The document discusses Spain in the 18th century, including the War of the Spanish Succession, the reigns of various kings, political and economic reforms, and foreign policy developments. It provides details on how Philip V centralized power through decrees that abolished regional laws and institutions. Economic reforms promoted agriculture, industry, and trade. Spain pursued an alliance with France and tried to regain lost territories in Europe while preserving its American colonies.

1. PHILIPVFERDINANDVI
CHARLESIII
CHARLESIV
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY: ABSOLUTISM AND CENTRALISMSPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY: ABSOLUTISM AND CENTRALISM
IES SANTA CATALINA
BURGO DE OSMA- SORIA
4º . HISTORIA/HISTORY

2. Timeline

3. SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

4. FIRST ACTIVITY
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

5. FIRST ACTIVITYSPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

6. THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION
CHRONOLOGY
CAUSES
CANDIDATES TO THE THRONE
SIDES IN SPAIN
SIDES IN EUROPE
Complete the table
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

7. SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

8. Answer these questions:
• A. What do you think is a war of succession in
general?
• What was the last Spanish Habsburg King?
• Why the War of Succession started?
• Why did other countries take part in it?
• Draw a conceptual map of the consequences of the
agreements reached in Utrecht
FIRST ACTIVITY
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

9. Philip V
Archduke Charles
Almansa battle
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was fought among several European
powers, principally the Holy Roman Empire, Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, Portugal,
and the Duchy of Savoy, against the Kingdoms of France and Castile and the Electorate of
Bavaria, over a possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under a single
Bourbon monarch. Such an unification would have drastically changed the European balance
of power.
It resulted in the recognition of the Bourbon Philip V as King of Spain while requiring him
both to renounce any claim to the French throne and to cede much of the European Spanish
Crown's possessions.
In 1700, the last Spanish Habsburg King, Charles II of Spain, died without issue, leaving his
possessions to Philip, duc d'Anjou, grandson of his half-sister and King Louis XIV of
France. Philip thereby became Philip V of Spain.
The war began slowly, as Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, fought to protect the Austrian
Habsburg claim to the Spanish inheritance, in favour of his younger son, the archduke
Charles.
The war was concluded by the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714). As a result,
Philip V remained King of Spain but was removed from the French line of succession,
thereby averting a union of the two kingdoms. The Austrians gained most of the Spanish
territories in Italy and the Netherlands. As a consequence, France's hegemony over
continental Europe was ended, and the idea of a balance of power became a part of the
international order.
With regard to the political organization of their kingdoms, Philip issued the Nueva Planta
decrees, following the centralizing approach of the Bourbons in France, ending the political
autonomy of the kingdoms which had made up the Crown of Aragon; territories in Spain that
had supported the Archduke Charles, and up to then had kept their institutions in a
framework of loose dynastic union, lost them. On the other hand, the Kingdom of Navarre
and the Basque Provinces, having supported the king against the Habsburg pretender, did not
lose their autonomy and retained their traditional differentiated institutions and laws
(fueros).

10. Consequences of the War of Succesion (1700-1713)
SPAIN GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE HOLY ROMAN
EMPIRE
Complete the table
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

11. SPAIN GREAT BRITAIN FRANCE HOLY ROMAN
EMPIRE
PHILIP V NORTH AMERICA
TERRITORIES
END OF HIS
HEGEMONIE IN
EUROPE: BALANCE OF
POWER
GAINED TERRITORIES
IN EUROPE: MILÁN,
NAPLES, SPANISH
NETHERLANDS…
FAMILY PACTS WITH
FRANCE
GIBRALTAR AND
MENORCA
LOST TERRITORIES IN
AMERICA
LOST HIS POSSESSION
IN EUROPE
ASIENTO DE NEGROS GAINED TERRITORIES
IN EUROPE: ALSACE,
STRASBURG
MENORCA AND
GIBRALTAR
SACRAMENTO AND
OTHERS TERRITORIES
IN NA
NAVIO DE PERMISO
(500 Tm)
INTERNAL POLITICS:
CENTRALISATION
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

12. SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. THE WAR OF SUCCESSION

13. The political reforms The Bourbons consolidated absolute monarchy in Spain, which
evolved into enlightened despotism, and implanted political and administrative
centralisation.
• In absolute monarchy, all the power was concentrated in the king. To achieve this, the
Bourbons isolated the nobility from power, intervened in the affairs of the Church, and hardly
ever convened the Cortes. They ruled with the help of secretaries or ministers, who were in
charge of the different government affairs.
• Political and administrative centralisation was imposed by Philip V by means of the Nueva
Planta Decrees of 1707, 1715 and 1716. These Decrees suppressed the laws and
institutions of Aragón, Valencia, Catalonia and Mallorca and implanted the Castilian model.
Only the Basque Country and Navarra maintained their charters, called fueros. Furthermore, a
new provincial division was imposed, thus ensuring control of the government over the
entire territory
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. ABSOLUTISM AND CENTRALISM
The political reforms

