UNIT 11: Modern History of Spain 03, 2017 · UNIT 11: Modern History of Spain. ... In reality what is produced is a mere personal union of both kingdoms, ... nature and peculiarities

CURSO 2017-2018

IES CARMEN MARTÍN GAITE | Profesora: Marina Iborra Ledesma

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ESO

UNIT 11: Modern History of Spain

IES CARMEN MARTÍN GAITE 3º ESO Geografía e Historia

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1. THE APPEARANCE OF THE MODERN STATE: THE

CATHOLIC MONARCHS

ISABEL, QUEEN OF CASTILE AND FERNANDO, KING OF ARAGON

One of the most frequently mentioned

features of the reign of the Catholic

Monarchs is that it was a time of

transition, from the Middle Ages to the

Modern Age. That is why it has been said

that it was a reign between two eras.

Another aspect that is often highlighted is

that at this time a new form of

government appeared, the authoritarian

monarchy. This meant the creation of a

Modern State.

• Castile: When Henry IV of Castile died in 1474, his step-sister Isabel proclaimed

herself Queen. However, some Castilians did not recognize her as such, defending the

inheritance rights of the daughter of the deceased king, Juana - named the Beltraneja.

The Portuguese king married Juana. The campaign of 1475-76 is decisive and imposes

the military genius of Fernando, who defeated the Portuguese in Zamora, and at the

end of 1476 he occupied Toro. The victory in Albuera confirms the military superiority of

Fernando and Isabel. The signing of the Treaty of Alcaçovas-Trujillo ratified their

triumph: the Portuguese withdrew from the occupied territories and Isabel and

Fernando were recognized as kings of Castile.

• Aragon: Juan II of Aragon dies in 1479, and Fernando becomes the new king.

In reality what is produced is a mere personal union of both kingdoms, which retain their own

nature and peculiarities (laws, customs, institutions, currencies, etc.). However, they had the

same foreign policy.

INNER POLICY

The Catholic Monarchs took various measures to reinforce their authority:

They founded the Holy Brotherhood (Santa Hermandad), which kept order.

They created a permanent professional army.

They created Courts of Justice (Chancillerías).

They controlled the municipalities through administrators called corregidores.

They created a number of royal councils (consejos), which advised the monarchs on

how to govern.


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They reorganized the Treasury (Hacienda) to increase their income.

Other important facts during their ruling were:

The conclusion of the Reconquest. The War of Granada, that lasted ten years, ends

with the Capitulations of Granada. In regards the kingdom, some of the settlers were

converted into slaves and the lands of the great lords were confiscated and distributed.

The expulsion of the Jews. The Jews were subject to great unpopularity between the

Christian society since they were related to the usury and the collection of taxes. To

escape these conflicts many Jews converted to Christianity (they would be new

Christians or Marranos). The Inquisition was charged with ensuring the sincerity of the

conversions. The decree of March 31, 1492 forced the Jews to choose between

conversion or expulsion. By not accepting the conversion, some 200,000 Jews were

expelled.

The discovery of America. The discovery of the new continent distinguished Spain as

a pioneer in an unprecedented discovery and colonizing enterprise.

FOREIGN POLICY Foreign policy was the work of Fernando of Aragon, an excellent ruler, who inspired "The

Prince" of Machiavelli. His aim was to isolate diplomatically his traditional enemy, France, so he

established a series of marriage alliances for all of his children with Germany, Portugal and

England.

The incorporation of Naples in 1504 was made by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (the

Great Captain). The Treaty of Blois (1505) put an end to the conflict with France for the

control of Naples by means of marriage (in the second nuptials) between Germana de

Foix and Fernando.

The Reconquest continued through North Africa when Alexander VI, who in 1494 had

given Fernando and Isabel the title of Catholic Monarchs. This granted the Spanish

Kings the right to the conquest of Africa. Several African cities like Melilla, Oran and

Tripoli were incorporated.

