Hapsburg Spain Research Paper

Political power acts as a foundation for society through persuasion. This influential ability controls the thoughts and actions of society as a whole, and who is in control heavily determines how successful their influences will be. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella were the political rulers of Spain during the late 15th century, and remained in control up until the early 16th century. They craved unity for their country, and would do anything they could to achieve their desired conformity. Spain was to be united under one flag, one form of ruler, and one religion; those who did not oblige, became targets. For more than three hundred years, the Spanish Inquisition hovered over Spain, inciting fear and inflicting brutality upon those

Before the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Moors were in control of much of the Iberian Peninsula. They desperately wanted to unite Spain and turn it into a

Throughout history, as we study Spain we can clearly recognize high and low points in their success. In the fifteen hundreds Spain had no influence on European affairs, Spain essentially vanished out of Europe. However, within one complete century Spain had become not only a leading power but they also had a great sense of effectiveness in Europe. Spain experienced a Golden age with many social, economic, political aspects. On the other hand, within

In Imperial Spain, J.H. Elliot examines the history of early modern Spain from the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, to the reformation of the Spanish government by the first member of the Bourbon dynasty. According to the author, at the start of the 15th century, Spain was internally weak, hopelessly divided and isolated from the continent by the Pyrenees. Yet, by 1492, Spanish society experienced a tremendous transformation which allowed Isabella and Ferdinand to unify the country, secure the largest transoceanic empire the world has ever known, and for a

Because Spain needed money, Philip raised taxes on the Netherlands. He also tried to ruin Protestantism. People were angry and came to Catholic churches to protest. Philip sent an army to punish the mobs of people, which resulted in one thousand, five hundred Protestants murdered. In addition, Philip was a ruler with great power that did what he had to for his country.

It was therefore not “entirely by accident” that Spain was united under the same realm but the death of the Catholic Kings Portuguese dynastic ties that meant the Hapsburg dynasty and not the Portuguese dynasty was united under the Spanish crown, which as Isabella had predicted caused friction amongst Cisneros and Castilian nobles who resented Ferdinand fruitless attempts to produce an alternative Spanish heir. Failing to promote his more desirable Spanish grandson; Ferdinand to the

After the Renaissance, there were many factors that gave way and led to chaos, and then the choice between an absolutist government, or a constitutional one. These factors included the decline of the previous social order of Feudalism, the Protestant Reformation, new logical and scientific ideas from famed Renaissance thinkers, and riots/revolts from unhappy citizens of numerous classes. Some states like France, Russia, and Prussia, resulted in all the power gathered under the monarch’s personal control, which happened due to comparable actions by the ruler. In the 1600s and 1700s, Absolute monarchs like Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and the Soldier King of Prussia, had similar methods to strengthen bureaucracy and control the nobles, develop

Charles was King of the Franks, King of Italy, and the Holy Roman Emperor, a title that had ceased to exist for three centuries prior. In his reign as King/Emperor, he had the

Spanish monarchs who united Aragon and Castile in 1469 and launched the Spanish golden age and Reconquista.

Philip II and Elizabeth I are two of the most important figures during the 16th century. Philip played a major role in Spain once his father (Charles V) stepped down while Elizabeth was a key figure in England as she ruled and showed her feminism. Both figures had a rough path to lead as the subjects were always a problem. To understand Philip carefully, the full history of his reign is crucial when looking at Spain. Challenges were already given to him from his father and Philip had to learn fast. On the other hand, Elizabeth had a rough childhood and she had to win over her subjects. Through critical examination of primary sources, strategic characteristics will be presented while under what influence they were in throughout their reign. Therefore, the opposite backgrounds to the throne, resistance from subjects, and different strategies ultimately led these two together through war.

In the mid-1500s, there was an unsettled dispute between religions and the King of Spain named Charles V. The Peace of Augsburg was then released in 1555, giving the princes of Germany the ability to choose their territories religion. Charles soon after left and divided his territory between his son Philip II and his brother Ferdinand. Philip II inherited the Spanish Netherlands, the American Colonies, and Spain, while Ferdinand was given the Holy Roman Empire and Austria. After Charles V left, Spain itself began to decline economically and in power. There were four main reasons Spain declined; inflation, taxation, spending choices, and The Dutch

As King of Spain Charles became ruler of many greater and lesser European states. He was the heir of three of Europe's leading dynasties, Habsburg Monarchy, Burgundian Netherlands, and the Crowns of Castile and Aragon. From Spain he ruled over large areas in Central, Western, and Southern Europe, and the Spanish colonies in the Americas and Asia. Charles was the first king to rule Castile, León, and Aragon at the same time. In 1519, Charles became Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria.

Queen Isabella had a positive impact on Spain because she united two kingdoms, so there was centralized power, spread Christianity all across Spain by getting rid of anyone who practiced another religion, and made a strong bureaucracy and created new laws to centralized power which played a big role in unifying Spain. Queen Isabella was an extremely powerful ruler who not only Unified Spain, but she did it under one religion as well as one law. By using her genius military skills combined with her intelligence she was able to unify Spain with one religion. She created new laws and a new way of government to provide order to the country. Although she could not have done this all without the help of her husband, Ferdinand. Together, Isabella and Ferdinand were able to come together and unite their two kingdoms. Queen Isabella was able to unite Spain under one rule by combining her husband’s kingdom, Kingdom of Aragon, and

Frederick and Ferdinand began to raise their own armies by asking for help from other European countries. Ferdinand received assistance from Maximilian of Bavaria. In Western Civilizaton, it also mentions him getting help from Spain. He ensured this help by promising Frederick’s lands to them. Wedgwood explains that this could be considered unconstitutional according to the Peace of Augsburg. Ferdinand signed this document declaring that “German liberties” would be observed in 1555. This means that each country can have its own religion if it’s Catholic or Lutheran and that they are the Electors for the empire. If the German princes do not consent to the impeachment of Frederick as Bohemian king, then giving the land away is stealing.

With this victory Phillip gained some control over the Mediterranean and his naval dominance was at its peak. Phillip also had control over the Spanish Netherlands which were another important source of wealth. Phillip II’s high tax in the Netherland’s trading system brought upon rebellions which Phillip was unable to shut down easily. In the end only some parts of The Netherlands remained catholic and loyal to Phillip II. Lastly Since there was an alliance between the rebelling Netherlands and England; Phillip planed revenge on England on 1587 not only for revenge but also for hopes of making it catholic once more. To activate his revenge, Phillip gathered a large fleet also known as the “Great Armada” and sent it towards England. Everyone had expected a victory from Phillip II but as the large fleet headed for England it ended up in the middle of a storm which shipwrecked a large portion of the fleet. To Phillips surprise his fleet was weakened furthermore by England’s strategic naval attack using fire ships. Lastly, since Phillip was a pure catholic like his father. He held on to the inquisition policy which targeted mainly Protestants like Calvinists. It was a mistake because it caused uneasiness between Catholicism and Protestantism in Spain. In conclusion Phillip II of Spain not only caused an economic depression for his nation but he destroyed its naval force, was unable to efficiently suppress uprisings in the