14. T.2. The 18th century in Spain
Absolutism in Spain
The major representation of absolutism in Spain was Louis XIV’s grandson Philip V, who ascended to the Spanish throne as the first of the
Bourbon line in Spain (after the War of Succession in l7l4). This absolutism also tended towards the French centralization system of
government, unifying and centralizing the administration and legislation (laws) of the kingdoms with the New Model Decrees. With these
decrees, the fueros and all the institutions of Aragon, Valencia, the Baleares and Catalonia disappeared to be replaced by Castilian ones. This
started when the war finished because these territories had fought against Philip in the War of Succession but the subsequent laws were even
more centralist.
The only fueros that continued were the Basque ones, because the Basques had fought in favour of Philip V, but they still suffered some
centralist decrees.
Below is part of two decrees of Philip V underlining his political intentions.
“I have judged it convenient to completely abolish all the fueros, privileges, practices and customs that have been traditionally observed in
the kingdoms of Aragon and Valencia, it being my wish for all of these to become exclusively the laws of Castile.”
Decree by Philip V repealing the fueros of Valencia and Aragon. 1707
“I have resolved that in Catalonia there should be installed a High Court, to be presided over by a Captain General or by a General
Commander of the Royal Arms, so that the offices, after beginning in my name can then continue with theirs. All legal matters to be
discussed in the High Court will take place in the Castilian language. There are also to be installed in Catalonia a number of sheriffs
(corregidores), and for all the towns and cities there will be 12 sheriffs’ posts, whose nomination l reserve exclusively. In the city of
Barcelona there will reside 24 councillors (regidores) and in the others eight, whose nomination again l reserve exclusively. I also maintain
the rights as to the regulation of the State Mint (Fábrica de Monedas).”
Philip V. New Model Decrees, Catalonia. 1716
Read the two decrees of Philip V and then writes which of theese ideas are related with absolutism or centralism.
SECOND ACTIVITY
Read the two decrees of Philip V and then writes which of these ideas are related with
absolutism or centralism.
Read the two decrees of Philip V and then writes which of these ideas are related with
absolutism or centralism.
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. ABSOLUTISM

15. The Enlightenment favoured the creation of Economic Societies of Friends of the
Country (Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País) who spread the innovations of this
period.
• In agriculture the new American crops like maize and potatoes spread and the use of
fertilisers and irrigation were promoted, while fallow land was reduced. New and free
land was also sought for cultivation, and extensive tracts of land were repopulated in Sierra
Morena.
• Industry promoted new techniques of modernisation: the control of the guilds was
criticised and manufacturing was encouraged as in the Royal Factories dedicated to
shipbuilding, the production of weapons and luxury goods such as fabrics, silk, glass, tapestry
and porcelain.
• Domestic trade was boosted because of improved transportation: roads were
widened and paved, bridges were built and a radial road network linking Madrid to the
main peripheral ports was designed. Foreign trade was also revitalised, especially since
freedom of trade was decreed with the American colonies (1778)
The economic reforms
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. ECONOMY

16. • From 8 until 12 millions of
inhabitants
• Inland Spain lost population,
coasts grew.
• 90%, peasants, mainly day
laborers,
• A lot of beggars.
• Urban bourgeoisie, minority (civil
servants, army officers, craftsmen
and merchants).
• Clergy (privileged), owner of 25%
of all the lands.
• Nobility (privileged), landowners.
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. SOCIETY
SPANISH SOCIETY

17. The Bourbons set out to recover their lost territories in Europe and conserve the American
colonies. To achieve these objectives, they signed an alliance with France by means of the so-
called Family Compact or Pacte de Famille (1733, 1743, 1761).
• Philip V followed a revisionist policy on the Treaty of Utrecht aimed at recovering
some of his European possessions for two of the sons he had with
Elisabeth Farnese. Thus, he managed to conquer Naples and Sicily for Charles (1734) and the
Duchy of Parma for Philip, which was lost again shortly thereafter (1737).
• Ferdinand VI favoured a neutral approach in foreign policy.
• Charles III, allied with France, was involved in two conflicts. In Europe, he intervened in the
Seven Years’ War (1761), and signed the Treaty of Paris (1763), in which he ceded Florida to
Great Britain and was granted Louisiana by France. In America, he supported the
revolution of the thirteen British colonies against their mother
country, and through the Treaty of Versailles (1783) he regained Florida and Menorca.
The Bourbons set out to recover their lost territories in Europe and conserve the American
colonies. To achieve these objectives, they signed an alliance with France by means of the so-
called Family Compact or Pacte de Famille (1733, 1743, 1761).
• Philip V followed a revisionist policy on the Treaty of Utrecht aimed at recovering
some of his European possessions for two of the sons he had with
Elisabeth Farnese. Thus, he managed to conquer Naples and Sicily for Charles (1734) and the
Duchy of Parma for Philip, which was lost again shortly thereafter (1737).
• Ferdinand VI favoured a neutral approach in foreign policy.
• Charles III, allied with France, was involved in two conflicts. In Europe, he intervened in the
Seven Years’ War (1761), and signed the Treaty of Paris (1763), in which he ceded Florida to
Great Britain and was granted Louisiana by France. In America, he supported the
revolution of the thirteen British colonies against their mother
country, and through the Treaty of Versailles (1783) he regained Florida and Menorca.
New foreign policy
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. FOREIGN POLICY