THE END OF THE REIGN

After the political and religious unification of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel's death in 1504

jeopardized the nation’s unity. Juana's inability to rule, the premature death of Philip the Fair

(who ruled between 1504-6), and the fact that Fernando had no more children with his new

wife (Germana de Foix) allowed the crown to fall into the hands of the grandson of the Catholic

Monarchs, Carlos I. Pending the crown prince's coming of age. There were three regencies:

The first one was carried out by the Cardinal Cisneros (1506-7). Later, Fernando of Aragon

(1507-16) became the new regent in a period characterized by the annexation of Navarre in

1512, and then, once more the regency of Cisneros (1516).


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2. THE EMPIRE OF CARLOS V

HERITAGE Carlos inherited from his grandparents the

Netherlands and Franche-Comté, Castile and

America (from Isabel), the Crown of Aragon-

Catalonia which included Sicily, Sardinia, Naples and

some places of North Africa (from Fernando),

Austria, Tyrol and part of southern Germany with

the rights of emperor (Maximilian), into which he

would become in 1519.

INNER POLICY

His inner policy was marked by the Revolt of the Comuneros and the Revolt of the

Brotherhoods.

The Revolt of the Comuneros (1520-22) began when Rodrigo de Tordesillas was

assassinated for having betrayed the interests of the city in the last courts. During

these Courts, Carlos made the Courts give to him the money that he needed to be

named German Emperor after his grandfather’s death. Adriano of Utrecht responded

with energy and the imperial troops defeated the comuneros in Villalar (1521). Its

leaders Juan Bravo, Juan Padilla and Maldonado were executed.

The Revolt of the Brotherhoods of Valencia (1519-22) was a product of the

confrontation in the city between menestrales and nobility. Riots spread throughout the

kingdom, but the arrival of the royal troops ended the conflicts in the midst of a terrible

repression. This situation caused problems of the Germanies of Mallorca (1520-23),

where the menestrales attacked the city of Palma. The royal fleet tried to negotiate, but

the agermanados refused and the city of Palma was taken by force by the imperial

troops.

FOREIGN POLICY

His foreign policy was based on the doctrine Christian Universitas, a medieval concept that

united the Pope and the Emperor in an attempt to unite all of Christianity.

Wars against France: The cause of all the five wars against France were a personal

enmity between Carlos I and Francis I. Carlos had rights to Burgundy and Francisco had

rights to Navarre. However, the main problem was Italy, in particular Milan (occupied

by France in 1499). The Spanish victories in Pavia (1525), allowed Milan to pass

through Spain.


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Conflict against the Turkish Empire: Solyman the Magnificent developed a very

aggressive policy against the West. By land, he took Belgrade and vanquished in

Mohacz, making room for Vienna in 1529, whose siege came to an end thanks to the

imperial troops of Carlos I. In the Mediterranean, a Berber Tunisian pirate named

Barbarossa declared himself a vassal of the Turkish sultan, with whose support he

fought for control the Western Mediterranean and reconquered the North African places

occupied by the Catholic Monarchs.

Wars of Religion in Germany: In 1530, Carlos I called the Diet of Augsburg to avoid

the religious split initiated by the expansion of Lutheranism. Although no agreement

was reached. The Lutheran responded by forming the Smalcalde League, defeated by

Carlos in Mühlberg (1547). Tired of fighting, Charles abdicated in 1556 and retired to

the monastery of Yuste, where he died in 1558.

3. THE HISPANIC MONARCHY: FELIPE II

FELIPE II AND HIS HERITAGE

Felipe inherited all the possessions of his father except the German dominions, which passed

to Fernando, brother of Carlos I. He also added Portugal and more American territories to the

heritage of the Austrias. He was the son of Carlos I and Isabel of Portugal. He married Maria

de Portugal, Maria Tudor, Isabel de Valois and Ana de Austria.

INNER POLICY Felipe II’s inner policy was agitated by the Aragonese Revolt and by the Moorish revolt of the

Alpujarras.

The revolt of Aragon (1590) was caused by Antonio Pérez, secretary of Felipe II, who

was accused of the murder of Escobedo. He escaped from prison and took refuge in

Aragon, where he tried to mobilize the nobility against the king. The entry of the

Tercios eliminated any attempt of armed struggle and Antonio Perez fled and spent the

rest of his life writing criticisms against Felipe II, which increased his black legend.

