The Golden Age:
During the 16th century, Spain's power greatly increased. This is due to the wars won during this time period and the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand. This joined Castille and Aragon together as one. Ferdinand was a masterful diplomat and greatly admired by Niccolo Machiavelli. During the Golden Age, Ferdinand and Isabella resumed the Reconquest that lay dormant for over 200 years. They captured Granada in 1942, and earned the title, Catholic Kings. Islamic Spain now ceased to exist. After 1525, all residents of Spain were officially Christian. Spain led crusades against Muslims and forced religions to convert to one single religion. Spaniards and Conquistadors were violent and forcibly removed the natives from their land during their conquests.
Wars fought During The Golden Age:
-The Italian Wars (1494-1559): The Italian Wars resulted In a Spanish victory. The war was fought mostly by Spain and France, but most all of Europe was involved. Allies to Spain helped push Italy and France out and they became victorious. The war finally ended with The Peace Of Cateau-Cambresis. This was a treaty that marked the end of the 65 year war between France and Spain for the control of Italy.
-The Anglo-Spanish Wars (1585-1604): The Anglo-Spanish Wars were conflicts between Spain and England that were never officially declared as conflicts. The war was mostly widely spread apart battles. The start of the war began with England's expedition in 1585 to the Netherlands. They took their military to support in the resistance of the General to Habsburgs rule. The English had a few major victories including Cadiz, but they gradually started taking severe defeats to the Spanish Armada.
-Thirty Years' War (1618-48): The Thirty Years' War began when The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II of Bohemia, began to try and curb his citizens religious practices, instigating Protestants to rebel against him. The major European powers involved in this war were Sweden, France, Austria, and Spain of course. Most of their campaigning was done on German soil. Ferdinand and his allies won the battle at White Mountain (1620). By 1629, Ferdinand issued the Edict of Restitution, which reclaimed all the lands previously owned by the Catholic Church that were aquired by the Protestants. During this time, for 12 years, armies fought a "dirty war". Doing everything and anything to support thier armies. Eventually there was a treaty called the Peace Of Westphalia settled in 1648. 20% of German's population was lost during this war. Calvinists job to protect the Protestant cause was gradually shifted to Lutherans during the war.
Bourbon Spain:
Charles II could not have children, and was unfit to rule due to several generations of inbreeding to keep power in the family. His line of royalty came to an end when he died. This was one of the factors that triggered the War Of The Spanish Succession. Charles left the empire to his nephew, a Bourbon from France, on his deathbed.
War Of The Spanish Succession:
Phillip V took the crown against the will of Archduke Charles of Austria. Charles was supported by many including England and The Netherlands, which were very powerful empires. This was the cause of the War Of The Spanish Succession (1704-14). This was the first World War fought by European powers. In the year 1705, Austrian invaders arrived in Spain and A Castilian army halted its advance to Madrid. This war was also that of a civil war. While all of this was going on, Britain separated with France and their allies withdrew from Catalonia. The Catalans continued to resist under the banner "Liberty or Death". Catalonia lost in a gruesome war and Barcelona fell to Phillip V after a long siege.
The Treaty Of Utrecht (1713):
The Treaty of Utrecht ended the war. It is a series of peace treaties between the European countries at war. The treaty basically acknowledged the Bourbon succession in Spain, but only if Spain and France were to never join together into one realm. Britain received the lands Gibraltar and Minorca and trades from Spanish America. Spain ended the war with internal unity and an intact empire which led to an enlightenment in their country. Although this was good for the empire, it's political position in Europe was in shambles.
Phillip V modernized Spain's government as a result of the war. The government became institutionalized and local "fueros" (markets) were disbanded. Aristocrats no longer had independent political influence on the empire.
The Enlightenment:
Political, Social, and Economic Reform were reformed by Charles III during the period of enlightenment (1759-88). Governing styles were more efficient and the economy was now evidently stable. Charles III was a majority of the power behind the enlightenment and it could not have happened without him.
