Primeros Borbones, Guerra de Sucesión y Reforma del Estado

Baskervillehund

22 Jan 201613:07

Summary

TLDRThe video script delves into the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and its impact on Spain and Europe. It describes the death of King Carlos I of Spain without an heir, leading to the nomination of the French Prince Felipe V as his successor. This sparks a European and civil conflict, as various factions, including the former Crown of Aragón, oppose Felipe. The script highlights key battles, the influence of foreign powers, and the centralization of Spanish rule under the Bourbon dynasty. The Treaty of Utrecht ends the war, marking the decline of Spain’s empire and shifting the European balance of power.

Takeaways

👑 Carlos I of Habsburg, King of Spain, dies without descendants, and designates French Prince Philip of Bourbon as his successor.
⚔️ The War of Spanish Succession ensues, involving major European powers and a civil war within Spain between supporters of Philip and Archduke Charles.
🏰 The former kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon (Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Mallorca) support Archduke Charles, while the rest back Philip V, the new Bourbon dynasty.
🛡️ Philip V wins the decisive Battle of Almansa in 1707, leading to the suppression of the Aragonese fueros (regional laws and privileges).
🗺️ In 1711, Archduke Charles becomes Emperor Charles VI of Austria, shifting focus away from Spain, but imperial forces still control parts of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
📜 The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 marks the end of the war, with England gaining Gibraltar and Menorca, and Spain ceding territories to Austria in exchange for recognition of Philip V as king.
🚢 Spain grants England trade rights with Spanish America and access to the Newfoundland fisheries, signaling the decline of Spain's global power.
👑 Philip V renounces claims to the French throne, and enacts the Salic Law, barring female succession, which will lead to future Carlist wars.
💥 After the fall of Barcelona in 1714, Philip V imposes the Nueva Planta decrees, centralizing administration and abolishing regional laws and privileges in defeated territories.
🏛️ The Nueva Planta reforms modernize Spain by centralizing governance, establishing a unified tax system, and enhancing royal control, laying the foundation for a modern Spanish state.

Q & A

Who was Carlos I of Spain, and what was significant about his death?
-Carlos I of Spain was a member of the Habsburg dynasty. His death was significant because he left no direct descendants, leading to a power struggle over the Spanish throne, and he named the French prince, Felipe of the Bourbon dynasty, as his successor.
What was the main cause of the War of Spanish Succession?
-The War of Spanish Succession began because various European powers, including Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic, contested the legitimacy of Felipe V's claim to the Spanish throne, as they feared the unification of France and Spain under the Bourbon dynasty.
Which European powers supported Felipe V during the War of Spanish Succession?
-Felipe V was supported by France, led by his grandfather King Louis XIV, along with Portugal and some German princes.
Which regions in Spain opposed Felipe V, and why?
-The regions of the former Crown of Aragon, including Aragón, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca, opposed Felipe V. They supported Archduke Charles of Austria because he promised to respect their traditional laws and privileges.
What was the significance of the Battle of Almansa in 1707?
-The Battle of Almansa was a crucial victory for the Bourbon forces of Felipe V. It allowed the Bourbon army to gain control of Valencia and Aragón, stripping these regions of their ancient privileges and replacing them with the centralized laws of Castile.
What were the main outcomes of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713?
-The Treaty of Utrecht ended the War of Spanish Succession, confirming Felipe V as the King of Spain but forcing Spain to cede significant territories, including Gibraltar and Menorca to England, and various territories in Italy and the Low Countries to the Austrian Empire.
How did the war affect the internal governance of Spain?
-The war led to the centralization of Spain's administration. Felipe V issued the Nueva Planta decrees, which abolished the traditional laws of the Crown of Aragon and replaced them with centralized Castilian laws, modernizing the state's administration and creating a uniform legal system.
What role did the Princess of the Ursinos play in Felipe V's court?
-The Princess of the Ursinos, a French noblewoman, served as the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Maria Luisa Gabriela of Savoy. She was a trusted confidante and wielded significant influence in the Spanish court, particularly after the queen's death.
What were the long-term consequences of the War of Spanish Succession for Catalonia?
-Catalonia faced severe repression following the war. The region's traditional rights and privileges were abolished, its universities were closed, and the city of Barcelona was heavily punished after a heroic but unsuccessful defense against Bourbon forces.
Why did Felipe V's renunciation of his claim to the French throne matter to the European powers?
-Felipe V's renunciation of his claim to the French throne was crucial because it alleviated fears of a possible unification of France and Spain under one monarch, which would have drastically shifted the balance of power in Europe.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Death of Carlos I and the War of Spanish Succession

Carlos I of Habsburg, King of Spain, dies without an heir. Near his death, he designates Philip, a French prince from the House of Bourbon, as his successor. However, disputes arise as various European powers vie for the Spanish throne, leading to the War of Spanish Succession. On one side is Philip, supported by France, while on the other side are countries like England, Holland, and Portugal, as well as Spanish territories such as Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca, which back Archduke Charles. The conflict is both European and civil, as different regions support different claimants to the throne.

05:02

📜 The Treaties of Utrecht and Their Consequences

The Treaties of Utrecht in 1713 mark the decline of France and the rise of England. England gains Gibraltar, Menorca, and trade privileges with Spanish America. Spain, weakened by France's decline, cedes territories like the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and parts of Italy to the Austrian Empire in exchange for the European powers recognizing Philip V as the legitimate king of Spain. Additionally, Felipe V renounces his claim to the French throne, and under the advice of his grandfather Louis XIV, enacts the Salic Law, excluding women from the royal succession. This will later contribute to the Carlist Wars.

