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Catalan and Portuguese Rebellion 1640 – 1652
Tensions rose between the monarchy and Catalonia over demands on them to supply troops and cash for the Union of Arms, an attempt to create a strong imperial army, which Catalonia refused to support. By 1648 Portugal had taken to opportunity rebel under a new king, and there were plans in Aragon to secede. Spanish forces were only able to retake Catalonia in 1652 once French forces withdrew because of problems in France; the privileges of Catalonia were fully restored to ensure peace. -
War of the Spanish Succession 1700 – 1714
When Charles II died he left the throne of Spain to Duke Philip of Anjou. Philip accepted but was opposed by the Habsburgs, who wished to retain Spain among their many possessions. Conflict ensued. The war was concluded by treaties in 1713 and 14: Philip became king, but some of Spain’s imperial possessions were lost. At the same time, Philip moved to centralize Spain into one unit. -
Wars of the French Revolution 1793 – 1808
France pre-empted the reaction of Spain by declaring war. A Spanish invasion soon turned into a French invasion, and peace was declared between the two nations. This was closely followed by Spain allying with France against England, and an on-off-on war followed. Britain cut Spain off from their empire and trade, and Spanish finances suffered greatly. -
Independence of the Spanish Colonies c. 1800 – c.1850
While there were currents demanding independence before, it was the French occupation of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars which triggered the rebellion and struggle for independence of Spain’s American empire during the nineteenth century. Northern and southern uprisings were both opposed by Spain but were victorious, and this, coupled with damage from the Napoleonic era struggles, meant Spain was no longer a major military and economic power. -
War against Napoleon 1808 – 1813
Franco-Spanish forces took Portugal, but Spanish troops not only remained in Spain but increased in number. When the king abdicated in favor of his son Ferdinand and then changed his mind, the French ruler Napoleon was brought in to mediate; he simply gave the crown to his brother. Parts of Spain rose up in rebellion against the French and a military struggle ensued. Britain entered the war in Spain in support of Spanish troops, and the French were pushed all the way back to France. -
Riego Rebellion 1820
A general named Riego rebelled and enacted the constitution of 1812, a system supporter of King Ferdinand had drawn up during the Napoleonic Wars. Ferdinand had rejected the constitution then, but after the general sent to crush Riego also rebelled, Ferdinand conceded, Riego was executed. -
First Carlist War 1833 – 39
When King Ferdinand died in 1833 his declared successor was a three-year-old girl: Queen Isabella II. The old king’s brother, Don Carlos, disputed both the succession and the “pragmatic sanction” of 1830 that allowed her the throne. Civil war ensued between his forces, the Carlists, and those loyal to Queen Isabella II. Although the Carlists were defeated, attempts to put his descendants on the throne occurred in the Second and Third Carlist wars. -
Government by “Pronunciamientos” 1834 – 1868
In the aftermath of the First Carlist War Spanish politics became split between two main factions. On several occasions during this era, the politicians asked the generals to remove the current government and install them in power; the generals did so in a maneuver known as pronunciamientos. -
The Glorious Revolution 1868
In September 1868 a new pronunciamiento took place when the generals and politicians denied power during previous regimes took control. Queen Isabella was deposed and a provisional government called the September Coalition formed. A new constitution was drawn up in 1869 and a new king, Amadeo of Savoy, was brought in to rule. -
First Republic and Restoration 1873 – 74
King Amadeo abdicated in 1873, frustrated that he could not form a stable government as the political parties within Spain argued. The First Republic was proclaimed in his stead, but concerned military officers staged a new pronunciamiento to, as they believed, save the country from anarchy. They restored Isabella II’s son, Alfonso XII to the throne; a new constitution followed.