Spain - timeline

Title: Spain - timeline
Description: 1762 Alliance with France in Seven Years War, leads to military defeats and humiliation (and loss of Florida).

1766 – military defeat lead to domestic unrest – popular uprising in Madrid, Charles III forced to flee – disturbances spread to 60+ cities. Little long term effects. Sources of unrest incl. taxation rises, food shortages, possible that unrest was manipulated by marginalized nobles and clerics. After order restored State accused Jesuits of responsibility for the unrest – accused of a spirit of fanaticism and sedition, false doctrine and intolerable pride.’ Jesuits expelled from Spain and overseas territories in 1767.

Bourbon political project of centralization and reform – resisted by those wanting more local independence (such as Aragonese Party – eg Duke of Aranda). Charles III looked for military reform, following Prussian model, plus programme of naval construction – but dogged by poor supply system and excess of officers.

Renewed fighting against Britain in 1779 in relation to American Independence- attacking Britain in Central America, Gibraltar, Minorca, and Florida. Peace of Versailles (1783) returned Minorca and Florida to Spanish rule.

Charles IV succeeded in 1788. Initial hostility to French revolution, blocking spread of publications, renewal of inquisition. Floridablanca – chief minister – dismissed for intransigent attitude (which compromised Louis XVI’s attempted negotiations. Aranda succeeded and pursued more moderate policy to France. On ousting of Louis XIV in France, Aranda fell and Godoy appointed. Spain was brought into an uneasy alliance with Britain against France. French offensives in Catalonia and Basque provinces in 1794-5 – fall of Vittoria led government to seek terms - surrendered Santo Domingo to France. Forced into a pact with France against Britain. Major losses against British fleet in 1797 (Cape St Vincent), and British blockaded Spain – produced a major financial crisis in Spain. Godoy sacked in 1798, then reinstated in 1800. War terminated with Peace of Amiens – surrendered Trinidad. Blockade resumed 1804, fleet destroyed at Trafalgar. At home yellow fever and cholera epidemics, poor harvests – producing peasant uprisings in 1798 1801, 1804; bread riots in Segovaia 1802 and Madrid 1808.

1807: Alliance against Portugal – then France invades Spain in 1808. Spanish royal family and Godoy looking to Napoleon. Mutiny of Aranjuez: An uprising on 17 March 1808, when the royal family and the government were staying at Aranjuez while on their way south, anticipating a French invasion from the north. Soldiers, peasants and members of the general public assaulted Godoy’s quarters and captured him. Resulting in a coup by Prince Ferdinand against Charles and Godoy – Charles abdicates. French Invasion in 1808, imposition of the Bayonne Constitution and rule of Joseph Napoleon. Only Cadiz holds out. Loss of almost all Spanish empire. Convocation of the Cortez to establish new constitution at Cadiz.

Peninsular War 1808-1813 Afrancesados (supporters of the French) saw the French as a chance to achieve enlightenment reforms. Mesta and military orders abolished, convents and monasteries supressed; intro stock exchange and educational reform. Joseph’s power really limited to Madrid

1812 Cadiz constitution – universal male suffrage, national sovereignty, constitutional monarchy and freedom of the press.

March 1814 Reinstitution of Ferdinand VII, who rejected Cadiz and declared constitution null and void. Some12,000 afrancesado families forced into exile.

1820 – revolution and establishment of Trienio – three year liberal government based on Cadiz Constitution forced onto Ferdinand – power devolved to moderate liberals – many saw Constitution as unworkable – looking for a constitution similar to France in 1814 – power sharing between King and property owners. The exaltados backed by army and urban masses wanted radical democratic reform and the preservation of 1812 – rivalry produced tension and instability

1823 overthrown by Ferdinand with the support of French troops – re-establishing absolutism with punitive repression of liberals. 123 leaders executed, thousands sacked

1833 death of Ferdinand VII and succession of his daughter Isabella, then 3, under the regency of his wife, (against the pretensions of Carlos Maria Isidro, Ferdinand’s brother – pragmatic sanction (1827) – equal rights of succession overturning Salic Law).

1833-43 Succession of Carlists wars – supporters of Infante Carlos of Spain against liberal forces supporting Maria Christina, the regent til 1840.

1837 new Liberal Constitution - Liberals get power. Juan Mendizabal is appointed PM and enacts sale of ecclesiastical lands.

1840-3 Maria Christina resigns as regent– succeeded by Espartero – whose rule became increasingly authoritarian in the face of Carlist resistance – followed by 6years of instability, reviving Carlist support in the provinces. New moderate constitution 1845

1843-54 Moderates hold power – est legal and institutional structure of centralized state

1849 Democratic Party founded

1854-6 following ‘Progressive Bieno Revolution of July 1854, Espartero and progressives hold power – economic liberalisation

After a long period of instability an uprising in 1866 went on to form the basis for the pact of Ostend between progresistas and demócratas against Bourbon supporters. The Glorious Revolution of 1868 overthrow of the regime and the establishment of a new constitutional order, sending Isabel II into exile and founding a ‘Democratic’ constitution. – Amadeo created king of Spain in 1870- but abandoned the country in 1873, declaring it ungovernable and leading to the first Spanish Republic (Feb 1873-December 1874) .. Isabella abdicated the throne in favour of her son Alfonso XII crowned in 1874 resulting in a constitutional monarchy.

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Spain - timeline