Spain and France in the 17th Century: A Detailed Timeline

Timeline: Spain in the Seventeenth Century

The Reign of Philip III

Philip III reigned between 1598 and 1621. His favorite was the Duke of Lerma. His foreign policy was pacifist, as he wanted to solve the financial crisis, avoiding military spending. However, the king incurred enormous expenses and had to declare bankruptcy in 1607. In domestic politics, the most relevant measure was the expulsion of the Moors.

The Reign of Philip IV

Philip IV reigned between 1621 and 1665. His main advisor was the Count-Duke of Olivares. Foreign policy was warmongering. Spain became involved in the Thirty Years' War. At first, the Spanish troops were victorious, but in the end, Spain was defeated and lost part of its empire in Europe (Treaty of Westphalia). In domestic policy, Olivares attempted to reform the monarchy with the aim of distributing military spending and strengthening the power of the king. But this policy provoked uprisings, especially in Catalonia and Portugal. Portugal gained independence.

French Hegemony

Since the Treaty of Westphalia, France became the dominant European power. Its splendor began with the reign of Louis XIV, who extended the boundaries of France in Europe and established a colonial empire. The king introduced an absolute monarchy in France: he took power away from institutions, unified local laws and taxes, eliminated religious dissent, controlled the nobility, and made the court the center of state administration. Louis XIV tried to improve the economy by creating state monopolies but failed.

The Reign of Charles II

Charles II reigned between 1665 and 1700. His mother, Mariana of Austria, had great influence in government. The first part of his reign was a crisis, but the situation improved after 1680. The last years of his reign were marked by the succession problem.

The Economic and Social Crisis

In the seventeenth century, the Spanish population suffered a decline due to poor harvests, plague epidemics, the expulsion of the Moors, wars, and emigration to America. The economy fell in all sectors: agriculture, handicrafts, and trade. Bankruptcies also occurred. The predominant values fostered an inactive life. The ideal was to live on income, rejecting those who worked.