Spain's 18th-Century Transformation: Bourbon Reforms and Enlightenment

The War of Spanish Succession and the Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

A civil war in Spain arose from the succession crisis, with supporters of both Philip of Anjou (Castilian crown) and Archduke Charles (Crown of Aragon). The war concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht, recognizing Philip V as king and granting Great Britain Gibraltar and Minorca.

The Spanish Enlightenment

The Spanish Enlightenment differed from the rest of Europe:

• Led by gentry and bourgeoisie.
• Attempted to reconcile reason with Christian tradition.
• Focused on Spain's economic backwardness and antiquated social organization, as criticized by Campomanes and Jovellanos.
• Advocated for educational reform.

Obstacles to these reforms included resistance from the populace, the nobility and clergy clinging to privileges, and the Inquisition's persecution of deviations from Catholic orthodoxy.

Enlightened Despotism Under Philip V and Charles III

Foreign Policy

Spain allied with France against Great Britain.

Domestic Policy

Key reforms addressed Enlightenment demands:

Policy and Administration

• New Plant Decrees enacted.
• Secretaries established.
• Territory divided into municipalities led by mayors.
• Courts removed from the Crown of Aragon; Parliament of the kingdom established.

Relations with the Church

• Concordat signed with the Holy See (1753).
• Jesuits expelled.
• Inquisition's power limited.

Economy and Finance

Agriculture

• Irrigation works undertaken.
• Areas of Sierra Morena developed.
• Storehouses established.
• Mesta's privileges removed.

Commerce and Industry

• Internal tariffs abolished.
• Domestic industry protected.
• Manufacturing promoted.

Real Estate

• Taxes unified and rationalized.
• Property registers created.

Culture

• Modern institutions established (medical and engineering colleges, botanical gardens, schools, economic societies).

18th-Century Spanish Society

• Nobility: Lost privileges; abolition of legal disgrace significant.
• Clergy: Maintained economic power and influence but impacted by Jesuit expulsion.
• Third Estate: Bourgeoisie gained wealth and political power.