18. Philip V (1700-1746)
• French, sad and depressive, he missed Versailles from La Granja (a
copy).
• 1724, a short reign of Louis I, his son.
• 1707/1716: NUEVA PLANTA DECREES for Aragonese Crown
countries. Aftermath: a centralized government following
Castilian model, a real state without customs inside. Spain is
divided into provinces (in front, a major general, not a viceroy).
• An absolute monarch, despot but “enlightened”, Parliament
(Cortes) won’t be called.
• The king ruled with ministers: Patiño reorganized a powerful navy.
• Foreing policy: Spain was stripped of her remaining European
dominions in 1714. Spain reconquered some of her lost Italian
possessions from the Austrians in the 18th century, placing
Bourbon princes on the thrones of Parma, Naples, and Sicily.
However, these were not incorporated again into the Spanish
Crown. This policy was called “irredentism”.
• Two Family’s Pacts with France against England.
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. REIGNS

19. Ferdinand VI (1746-1759)
• Educated and clever.
• The Marquis of Ensenada, his more important minister, made a lot of public works and
reorganized the Treasury to get more taxes. He strengthened the navy, called foreing
technicians and scientists and he also ordered to make the famous cadastre (Catastro), a
general report about the wealth of the country and the taxpayers.
The King Ensenada
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. REIGNS

20. Charles III (1759-1788)
• A good king, a good major for Madrid, surrounded by good ministers:
Aranda, Floridablanca, Campomanes.
• Former king of Naples and Sicily.
• Third Family’s Pact with France (England is already a serious threat
for the Empire): as a result of the Seven Years’ War, France lost
Canada and Spain, Florida. As a compensation, France gave Louisiana
to Spain.
• France and Spain supported Americans against British (War of
Independence): 1783, Peace of Versailles, Spain recovered Florida
and Menorca.
• INSIDE REFORMS (Enlightened despotism):
– Sierra Morena colonization
– Royal manufactures (silk, crystal, tapestries, china) and cotton
mills (Catalonia)
– Free trade among Spanish and American ports, big shipping
companies
– New roads and bridges
– Canals, as Castile or Imperial ones
– Tenants’ expelling from land will be banned, to plough up new
lands will not (against Mesta)
– New clothes (shorter capes, three point hats). This thing and
the wheat’s high cost caused a rebellion against the minister
Esquilache (1766)
– Jesuits’ expulsion (Indian missions in Paraguay will be
abandoned)
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. REIGNS

21. ESQUILACHE RIOTS (1766)
The increase of the taxes and of the price of the bread
The privileged instigate the people´s revolt using the new hygiene
and public order ordinances as a pretext.
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. REIGN OF CHARLES III
CAUSES

22. Charles IV (1788-1808)
• No interest, no competence.
• The government, in Prime Minister Manuel
Godoy hands.
• Spain follows French foreign policy.
• Reforms will be stopped because of the
fear for French Revolution.
• Moreover, reforms will be failed because
bourgeoisie is a weak minority, people
have a conservative and religious closed
mind and ancient nobility and clergy were
very powerful.
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY. REIGNS

23. FUENTES
JESÚS MANA
http://es.slideshare.net/manavega/spanish-18th-century-15966900?qid=1b68bdc8-3163-4d74-a249-
a45a92b0ca11&v=qf1&b=&from_search=1
PAPEFONS
http://es.slideshare.net/papefons/the-first-bourbons-and-
enlightenment?qid=6f8c4e3b-c7fb-4844-87c6-
47f427acd614&v=default&b=&from_search=5
4 History Social Science. C. Echevarría and others. Anaya
http://www.slideshare.net/iesfraypedro/spanish-18th-
century
SPAIN IN THE 18th CENTURY
https://www.bgc.bard.edu/research/library/vmr/hours-
location-staff.html