3. The 18th century

The Bourbons were a royal family that ruled Spain during the 18th century, from 1701 to 1808. Here are the main kings during this time:

  • Felipe V reigned from 1700 to 1746. He was the first Bourbon king of Spain.

  • Luis I was king for a very short time in 1724, less than a year.

  • Fernando VI ruled from 1746 to 1759, focusing on peace and arts.

  • Carlos III was king from 1759 to 1788 and is known for his important reforms and developments in Spain.

  • Carlos IV ruled from 1788 to 1808 and faced challenges during his reign.

After Carlos IV, there was a struggle for power between him and Fernando VII from 1808 to 1819, marking the start of changes that led into the 19th century.

Page 2: Arrival of the Bourbons

  • Background of Carlos II (d. 1700):

    • His will favored Felipe, Duke of Anjou (grandson of Louis XIV).

    • He stipulated the preservation of fueros and various kingdoms.

  • Felipe V:

    • Arrived in Madrid in 1701 and ruled until 1746, with a brief interruption in 1724.

    • When Carlos II of Spain died in 1700, he left a will that named Felipe, the Duke of Anjou, as his successor. This was important because Felipe was the grandson of the French King Louis XIV, which made many European countries nervous about the power of France getting stronger. Felipe V, who became king, arrived in Madrid in 1701 and ruled until 1746, except for a short break in 1724.

Page 3: Early Challenges for the Bourbons

  • Opposition to Carlos II's Will:

    • Most European powers opposed the succession of Felipe V, except for France.

  • The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714):

    • Combatants: Felipe V (Bourbon) vs. Archduke Charles of Austria (HRE).

    • Treaty of Utrecht (1713) resolved the conflict, leaving questions about the timeline (1713 vs. 1714).

    • The early challenges for the Bourbons began when Carlos II of Spain died and named Felipe V, who was closely linked to France, as his successor. This worried other countries because they didn't want France to become more powerful. Most European countries said no to Felipe taking the throne, except for France. This disagreement led to the War of Spanish Succession from 1701 to 1714, where Felipe V fought against Archduke Charles from Austria. The war ended with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which helped to settle things but left some questions about when the treaty's terms actually took effect.

Page 4: Family Connections of Felipe V

  • Family Tree Overview:

    • Includes key figures like Luis XIV of France, Carlos II, and Archduke Charles of Austria.

  • Notable Marriages:

    • Felipe V married Maria Luisa of Savoy and later Isabel of Parma. **Family Connections of Felipe V** - **Key Figures**: Felipe V was connected to important European royal families. His family tree includes - **Luis XIV of France**: Felipe V was his grandson. - **Carlos II**: The last Habsburg king of Spain who died in 1700. He named Felipe V as his successor. - **Archduke Charles of Austria**: He was Felipe V's rival for the Spanish throne during the War of Spanish Succession. - **Notable Marriages**: - **Maria Luisa of Savoy**: Felipe's first wife, with whom he had two sons, Luis I and Fernando VI. - **Isabel of Parma**: His second wife, contributing to further royal alliances.

Page 5: The War of Spanish Succession (Team Dynamics)

  • Alliances:

    • Team Felipe V (Bourbon): Supported by Castile and Navarra.

    • Team Archduke Charles: Supported by England, Dutch, HRE, and others fearing Bourbon dominance.

  • Concerns:

    • Balance of power, slave trade fears, and governance differences raised alarms among these powers.

      The War of Spanish Succession was a conflict that started because there were fears about who would rule Spain after King Carlos II died. He had named Felipe V, who was French, as his successor. Many countries, like England and the Dutch, were worried this would make France too powerful. They wanted to support Archduke Charles, who they felt would be a better option to keep a balance of power in Europe. This war involved two teams: one for Felipe V who had support from Spain's regions like Castile and Navarra, and one for Archduke Charles who had support from several countries worried about the Bourbon family getting stronger. They were also concerned about issues like the slave trade and how different countries were governed.

Page 6: War of Spanish Succession Locations and Strategies

  • Theatrical Context:

    • International conflict spanning the Italian Peninsula, Atlantic, and North America.

  • Key Events:

    • Leading to French defeats and an allied victory at the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709.

      The War of Spanish Succession was a big conflict in the early 1700s involving many countries in Europe and beyond. This war mainly started because countries were worried about who would be the next king of Spain after Carlos II died. The fighting spread across different areas, including parts of Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and even North America. One important battle in this war was the Battle of Malplaquet in 1709, where the countries working together against France achieved victory, showing that they were strong enough to defeat the French forces.

Page 7: Turning Points in the War

  • 1710 Events:

    • Death of Emperor Joseph of HRE leading to Archduke Charles becoming Emperor Charles VI.

    • Shifted British interest to peace negotiations after Catalonia's invasion by France.

  • Outcome:

    • Established peace, leading to Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, while Catalans resisted until September 11, 1714.