The Revolt of the Alpujarras (1568-70) was led by the Moors (moriscos), Muslims

forced to convert to Christianity who continued to practice their religion. Tensions

exploded during the Christmas of 1568 and was led by Fernando de Valor, who took the

name of Aben Humeya. Juan de Austria was in charge of pacifying the region, finishing

this work in 1570.


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FOREIGN POLICY

The failure of the Christian Universitas forced Felipe II to change doctrine as a justifying

element of his foreign policy, and became the defender of Catholicism. The main facts of his

reign were:

Stop of the Turkish advance in Lepanto (1571), naval victory of Juan of Austria that led

the navy of the Holy League (Papado, Venice and Spain) and with that the Turkish

threat in the western Mediterranean ended.

Constant struggle since 1566 against the independence of the Netherlands, where

political and religious conflicts were mixed. So Felipe II sent the Duke of Alba, who

defeated Luis de Nassau and Guillermo de Orange, leader of the insurgents. In 1598

Felipe II ceded the sovereignty of the Netherlands to the archduke Alberto and his

daughter Isabel Clara Eugenia.

Conflict with England: since 1584, political and economic antagonisms provoked a

confrontation between the two countries. Elizabeth of England blatantly supported the

pirates Drake and Hawkins. The conflict ended in the disaster of the Armada

Invencible (1588).

France: The signing of the Peace of Cateau-Cambresis (1559) ended the sixth war

against France. This was after the victory of the Spanish troops in San Quentin (1557).

• The annexation of Portugal was happened after the death of the king Sebastian in

1578 in the suicidal campaign of Alcazarquivir. Felipe II became king of Portugal in the

Cortes of Thomar of 1581.

Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

¿Did you know...? It was devised in the second half of the 16th century by King Felipe II and his architect Juan de Herrera.

The temple was built in thanksgiving for the victory in the battle of San Quentin against the French, which took place on August 10, 1557, St. Lawrence's day. This martyr died on a grill, so the plan of the monastery has that shape.


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4. THE AUSTRIAS IN THE 17TH CENTURY

THE PAX HISPANICA WITH FELIPE III (1598-1621)

Felipe III, The Pious, was the son of Felipe II and Anne of Austria. He was a monarch of

indolent character. As soon as he ascended to the throne, he made an unprecedented

decision: to delegate the power to a prime minister called valid. The chosen man was

Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, who was awarded the title of Duke de Lerma. In 1618

he was replaced by the Duke of Uceda.

Four events marked the interior policy of the government of the Duke of Lerma:

The capital was moved to Valladolid, in order to be closer to Lerma.

The creation in 1603 of a Junta de Desempeño.

The expulsion of the Moors in April 9, 1609.

His foreign policy was called Pax Hispanica, which was achieved by ending hostilities with

England and the United Provinces.

THE INNER AND MILITAR CRISIS OF FELIPE IV (1621-1665)

Felipe IV, King Planet, was son of Felipe III and his wife Margaret of Austria. When acceding to

the throne, he chose Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, as valid.

INNER POLICY

The Count-Duke created the Junta Grande de

Reformación, which had two central ideas:

the establishment of a national banking

system and the abolition of the millones

(tax). Another of his projects was the Unión

de Armas, which immediately demanded

the formation of an army of 140,000 men,

recruited and supported by the different

provinces.

Some of the problems of his reign were:

• The secessionist movement of Catalonia: originated from an outbreak of war with France

in 1635. Olivares tried to force the participation of Catalan troops in the conflict, however,

the stay of Spanish troops in the Principality during the winter between 1639-40 place to

numerous excesses on the part of the soldiers in the towns forced to give them lodging.

The popular revolt broke out in 1640, Guerra dels Segadors. In Catalonia a French

administration was established.


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• The secessionist movement of Portugal was caused by the lack of representation of

Portugal in the politics of the Hispanic monarchy. The uprising was organized in 1640 and

Juan IV was proclaimed king of Portugal. In the Madrid court they were shocked when they

realized that a whole kingdom had been lost in a single day.

