4.SPAIN IN THE 17TH CENTURY
During the 17th century, the Austrian Habsburgs ruled Spain (Felipe III, Felipe IV and Carlos II). During this century, the Spanish monarchy fell into decline
On the Peninsula
Validos
On an international
economic situation worsened
Sain began to lose its political importance until it became a second rate power
The Austrian Habsburgs freed themselves of their governmental obligations
delegating power to their trusted advisors
who acted as prime ministers
What did they do?
used their power to become rich
give positions of power and priviledges to their supporters and family
corruption increased rivalry among the different groups of nobles
leading to conspiracies
4.1.THE AUSTRIAN HABSBURGS
Felipe IV(1621-1665)
Carlos II (1665-1700)
Felipe III(1621-1665)
his valido
the Duke of Lerma governed
Spain was bankrupt
the armed conflicts were ended
a peace treaty was signed with England
truce was declared with the Protestants in the Low Countries
1609
expulsion of the Moriscos was ordered
They were accused of being fake christians and of practising their own religion in secret
Felipe III wished to demonstrate his commitment to Catholicism and compensate for ceding to the Protestants in the Low Countries.
Moriscos were considered untrustworthy by the rest of the population
expulsion had an extremely negative effect on the Spanish economy, particularly in agriculture
his valido
Count-Duke of Olivares
who attempted to regain power over Europe
Spain took part in new wars
Thirty Years' War
Olivares attempted to introduce centralising reforms to increase tax collection.
Union of Arms
which proposed that all the kingdoms ruled by the Spanish monarchy provide soldiers
funds to cover the cost of the European wars
Crown of Aragón's kingdoms
the courts opposed this idea and the proposal failed
Spain went bankrupt
several times and after many years at war
numerous domestic rebellions
serious ones were in Catalonia and Portugal
In Portugal
the nobility managed to appoint a Portuguese king
(Conspiracies also occurred in Andalucía and Aragón, as well as revolts in Naples and Sicily)
Peace of Westphalia
Spain focused on controlling its domestic revolts
resuming its war against France
1652
the royal army took control of Barcelona and ended the revolt in Cataluña
Treaty of the Pyrenees
1659
Spain was forced to sign a peace treaty with France
consequences of the Treaty
France renounced Catalonia but gained the Catalonian territories of Roussillon and Cerdanya, as well as territories in Flanders.
A marriage was arranged between Louis XIV, King of France, and Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria and the daughter of Felipe IV, King of Spain
was also suffering from an illness
1668
Spain recognised Portugal's independence
Different validos took power during his reign
France continued its hostilities against a weak Spain, gaining more territories
Carlos II left no heirs, creating a serious conflict over succession when he died.
4.2.THE WAR OF SUCCESSION
Carlos II named Felipe, Duke of Anjou, as his successor to the Spanish throne
He was from the Bourbon dynasty and was the grandson of King Louis XIV of France.
In all the other countries this decision caused great fear.
This would mean that the thrones of Spain and France would be united under a single ruler.
War of Succession
1701-1713
an anti-Bourbon alliance was formed
Carlos, Archduke of Austria
The candidates and their supporters were the following:
Felipe was proclaimed King of Spain
The Archduke Carlos was proclaimed King of Spain
as Philip V
in Madrid in 1700
He was supported by Castile and France.
in Barcelona in 1705
was recognised by the Courts of Aragón, Valencia and Cataluña
had the military support of Austria, Great Britain, the United Provinces, Portugal, Savoy and Prussia.
Battle of Almansa in 1707
Felipe's victory
he conquered Valencia and Aragón
the coalition also gained victories and the war continued
1711
Archduke Carlos inherited the throne of Austria
Treaty of Utrecht
signed in 1713
between France and the coalition, with the exception of Austria
Treaty of Rastatt
1714
Felipe V took control of Barcelona and ended the war
The consequences of the War of Succession
France
Austria
imposed Felipe V as King of Spain
Both kingdoms were governed by the Bourbon dynasty
gained the Spanish Low Countries, Naples, Sardinia and Milan
Savoy acquired Sicily.
Great Britain
gained Gibraltar, Minorca and the French colonies in North America
trade concessions with the Spanish colonies
Spain
lost its European territories but maintained the ones it held in the Americas
The kingdom of Spain became a centralised state, based on the French model
Felipe V passed the Nueva Planta' decrees (1707-1716)
which abolished the fueros and the institutions of the Crown of Aragón
replaced by Castilian laws
