Overview
The lesson covers the rise, peak, and decline of the Habsburg dynasty in Spain, its main monarchs, and the key events of their reigns.
Origin of the Habsburg Dynasty in Spain
- The Habsburgs were a powerful European dynasty originating from Austria.
- Joanna the Mad married Philip the Handsome (Habsburg), uniting the inheritances of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire.
- Their son, Charles I, inherited vast European and American territories.
Charles I / Charles V (1516–1556)
- He was King of Spain and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Faced internal conflicts in Castile and rebellions such as the Comunidades and the Germanías.
- Fought against France for Milanese territory and the Protestant advance in Europe.
- Signed the Peace of Augsburg allowing the choice of religion in the Empire's territories.
- Directed and financed expansion in America (Cortés, Pizarro, Almagro, Orellana).
- Abdicated in 1556, dividing his empire between his brother Ferdinand (Austria) and his son Philip II (Spain).
Philip II (1556–1598)
- Inherited Spain, its colonies, and unified the Iberian Peninsula with the conquest of Portugal.
- Made Madrid the capital in 1561 and defended Catholicism with the Inquisition and "purity of blood".
- Won the Battle of Lepanto against the Turks but lost the Invincible Armada against England.
- Faced the independence of the Netherlands and Moorish rebellions in Granada.
- His wars and goals caused repeated bankruptcies and dependence on American silver.
The Lesser Habsburgs and the Habsburg Decline (1598–1700)
- Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II were weak monarchs; often ruled through favorites.
- Economic crises, wars, and loss of European hegemony persisted.
- Charles II died without heirs in 1700, ending the Habsburg dynasty in Spain.
- The War of Spanish Succession brought the Bourbons to the throne.
Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
- Ended the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War.
- Spain recognized the independence of the Netherlands and lost European predominance.
- Marked the beginning of the decline of Spanish hegemony and religious fragmentation in Europe.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Favorite — Trusted person who governed on behalf of the king, especially under the Lesser Habsburgs.
- Treaty of Westphalia — 1648 agreement that ended European wars and Spanish hegemony.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Study the concepts of “favorite” and “Treaty of Westphalia” for the next exam.