• The Andalusian conspiracies were made in 1641 when the Duke of Medina Sidonia had

to retract before Felipe IV in an attempt to crown himself king of Andalusia and the Indies.

FOREIGN POLICY

• It was defined by the Thirty Years' War (1618-48). This conflict began with the Spanish

success (annus mirabilis of 1625), but after the last European triumph in Nördlingen

(1634) military disasters followed one after another (Dunas 1639, Rocroi 1643),

precipitating the end of the conflict and the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.

This treaty put an end to the European hegemony of the Habsburgs.

• The Spanish-French conflict continued until the final defeat of Spain, which was forced to

sign the Peace of the Pyrenees of 1659.

• The only war left was with Portugal. Spain was defeated in many battles and this was

followed by the death of Felipe IV. At this point there was no remaining will or resources to

recover Portugal. The regent widow Mariana of Austria recognized its independence in

1668.

THE END OF THE EMPIRE WITH CARLOS II (1665-1700)

It is a period marked by the economic crisis (monetary changes), political crisis (military

defeats) and social crisis (pests and famines), which could not be faced by the regency of

Mariana of Austria until 1675, nor any of the Valid. The period of greater wisdom developed

with the governments of Medinaceli (1679-84) and the Count of Oropesa (1684-91), after

Carlos II of Habsburg

Charles II, el Hechizado, son of Felipe IV and Mariana of Austria, inherited the throne in September of 1665 with only 4 years of age.

Sick, rickety and with some mental handicap, he was the last monarch of the Habsburg dynasty in Spain.


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which the issue of the succession began and the influence of Mariana de Neoburgo and her

German clique grew.

The death of Carlos II (November 1, 1700), the civil and international confrontations, and the

War of Spanish Succession (1702-1714) divided the country between the supporters of the

Austrian dynasty and the supporters of the Bourbons.

5. SOCIETY AND ECONOMY DURING THE 16TH AND

17TH CENTURIES

SOCIETY

Spain at the beginning of the sixteenth century: After the internal wars, despite the population

losses of the first colonization, it was a demographically expansive century thanks to the great

economic possibilities offered by the conquest of America and the expansion in Europe.

However, by the end of the century the economic and social crisis was already evident.

Throughout the seventeenth century: Our population was reduced from 8 to 7.5 million people.

According to Lynch, the causes of this decline were three outbreaks of the plague epidemic

(1597-1602, 1647-1651, 1676-1685 ). Other causes were emigration to America and the

expulsion of the Moriscos (1609-1612), in which approximately 300,000 Moors left Spain. This

led to a disruption in the economy of Valencia and the Ebro Valley. The mortality rate rose

from the successive wars and a climate change of droughts followed by torrential storms,

which ruined the crops and caused famines that left the population weak and susceptible to

disease.

The social structure of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was largely based on land

ownership, most of which was in the hands of the two upper estates of the time: the Nobility

and Clergy. At the top of the social pyramid stood the nobility, who were great magnates; high

clergy; knights and urban patricians. The working class was composed of peasants and

artisans, who worked in miserable conditions to survive. Many hidalgos worked the land or

they were craftsmen. They enjoyed exemption of taxes and they had privileges.

ECONOMY

In sixteenth century, Spain had three commercial centers:

• Seville with its American hinterland, thanks to the Casa de Contratación, a state-

controlled agency that was in charge of the monopoly of trade with America.

• Aragon and its Mediterranean hinterland

• The northern peninsular and its hinterland in Flanders and northern Europe.

The foreign policy of the Austrias produced a gap between income and expenditure. In spite of

the enormous American treasures, Spain had to resort to an increase of taxes, which were


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very numerous (the alcabala, the millones or sisa ...). When these were insufficient, borrowing

was used. However, this was not enough either, since the Crown could not pay the debts

contracted and declared the bankruptcy (1557, 1575, 1596, 1608 and 1627).

UNIT 11: Modern History of Spain 03, 2017 · UNIT 11: Modern History of Spain. ... In reality what is produced is a mere personal union of both kingdoms, ... nature and peculiarities

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