Bourbon Dynasty in Spain: Reforms and Impacts

The Bourbons: A New Dynasty

War of Succession (1700-1713)

• In 1700, King Charles II died.
• Fights:
• France and Spain vs. Austria, Britain, United Provinces, Savoy, and Portugal.

Two candidates:

• Philip of Anjou (French crown and supported by the crown of Castile)
• Archduke Charles of Austria (German crown and supported by the Crown of Aragon)

Solution

The German Emperor died, and his eldest son, the Archduke, inherited the crown. As in the Peace of Utrecht and Rastatt, Philip of Anjou waived rights to the French crown and inherited the Spanish crown, becoming Philip V.

• Peace of Utrecht (1713)
• Peace of Rastatt (1714)
• Philip V waived his rights to the French throne.
• Spain lost:
  • The United Provinces
  • The Italian territories
  • Minorca and Gibraltar were ceded to Britain

The Introduction of the Absolute State

Felipe V, Ferdinand VI, Charles III, and Charles IV introduced the absolute monarchy, in which the king concentrated all powers.

• Departure for the nobility
• Control of the clergy
• The courts did not convene
• Secretaries appeared (Navy, Treasury, Indies, etc.).

Spanish Foreign Policy in the 18th Century

Felipe V

Policy to recover the lost possessions in Utrecht and get thrones for children born with Elizabeth Farnese.

Fernando VI

Preferred a policy of neutrality.

Carlos III

Participated in two wars against England alongside France.

• Intervened in the Seven Years' War from 1716, which ended with the British victory and the Peace of Paris.
• Spain lost Florida and Sacramento.
• Received Louisiana from France.
• Spain supported the independence of the thirteen American colonies.
• Recovered Menorca, Florida, and Sacramento.

Carlos IV

Foreign policy was marked by the French Revolution and the War of Succession.

Enlightenment and Bourbon Reformism

The Enlightenment

In Spain, the ideas of the Enlightenment spread through books, magazines, travel to France, and encyclopedias.

Leading Figures

• Illustrated
• Floridablanca
• Jovellanos
• Campomanes
• Andrade
• Padre Feijoo

Political and Administrative Reforms

• Political and administrative centralization
• Decrees of the new plant (1707, 1715, and 1716)
• The territory was divided into provinces; at the front of each one was a captain-general.
• The Treasury was reformed.
• The army created regiments

Demographic Reforms

• Measures of the Illustrated
• Control of emigration
• Agriculture
• Health
• Medicine
• Reforestation
• Added birth and death
• Increase in population between 1717 and 1797. It went from 7.5 to 10.5 million.
• Increase in outlying areas.
• Barcelona and Madrid exceeded 100,000.

Economic Reforms

Economic societies were created by friends of the country.

Agrarian Reform

• New crops
• Restriction of privileges of the Mesta (Association of Grenadiers)
• Sale of Church property
• Reforestation

Industrial Reforms

• Modernization of the techniques
• New industrial types (The actual factories)
• Customs were created
• Craft-Prestige

Domestic Trade

• Roads
• Bridges
• Radial-Red Road
• Inland Navigation

Trade with America

• The post-monopoly of Cadiz from 1717
• Chartered companies were created
• Free trade with America

Social Reforms

Nobility

• Reduce their number
• They have training
• Get a job

Clergy

• Expulsion of the Jesuits
• It limits the power of the Inquisition

Bourgeoisie

• Class on the rise
• Honorable professions
• Benefits