Spain's 18th Century: Bourbon Reforms, Diplomacy, and Enlightenment

Spain's 18th Century: Bourbon Reforms, Diplomacy, and Enlightenment

Foreign Policy in Europe

In the 18th century, Spain maintained a permanent alliance with France, driven by the familial ties of their monarchs and French geopolitical power. This led to the signing of the Family Compacts in 1733, 1743, and 1761. Through this foreign policy, Italian territories (Naples, Parma, and Modena) were secured in the first half of the century for the children of Philip V's second wife.

The second half of the century saw conflicts with Britain, including attempts to recover Gibraltar, participation in the Seven Years' War, and the recovery of Menorca in 1783. Charles III supported the independence of the United States.

The French Revolution sparked a confrontation between Charles IV and the French revolutionary governments. Subsequent losses compelled Charles IV into an alliance with France, formalized by the Treaty of Basel and the Treaty of San Ildefonso. This alliance with Revolutionary France pitted Spain against Britain, leading to major disasters such as the naval Battle of Trafalgar and the Peninsular War (War of Independence).

Bourbon Policy in America

The Bourbons meticulously reorganized trade with America to foster economic growth and enhance tax collection. To liberalize trade with America, companies were established between 1728 and 1756 to manage commerce in specific regions. In 1765, freedom of trade was granted to some Spanish ports, and by 1778, it was generalized to all.

This policy had several consequences:

• Increased revenue for the Royal Treasury.
• Improved economic activity in parts of the peninsula.
• Enrichment of the native bourgeoisie through the export of tobacco, cocoa, or sugar.

However, they could not prevent competition from foreign products, both legal and illegal (through contraband), nor could they avoid the legal entry of foreign vessels into American ports. Naval disasters during wars with Britain and the Peninsular War (1808-1814) severed contact with the colonies, proving disastrous for the Royal Treasury, whose income largely depended on America.

The Enlightenment in Spain

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that developed in 18th-century Europe, advocating for equality, reason, education, progress, and the inherent right to human freedom.

It was influential in Spain for three main reasons:

1. It had the support of the monarch.
2. It was championed by figures like Campomanes and Jovellanos, who were selected by the king and criticized:
   • The privileges of the Mesta.
   • Disregard for science and superstition.
   • The discrediting of crafts.
   • The privileges of the nobility and Church.
3. Enlightened thinkers proposed educational reforms and solutions to societal problems. These ideas gained traction through their participation in various governments, the creation of private institutions like the Economic Societies of Friends of the Country, and the promotion of schools. The Royal Academy of Language and the Royal Academy of History were also established.

However, the Church and the nobility largely opposed these reforms. The movement persisted with the support of the kings. With the advent of the French Revolution, Enlightenment ideas became frowned upon in Spain, and their dissemination was halted.