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| Bourbons of Spain | |
|---|---|
| Name | House of Bourbon (Spanish branch) |
| Native name | Casa de Borbón |
| Caption | Royal Arms of Spain (historical) |
| Founded | 1700 |
| Founder | Philip V of Spain |
| Current head | Felipe VI of Spain |
| Parent house | House of Bourbon |
| Country | Kingdom of Spain |
Bourbons of Spain are the Spanish branch of the House of Bourbon who ascended the Spanish throne in 1700 with the accession of Philip V of Spain after the death of Charles II of Spain. Their rule reshaped institutions across the Kingdom of Spain, influenced continental politics through dynastic ties with the House of Bourbon (France), the House of Lorraine, the House of Savoy, and marriages linking to the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. The dynasty presided over the War of the Spanish Succession, Imperial realignments, constitutional experiments such as the Spanish Constitution of 1812, and restoration under Alfonso XII of Spain and later constitutional monarchy under Juan Carlos I of Spain and Felipe VI of Spain.
The Bourbon claim followed the childless death of Charles II of Spain and the contested will naming Philip, Duke of Anjou (grandson of Louis XIV of France) as heir, provoking the War of the Spanish Succession against claimants backed by the House of Habsburg like Archduke Charles of Austria. The 1713–1714 Treaties of Utrecht and Rastatt recognized Philip V of Spain but required renunciations preventing a personal union with France, reshaping colonial possessions by ceding territories to Great Britain, the House of Savoy, and the Dutch Republic. Early Bourbon rule consolidated power through reforms inspired by Jean-Baptiste Colbert-model centralization and advisers such as Cardinal Alberoni.
Key Bourbon sovereigns include Philip V of Spain (founder), his son Ferdinand VI of Spain, and grandson Charles III of Spain who advanced enlightened administration; Charles IV of Spain whose reign saw the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic invasion leading to the abdications at Bayonne and the installation of Joseph Bonaparte briefly interrupting Bourbon rule. The restored Bourbons under Ferdinand VII of Spain rejected liberal constitutions until his death sparked the Carlist Wars between supporters of Infante Carlos, Count of Molina and the Isabelline line of Isabella II of Spain. The deposition of Isabella II of Spain led to the House of Bourbon's intermittent return with Alfonso XII of Spain and the short-lived Second Spanish Republic. The 20th century saw exile and restoration with Alfonso XIII of Spain preceding the Spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco, who later designated Juan Carlos I of Spain to succeed him, culminating in a democratic transition.
Bourbon monarchs implemented administrative centralization via the Nueva Planta decrees under Philip V of Spain abolishing regional fueros in former Crown of Aragon territories, modernized fiscal systems under ministers like José Moñino, 1st Count of Floridablanca and Marquis of Ensenada, and promoted bureaucratic institutions such as the Consejo de Castilla reform and provincial reorganization culminating in the 19th-century provincial division associated with Joaquín María López. Liberal and absolutist oscillations produced constitutional experiments including the Spanish Constitution of 1812 promulgated at Cádiz and the later Spanish Constitution of 1876 underpinning Restoration politics directed by the Cánovas del Castillo system of turno pacífico.
Spanish Bourbons pursued alliances through marriage and diplomacy: ties with the House of Bourbon (France) and marriages linking to Maria Luisa of Parma, Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain, and unions with the House of Savoy and House of Habsburg-Lorraine. The dynasty negotiated colonial settlements after the Treaty of Utrecht and engaged in 18th-century wars including the War of Jenkins' Ear, the Seven Years' War, and the War of the Pyrenees. Under Charles III of Spain and ministers like Aranda and Floridablanca Spain sought to recover prestige, culminating in support for the American Revolution against Great Britain and the loss of many Spanish American territories during the Spanish American wars of independence in the early 19th century. Bourbon diplomacy in the 19th and 20th centuries involved the Concert of Europe, rapprochement with France after the Franco-Prussian War, and 20th-century alignments during the World War I era neutrality and later Cold War realignments under Francoist Spain and restoration monarchy.
Bourbon patronage fostered the Spanish Enlightenment, supporting institutions like the Real Academia Española, the Real Academia de la Historia, and the Museo del Prado established under Ferdinand VII of Spain and expanded by Isabella II of Spain and Charles III of Spain who promoted urban reforms in Madrid with architects like Juan de Villanueva. Economic policies included mercantilist reforms, creation of Royal Philippine Company, and later 19th-century industrialization efforts in regions such as Catalonia and Basque Country. Cultural patronage extended to composers like Tomás Luis de Victoria earlier and painters like Francisco Goya who documented Bourbon courts; later figures include writers Benito Pérez Galdós and Joaquín Costa critiquing economic stagnation leading to the Disaster of 1898 and loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
The Bourbon era experienced decline through military defeats, colonial losses, and internal conflicts: the Peninsular War, repeated Carlist uprisings, and the 1931 proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic forcing the exile of Alfonso XIII of Spain. Restoration under Juan Carlos I of Spain after Francisco Franco's death facilitated the 1978 Spanish Constitution of 1978 and transition to parliamentary monarchy with democratic reconciliations involving parties like the Unión de Centro Democrático and leaders such as Adolfo Suárez. The current Bourbon monarch, Felipe VI of Spain, presides symbolically within constitutional limits, engaging with institutions like the Cortes Generales, representing Spain in forums such as the European Union and NATO, while controversies over figures like Juan Carlos I of Spain have prompted legal and public scrutiny.