline in Spain’s political, military, economic, and cultural spheres. Following the death of Carlos II in 1700, the War of the Spanish Succession erupted, leading to the reign of Felipe V and the dawn of the Bourbon dynasty.
Felipe V and the Bourbon Dynasty
Felipe V reorganized the administration and improved the economy. He fostered French cultural influence, established new schools,
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic: From Reform to Revolution
Historical Background
The international situation was marked by the crisis of 1929, leading to the Great Depression and social fears that fueled a crisis of democracy. Totalitarian movements like Stalinism on the left and Fascism on the right emerged. In Spain, economic stagnation produced social imbalances. The 1929 crisis increased unemployment and social polarization, exacerbated by a lack of democratic culture. This led to economic and social reforms by Republican governments, which faced significant
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic: From Reform to Revolution
Read MoreCounter Policy (1934-1936): During this period, the right-wing government implemented policies that hindered agrarian reform. The budget for land redistribution was significantly reduced, the number of peasants allowed to settle was capped at 2,000 per year, and wages were lowered. The Land Reform Act of 1935 further exacerbated the situation by making it easier for landlords to evict tenants who couldn’t pay rent and more difficult for farmers to own leased land. Settled farmers were displaced,
The History of Catholicism in Early America
Ferdinand and Isabella
Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile, beginning the unification of Spain by combining Aragon and Castile. They wanted to remove Muslims from Spain and overthrow the feudal order. They also attempted to centralize the Church of Spain and create a national standing army.
Bulls of 1478 and 1482
- Bull of 1478 – Established by Pope Sixtus IV, this bull gave Ferdinand and Isabella the right to ensure everyone in their territory was Catholic, leading to the Spanish Inquisition.