Spanish Rule - The Bourbons & Franco Quiz

Answer: False

The Hapsburg dynasty had ruled Spain from 1516 to 1700, when its last monarch Charles II died without leaving an heir, thereby ending the Hapsburg dynasty. He named the grandson of King Louis XIV of France as his heir. When he was crowned, he became King Philip V.

King Philip was the first Bourbon king of Spain, but far from the last. The Bourbons ruled Spain for over 500 years and counting, with the exception of the years 1931-1975.

Answer: King Charles II of Spain

The Spanish War of Succession (1701-1714) began when Spain's Hapsburg King Charles II named the grandson of France's King Louis XIV as his heir, which meant that Spain's new King Philip V was in the line of succession to also become king of France. Had that occurred, it would have joined Spain's vast empire with France's, upsetting the balance of power in Europe.

The belligerents were England, the Dutch Republic, Portugal and Austria (anti-Bourbons) against France (pro-Bourbon). When the war ended, the Hapsburg's dynastic rule in Spain ended and Spain's Bourbon dynasty began.

The new Bourbon Spanish monarch, however, was forced to relinquish any claim to France's throne, and the balance of power was restored.

Answer: Treaty of Utrecht

The Treaty of Utrecht was actually a series of agreements signed between 1713-1715. The first Bourbon King of Spain, Philip V, was crowned. He had to relinquish any right he had to the French crown because a one monarchy over both countries would upset the balance of power in Europe.

Answer: Manuel Godoy

Spain's King Charles IV was a weak and submissive ruler. He chose to let his wife and his foreign minister rule the country. Foreign Minister Manuel Godoy was a controversial figure. The Spanish nobility resented his rise to power from obscurity, as did the king's own son, Ferdinand.

The "Tumult of Aranjuez" took place in 1808 and was a coup led by Spanish supporters of Ferdinand. As a result, Charles was forced to dismiss Godoy and abdicate in favor of Ferdinand. Enter Napoleon, who "invited" father and son to settle their differences at a castle in France.

In the meantime, he installed his own king of Spain.

Answer: Joseph Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte appointed his brother, Joseph, as "king" of Spain in 1808. The Spanish people saw him as a foreigner and interloper. They yearned for a return of the Bourbons. Joseph attempted to appease the people by ending the Spanish Inquisition, which had been ongoing for nearly 350 years.

When he was unable to control the population and after his brother's defeat, Joseph abdicated the Spanish crown and fled to France and then to the United States. He settled in New Jersey, where he built a mansion known as the "second grandest house in America." He named it Point Breeze and entertained lavishly, reportedly selling valuables he had brought from Spain and France.

Answer: weakened France/strengthened Britain

The Peninsular War (1807-1814) was fought between Napoleon and Spain, Portugal, and Britain. This war was tremendously taxing on Napoleon and France. King Charles IV had permitted Napoleon to march his army through Spain to attack Portugal. Napoleon stationed troops along his route in Spain. He also chose to attack Spain, which he conquered and where he installed his brother as king. The Spanish people hated the French. They engaged in what we today call "guerrilla warfare" (though not its first use in history). The length of the war and the intensity of Spanish resistance became a severe drain on the French treasury.

Britain gained strength on mainland Europe by aiding Spain and Portugal. Britain also became the dominant naval power.

This war weakened Napoleon militarily and domestically so much that it contributed significantly to his ultimate defeat in 1815.

Answer: La Pepa

La Pepa was one of the most progressive and liberal constitutions of its time. It provided for freedom of the press, national sovereignty, and separation of powers. In spite of all that, La Pepa didn't last two years. King Ferdinand III returned to power in 1814 and re-established an absolute monarchy. This power grab continued until the early 1930s.

Answer: King Alfonso XIII

King Alfonso XIII became king when he was born. His mother acted as regent until 1902 when the king reached the age of 16. His reign was filled with turmoil; Spain lost several of its key oversees possessions, the assassinations of four prime ministers and economic hardships resulting from WW1 despite remaining neutral.

These issues led to decreasing support. In 1931 the king went into exile in France and later Italy. He was never officially deposed. When he died in 1941, he named his son as his successor.

Answer: True

In 1910 Franco graduated from the Infantry School in the bottom half of his class. He was stationed in Morocco from 1912 to 1926. During that time, he was wounded and received awards and promotions. With the Second Spanish Republic came new elections. Left-wing Republicans took control of the government in 1931. Franco, a hardened nationalist was sent to an obscure post.

In 1933 new elections put the Nationalists in power and in 1935 Franco became Chief of Staff of the Army. In the 1936 elections the power swung back to the Republicans. Franco and others began planning a coup.

Answer: King Juan Carlos I

Spain lived under the iron rule of a dictatorship from 1939 until 1975. Franco's rule over Spain was enigmatic; his repressive policies led to the deaths and imprisonment of thousands of people, yet he also oversaw significant economic growth, especially in the 1960s. Franco was as much an anti-communist as he was a pro-fascist. Spain remained neutral during WWII, but Spanish volunteers fought alongside German soldiers during Operation Barbarossa.

Franco died in 1975. He had named as his successor Juan Carlos, the grandson of King Alfonso XIII and the son of Don Juan de Borbón. Juan Carlos' father, Don Juan, was the legitimate heir to the throne, but he was passed over by Franco. In 1977 Don Juan ceded all his rights to the throne to his son. Juan Carlos was educated in Spain, and Franco acted as a mentor to him. King Juan Carlos I instituted many political reforms. Political parties were allowed, and in 1977 Spain held its first democratic elections in over 40 years. Juan Carlos' handling of a coup attempt in 1981 gained public admiration and strengthened confidence in the monarchy. In 2014, amid several controversies, Juan Carlos abdicated.