CHRONOLOGY - Spain and Portugal: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 426

peace with England and a truce with the
Dutch rebels, and devotes himself largely
to religious matters. His chief adviser, the
duke of Lerma, manages the administra-
tion, combining personal corruption with
neglect of the economy, and initiates a
period of decline.

reestablishment of full independence
leads to the proclamation of the duke of
Bragança as king of Portugal. Spain will
refuse to recognize Portuguese sover-
eignty until 1669.

1640-56
John IV, first ruler of the Bragança dynasty,
spends most of his reign successfully re-
sisting Spanish attempts to regain control
of Portugal. In 1654 the Dutch, who had
invaded northern Brazil while it was
under Spanish overlordship, are expelled,
although other Portuguese losses to
Spain's enemies are never recovered.

1621-65
Philip IV, king of Spain, is not as passive as
his father but lacks the grand vision of his
grandfather. Philip is obliged to deal with
the consequences of their respective pol-
icies. He and his chief minister, Count-
Duke Olivares, find themselves beset by
a host of challenges in Europe and over-
seas, which ultimately prove too much to
handle.

1640-59
Revolt in Catalonia is provoked by the fiscal
and administrative policies of Olivares
and the king's failure to respect the tradi-
tional rights and privileges of the princi-
pality. Aided by France, the Catalans are
able to prolong their resistance and ulti-
mately secure redress of most of their
grievances.

1622
Spain's renewed war with France, initially
over a minor border problem, gradually
becomes a new round in the struggle for
mastery in Europe. After the expiration
of Spain's truce with the Dutch Republic,
war is resumed in the Netherlands. This
and the war with France become interna-
tional during the 1630s as part of the
Catholic-Protestant conflict in Germany
(Thirty Year's War, 1618-48), with Spain
supporting the Austrian Habsburgs and
France backing the Protestant cause.

1643
Battle of Rocroi. Spanish field forces are de-
feated by the French. This victory ends a
century and a half of Spanish military
dominance in Europe and sets the stage
for the rise of France to supremacy on the
Continent.

1640
Portugal breaks with Spain. Like the Cata-
lan rising that begins the same year and
a later (failed) revolt in Naples, this chal-
lenge to Madrid's control is provoked by
France. After 60 years of “tyranny” as
well as devastating attacks on their colo-
nies by Spain's enemies, widespread sup-
port among the Portuguese for the

1656-67
Afonso VI is king of Portugal. The early years
of his reign, under a regency, are marked
by repeated Portuguese victories over the
Spanish invaders, which finally results in
the recognition of Portugal independence.
Furthermore, Portugal's status is en-
hanced by the marriage of Princess Cata-