10:02

⚔️ The End of Imperial Resistance and Catalonia's Fate

Carlos VI of Austria, formerly Archduke Charles, shifts his focus to central Europe and Italy after inheriting the Austrian Empire. In 1713, his general abandons Barcelona, and the city's government declares war on Philip V. Despite a heroic defense, Barcelona falls to the Bourbon forces in 1714, leading to the loss of Catalonia's historic rights and privileges under the Nueva Planta Decrees. These reforms centralize authority, dissolve local governance, and establish new laws that reflect Castilian legal practices, while universities and cultural institutions in Catalonia are dismantled as part of the repression.

Keywords

💡Carlos I de Habsburgo

Carlos I de Habsburgo, also known as Charles II, was the king of Spain who passed away without direct heirs. His death without descendants led to a succession crisis, which is central to the video’s theme of the War of Spanish Succession. His decision to name a French prince, Felipe of the Bourbon dynasty, as his successor sets off a major conflict in Europe.

💡Felipe V de Borbón

Felipe V was the grandson of Louis XIV of France and the first Bourbon king of Spain. His ascension to the Spanish throne marked the beginning of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain. His reign is contested in the War of Spanish Succession, where opposing European powers supported rival claims to the throne, and he plays a pivotal role in centralizing Spain under Bourbon rule.

💡War of Spanish Succession

The War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was a major European conflict that arose after the death of Carlos I (Charles II) of Spain without an heir. The war involved multiple European powers, including France, England, the Dutch Republic, and Austria, who were either supporting Felipe V or the Archduke Charles of Austria. It was both a civil and international war, affecting Spain's internal governance and its relations with other European countries.

💡House of Bourbon

The House of Bourbon is a European royal dynasty to which Felipe V belonged. His ascension to the Spanish throne marked the transition from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons in Spain. The rivalry between the Bourbon and Habsburg families, as well as the political maneuvering by France, is central to the video’s exploration of European politics during the War of Spanish Succession.

💡Archduke Charles of Austria

Archduke Charles, later Charles VI of Austria, was the main rival claimant to the Spanish throne during the War of Spanish Succession. Supported by the Habsburgs, he promised to respect the ancient laws and privileges of regions such as Catalonia and Aragón. His candidacy for the Spanish throne was backed by several European powers opposed to the Bourbons.

💡Treaty of Utrecht

The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) was a series of agreements that ended the War of Spanish Succession. It confirmed Felipe V as the king of Spain but forced Spain to cede many territories to other European powers, including Gibraltar and Minorca to Britain. The treaty was crucial in reshaping European geopolitics, marking the rise of British influence and the decline of French dominance.

💡Decrees of Nueva Planta

The Decrees of Nueva Planta were a series of laws issued by Felipe V after his victory in the War of Spanish Succession. These decrees centralized Spanish governance by abolishing the traditional rights and privileges (fueros) of the kingdoms of Aragón, Catalonia, and Valencia, integrating them more closely under the laws of Castile. This centralization of power was a key part of Bourbon reforms in Spain.

💡Crown of Aragón

The Crown of Aragón was a composite monarchy that included Aragón, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca, with its own distinct laws and privileges (fueros). During the War of Spanish Succession, these regions supported the Archduke Charles because he promised to preserve their traditional autonomy. After the Bourbons' victory, their fueros were abolished under the Decrees of Nueva Planta.

💡Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV was the King of France and grandfather of Felipe V. His influence is strongly felt throughout the video as he maneuvered to ensure his grandson’s ascension to the Spanish throne. Louis XIV’s role in the War of Spanish Succession, backing Felipe’s claim, and his involvement in European power politics are critical to understanding the larger geopolitical landscape of the time.

💡Catalonia

Catalonia, a key part of the Crown of Aragón, plays a central role in the War of Spanish Succession as it sided with Archduke Charles in opposition to Felipe V. After the defeat of the pro-Habsburg forces, Catalonia lost its autonomy and privileges under the Decrees of Nueva Planta. The video highlights the fall of Barcelona in 1714 as a significant event, leading to the region’s forced integration under Bourbon rule.

Highlights

Carlos I of Habsburg, King of Spain, died without descendants and designated Prince Philip of the Bourbon house as his successor.

The War of Spanish Succession involved European powers disputing the Spanish crown, with France backing Philip and other nations supporting Archduke Charles.

The war also had a civil dimension, as the kingdoms of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca supported Archduke Charles.

In 1707, the decisive Battle of Almansa took place, with Philip V’s Bourbon army defeating the troops of Archduke Charles.

The victory at Almansa led to the loss of ancient privileges for the defeated kingdoms, which were replaced by the laws of Castile.

In 1711, Emperor Joseph I of Austria died, and Archduke Charles became Charles VI of Austria, shifting his focus away from Spain.

The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 marked the end of the war, with European powers recognizing Philip V as King of Spain.

Spain had to cede significant territories, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Milan, Naples, and Sicily, to the Austrian Empire.

Philip V renounced his claim to the French throne to ease concerns of European powers and establish peace.

The war had long-lasting consequences, such as the implementation of the Salic law, barring women from the Spanish succession, leading to later conflicts.

Catalonia resisted Philip V, but in 1714, after the fall of Barcelona, the city was heavily damaged, and its political institutions were dissolved.

The Nueva Planta decrees centralized Spain, unifying its territories under one administration and making Castilian the official language.

In Catalonia, a new tax system called 'El Catastro' was introduced, taxing landowners and clergy to stabilize the royal treasury.

The universities in Catalonia were suppressed, with the sole university remaining in Cervera as a reward for its loyalty to Philip V.

Despite centralization, the Basque Country and Navarre retained their traditional privileges for their loyalty to Philip V during the war.