      In 1710, a significant event happened when the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph passed away. This allowed Archduke Charles to become Emperor Charles VI. This change caught the British attention, making them more interested in negotiating peace after France invaded Catalonia, a region in Spain. As a result of these peace efforts, a treaty was created in 1713, which aimed to resolve the conflicts from the War of Spanish Succession. However, the Catalans continued to resist French control until September 11, 1714.

Page 8: Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

  • Key Features:

    • Aimed to balance maritime (Britain) and continental (France) powers.

    • Felipe V confirmed as King of Spain without a union with France.

    • Spain ceded territories: Spanish Netherlands and Spanish Italy to HRE, Menorca and Gibraltar to GB.

      The Treaty of Utrecht, signed in 1713, was an agreement made to settle conflicts after the War of Spanish Succession. It aimed to make sure that no single country, like France, would become too powerful compared to others, especially Britain. Under this treaty, Felipe V was recognized as the king of Spain, but Spain would not be joined with France. Additionally, Spain had to give up some of its territories. This included giving the Spanish Netherlands and parts of Italy to the Holy Roman Empire and Menorca and Gibraltar to Great Britain.

Page 9: Governance Challenges for the Bourbons

  • Governance Questions:

    • Issues regarding how to govern, and definitions of Enlightenment despotism and divine right.

  • Post-War Influence:

    • The War of Spanish Succession impacted both domestic and international policies.

      The Bourbons faced challenges in how to govern Spain after their rise to power. They struggled with important questions about the best way to rule. There were two main ideas at play: **Enlightenment despotism**, which is when a ruler has absolute power but follows principles of reason and enlightenment; and **divine right**, a belief that a king's authority comes directly from God. After the War of Spanish Succession, these governance issues became even more complex as the war affected both internal policies (how the government managed the country) and external policies (how Spain interacted with other countries).

Page 10: Felipe V's Reign (1700-1746)

  • Influence of Louis XIV:

    • Felipe V identified as a Frenchman.

  • Marriages:

    • First to Maria Luisa of Savoy, producing Luis I and Fernando VI.

    • Second to Isabel of Parma, leading to Carlos III.

Page 11: Felipe V's Domestic Policy

  • Decretos de Nueva Planta (1707 & 1716):

    • Adopted a French model, streamlined governance, and centralized authority.

  • Changes in Administration:

    • Shift from viceroys to colonial governance, and reduction of church power.

Page 12: Felipe V's International Policy

  • Post-War Adjustments:

    • A period of limited conflict after 1714, including a minor conflict with GB in 1733 for regain of Spanish Italy.

    • Engagements in international treaties/significance of Pacts de familia.

Page 13: Transition of Power to Fernando VI

  • Luis I's Short Reign:

    • Ruled for less than 8 months in 1724.

  • Fernando VI's Interests:

    • Known for patronage of the arts; his governance was managed by Marques de la Ensenada.

Page 14: Policies of Marques de la Ensenada

  • Domestic Policies:

    • Initiated significant economic changes, such as the establishment of banks.

    • Promoted a modern navy and sought peace with the Papacy.

  • International Strategies:

    • Embraced a policy of neutrality while maintaining strong alliances, especially with France.

Page 15: Carlos III (r. 1759-1788)

  • Profile:

    • An enlightened despot known for political, economic, and social reforms.

  • Role as King:

    • Governed actively despite ruling by proxy, known for significant reforms aiming to modernize Spain.

Page 16: Carlos III's Domestic Policy

  • Nation-Building Initiatives:

    • Emphasized reforms in governance and education.

    • Limited the Church's power through the expulsion of Jesuits and property confiscation.

  • Social Reforms:

    • Enforced equality laws under the Pragmática de 1783 which aimed to advance the rights of marginalized groups.

Page 17: National Identity Under Carlos III

  • Symbols of Monarchy:

    • Created a Royal March, established new national flags, signaling a shift toward a unified Spanish identity.

Page 18: Carlos III's International Affairs

  • Active Engagement:

    • Rejected neutrality, engaging in alliances and conflicts such as the Seven Years’ War and Revolutionary War.

  • Territorial Gains and Losses:

    • Treaty results impacting North American territories; strategic maneuvers to regain lost lands.

Page 19: Carlos IV (1748-1819)

  • Profile:

    • Became king at 40, ruled from 1788-1808, marked by proxy governance and personal interests.

    • Came into power during significant changes like the French Revolution.

Page 20: Carlos IV's Political Dynamics

  • Prime Ministers and Policies:

    • Served under different prime ministers, facing the challenges of the French Revolution.

  • Military Challenges:

    • Notable defeats against Britain and shifting priorities under Napoleonic pressures.

Page 21: Manuel Godoy's Role

  • Treaty of Fountainebleau (1807):

    • Instrumental in partitioning Portugal, leading to significant territorial shifts.

  • Political Turmoil:

    • Godoy's downfall following popular dissent and events of March 1808.

Page 22: Events of May 1808

  • Mutiny of Aranjuez:

    • Resulted in Carlos IV's abdication in favor of Fernando VII and upheaval against French control.

  • Significance:

    • Catalyzed the independence movements across Spanish America.