THE BOURBONS IN SPAIN

CONSOLIDATION OF ABSOLUTISM
Although the Lesser Habsburgs had imposed absolutism as political model, Bourbons dynasty implanted
absolutism following France’s model. Monarchs tried to accumulate power in their hands and were above
all the institutions of the kingdom, but they continued to consider the territory as part of their patrimony
and most of the time they acted more as private owners of their kingdoms than as administrators in favour
of their subjects.
Charles II, the last Habsburg King, died in 1700. The appointment of the French
Prince Philip of Bourbon as his heir resulted in the War of the Spanish ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRALISATION
Succession.
They introduced some changes in the government, but
Philip V’s supporters won the war and he was recognised as King of Spain. This
most of the previous institutions remained The
was the beginning of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain. Bourbons isolated the nobility from power, intervened in
the affairs of the Church, and hardly ever convened the
Cortes. They ruled with the help of secretaries or
A NEW ALLIANCE: FRANCE AND SPAIN
ministers, who were in charge of the different
France and Spain were now ruled by one family in an international Alliance called government affairs.
the Family Compact. This Alliance guided Spanish foreign policy during the 18th
century. Also known as Pactes of Familie, were defensive alliances which
committed both countries in the conflicts they participated in.

PHILIP V (Philip d’Anjou)
Philip V had serious mental problems. He was bipolar
and had euphoric episodes, followed by depression
periods. This complicated the government, but the
efficient bureaucracy allowed continuity in government.
FIRST PART OF HIS REIGN
From 1700 to 1724 his reign was conditioned by
France’s influence through Louis XIV advice. But when
Marie Louise of Savoy, Philip V’s first wife died in 1714,
he got married to Isabella of Farnese and French
influence declined. Isabella of Farnese interests to get
territories for their children in Italy conditioned the
intervention of Spain in several international conflicts.
SECOND PART OF HIS REIGN
In 1724 Philip V abdicated in his 16 year old son Louis, who only reigned for six months as Louis I.
After his death by chicken pox (varicela) Philip V assumed the government again. He continued to
rule until his death in 1746 and was succeeded by his son Ferdinand VI.

DOMESTIC POLICIES FOREIGN POLICIES

NUEVA PLANTA DECREES (1707/1715/1716)
These Decrees suppressed the laws and institutions of
Aragón, Valencia, Catalonia and Mallorca and
implanted the Castilian model. Only the Basque
Country and Navarra maintained their charters, called
fueros.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY
The territory was divided into provinces governed by a captain
general with military and administrative power, in order to control
the entire territory
The First Pacte de Famille (1733) was signed between
Philip V and Louis XV of France. Spain and France should
be allies in the War of the Polish Succession against
Austria. Philip V managed to re-conquer Sicily and
Naples, where he crowned his own son Charles as their
new king (future Charles III). He signed the Second
Pacte of Familie in 1743.

REORGANIZATION OF THE TREASURY

Philip V established a unique contribution to the Crown of Aragón.
This unique tax was charged to everybody, including the privileged,
depending on their wealth. The administration established an
amount of money that had to be paid by a certain territory and this
quantity was proportionally distributed among the population,
depending on their wealth.

FERDINAND VI
Ferdinand VI got married to Barbara of Braganza and
his mental problems appeared when she died in 1745.
When he died he didn’t have children and was
succeeded by his half-brother Charles, who had been
King of Naples for 20 years.
DOMESTIC POLICIES
THE REFORM OF THE NAVY
His miniter Patiño promoted the naval construction for
the Navy, creating shipyards in El Ferrol, Cartagena and
Cadiz. Thanks to that Spain had a modern and equipped
Navy.

THE GREAT ROUND UP (la Gran Redada)

In 1749 around 10.000 to 12.000 gipsy were chased
FOREIGN POLICIES and interned.

During his reign Spain didn’t sign any Pacte of Familie

UNIFICATION IN THE CURRENCY
and didn’t participate in any war.
He established the “Real de a dos” as an official coin in
The main characteristic of his foreign policy was
Spain.
neutrality.

REORGANIZATION OF THE TREASURY

The success of this unique tax was great so during Ferdinand
VI’s reign, the Marquis of Ensenada proposed its
introduction also in Castile. This minister made the
Ensenada’s Cadaster were all the properties’ data were
collected around Spain in order to know the possessions of
each person, and today is an extraordinary source of
information about the 18th century. When the survey was
finished, the resistance of the privileged to pay and the
changes in the administration finally frustrated the project.
 ESQUILACHE RIOTS

CHARLES III
Charles III had been the King of Naples for 20 years and was
influenced by the ideas of reform of Enlightenment, but he
alwasys acted as an absolute monarch. He has been
considered as an example of enlightened despotism in Spain
because he chose some Enlightenment thinkers to be his
advisors.
 FOREIGN POLICY

The Third Pacte de Famille (1761). This pact was signed

between Charles III and Louis XV of France. Charles III signed
this treaty because he wanted to re-take over Minorca and
Gibraltar.
This pact involved the alliance of Spain with France in the Seven
Years’ War and the subsequent cession of Florida to Great
Britain and Colonia del Sacramento to Portugal. During the
American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) Spain allied with
France and the Americans in order to fight Great Britain.
In the Treaty of Versailles (1783) Spain recovered from Great
Britain Minorca, Florida, and some other Central American
territories.
RECURSOS UTILIZADOS
https://www.slideshare.net/papefons/the-first-bourbons-and-enlightenment

https://migeografia2015.wordpress.com/tema17-diapositivas-sobre-la-ue-y-sus-instituciones-2/

http://www.richmondelt.com/su018/sec/geography-and-history_su4.pdf