Enlightenment Ideas and Bourbon Absolutism in Spain

C. The Enlightenment

Enlightenment: 18th-century movement that criticised the Old Regime. Ideas: Reason (logic), Tolerance (respect for ideas), Natural rights (freedom), Education (knowledge and science), Equality and freedom (rejection of privileges).

Thinkers:

• Locke: people's rights, criticised absolutism.
• Voltaire: tolerance and freedom of expression.
• Montesquieu: separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers.
• Rousseau: freedom, equality and popular sovereignty.

Enlightened Despotism

Absolute monarchs modernised their countries without sharing power. Rulers included Joseph II (Austria), Catherine the Great (Russia), Frederick the Great (Prussia) and Charles III (Spain). They improved education, government and the economy but kept absolute power.

"Everything for the people, but without the people."

D. Bourbon Absolutism in Spain

War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1713/14)

Charles II died childless in 1700. The candidates were Philip of Anjou (Bourbon) and Archduke Charles (Habsburg). The war was both international and civil.

Treaty of Utrecht (1713): recognised Philip V as king; Great Britain received Gibraltar and Menorca, among other advantages.

Philip V's Reforms

Philip V strengthened absolutism and centralised Spain.

• Nueva Planta decrees (1707–1716): abolished laws and institutions in several Crown of Aragon territories and introduced Castilian institutions.
• Reformed the army, navy and government.

Bourbon Kings

• Philip V: strengthened absolutism and tried to recover Italian territories.
• Ferdinand VI: neutrality and peace.
• Charles III: modernised Spain through reforms.

Charles III (1759–1788)

Spain's main enlightened despot.

• Economy: promoted American trade and royal factories.
• Agriculture: improved irrigation and cultivated more land.
• Church: reduced its power and expelled the Jesuits.
• Education: created schools.
• Government: modernised administration.
• 1766: Esquilache Riots, caused by popular discontent and the cost-of-living crisis.

Reforms had limited success due to opposition from privileged groups.

Charles IV (1788–1808)

The French Revolution (1789) stopped many reforms because the government feared revolutionary ideas. Godoy failed to solve economic problems.

• 1795: Peace of Basel with revolutionary France.
• 1796: Spain allied with France again.
• 1805: Spanish fleet defeated at Trafalgar.
• 1808: Charles IV abdicated in favour of Ferdinand VII.