During the 16th century, Spain's power greatly increased. This is due to the wars won during this time period and the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand. This joined Castille and Aragon together as one. Ferdinand was a masterful diplomat and greatly admired by Niccolo Machiavelli. During the Golden Age, Ferdinand and Isabella resumed the Reconquest that lay dormant for over 200 years. They captured Granada in 1942, and earned the title, Catholic Kings. Islamic Spain now ceased to exist. After 1525, all residents of Spain were officially Christian. Spain led crusades against Muslims and forced religions to convert to one single religion. Spaniards and Conquistadors were violent and forcibly removed the natives from their land during their conquests.
Wars fought During The Golden Age:
-The Italian Wars (1494-1559): The Italian Wars resulted In a Spanish victory. The war was fought mostly by Spain and France, but most all of Europe was involved. Allies to Spain helped push Italy and France out and they became victorious. The war finally ended with The Peace Of Cateau-Cambresis. This was a treaty that marked the end of the 65 year war between France and Spain for the control of Italy.
-The Anglo-Spanish Wars (1585-1604): The Anglo-Spanish Wars were conflicts between Spain and England that were never officially declared as conflicts. The war was mostly widely spread apart battles. The start of the war began with England's expedition in 1585 to the Netherlands. They took their military to support in the resistance of the General to Habsburgs rule. The English had a few major victories including Cadiz, but they gradually started taking severe defeats to the Spanish Armada.
-Thirty Years' War (1618-48): The Thirty Years' War began when The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II of Bohemia, began to try and curb his citizens religious practices, instigating Protestants to rebel against him. The major European powers involved in this war were Sweden, France, Austria, and Spain of course. Most of their campaigning was done on German soil. Ferdinand and his allies won the battle at White Mountain (1620). By 1629, Ferdinand issued the Edict of Restitution, which reclaimed all the lands previously owned by the Catholic Church that were aquired by the Protestants. During this time, for 12 years, armies fought a "dirty war". Doing everything and anything to support thier armies. Eventually there was a treaty called the Peace Of Westphalia settled in 1648. 20% of German's population was lost during this war. Calvinists job to protect the Protestant cause was gradually shifted to Lutherans during the war.
Bourbon Spain:
Charles II could not have children, and was unfit to rule due to several generations of inbreeding to keep power in the family. His line of royalty came to an end when he died. This was one of the factors that triggered the War Of The Spanish Succession. Charles left the empire to his nephew, a Bourbon from France, on his deathbed.
War Of The Spanish Succession:
Phillip V took the crown against the will of Archduke Charles of Austria. Charles was supported by many including England and The Netherlands, which were very powerful empires. This was the cause of the War Of The Spanish Succession (1704-14). This was the first World War fought by European powers. In the year 1705, Austrian invaders arrived in Spain and A Castilian army halted its advance to Madrid. This war was also that of a civil war. While all of this was going on, Britain separated with France and their allies withdrew from Catalonia. The Catalans continued to resist under the banner "Liberty or Death". Catalonia lost in a gruesome war and Barcelona fell to Phillip V after a long siege.
The Treaty Of Utrecht (1713):
The Treaty of Utrecht ended the war. It is a series of peace treaties between the European countries at war. The treaty basically acknowledged the Bourbon succession in Spain, but only if Spain and France were to never join together into one realm. Britain received the lands Gibraltar and Minorca and trades from Spanish America. Spain ended the war with internal unity and an intact empire which led to an enlightenment in their country. Although this was good for the empire, it's political position in Europe was in shambles.
Phillip V modernized Spain's government as a result of the war. The government became institutionalized and local "fueros" (markets) were disbanded. Aristocrats no longer had independent political influence on the empire.
The Enlightenment:
Political, Social, and Economic Reform were reformed by Charles III during the period of enlightenment (1759-88). Governing styles were more efficient and the economy was now evidently stable. Charles III was a majority of the power behind the enlightenment and it could not have happened without him.
Works Cited:
http://www.history.com/topics/thirty-years-war
https://www.britannica.com/event/Italian-Wars
https://www.britannica.com/event/Peace-of-Cateau-Cambresis
https://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1500s/yr80/anglospanishwar1585.htm