War of Spanish Succession

What model of monarchy did the Spanish Bourbons initially impose in the 18th century?

Which center of political decision-making did Felipe V and his successors try to establish?

What were the ministers responsible for main government matters called during the reign of Felipe V?

Which territories retained their laws, institutions, and customs despite reforms during the Bourbon rule?

What did the Count of Floridablanca persuade the pope to do in 1773?

Which world power did Spain ally with during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763)?

Who did Carlos II of Habsburg choose as his heir?

What caused an international war to break out in 1701?

Which territories did Felipe V punish after the civil war ended in 1715?

What did the Nueva Planta decrees abolish in the territories of the Crown of Aragón?

Which treaty led Felipe V to renounce his claim to the French throne?

In the European war that ended with the Peace of Utrecht, what territorial concessions did Felipe V have to make?

The Bourbon Monarchy in Spain

The Spanish Bourbons implemented an absolutist model of monarchy in the 18th century.
Felipe V and his successors aimed to centralize political decision-making in Madrid.
During Felipe V's reign, key government matters were overseen by ministers known as "Secretaries of State".
Despite reforms, territories like Navarre, the Basque Country, and the Canary Islands maintained their traditional laws, institutions, and customs.
In 1773, Count of Floridablanca persuaded the Pope to recognize the Spanish king's right to appoint bishops in Spain and the Americas.
Spain allied with France during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763).

The Succession Crisis

Carlos II of Habsburg, facing an heirless situation, selected Felipe, Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV, as his successor.
This sparked an international war in 1701 known as the War of the Spanish Succession, with competing claims to the Spanish throne.
Following the civil war's end in 1715, Felipe V punished territories that had supported rival claimants, like Catalonia and Valencia.

The Nueva Planta Decrees

The Nueva Planta decrees abolished the traditional institutions and laws of Catalonia, Valencia, and Majorca, effectively integrating them into Castile's system.
The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) forced Felipe V to renounce his claim to the French throne.
As part of the peace settlement, Felipe V had to cede territories like Gibraltar, Sardinia, Naples, and Sicily to other European powers.

Test your knowledge on the War of Spanish Succession, a conflict sparked by the death of Carlos II of Habsburg and the struggle between the Bourbon and Habsburg claimants to the Spanish throne. Learn about the alliances formed, battles fought, and the consequences of this war.