Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1703, which establishes an advantageous
trade relationship. Allied with England
during the War of the Spanish Succes-
sion, Portugal suffers a brief invasion by
French and Spanish troops in 1704; how-
ever, an Anglo-Portuguese force stages a
counterinvasion of Spain in 1706, and
Portugal has the glory of occupying Ma-
drid for a brief period.
erto unproductive colony of Brazil, where
diamonds and gold deposits are discov-
ered in rapid succession. A self-indulgent
and dissolute monarch, he wastes much
of these new revenues on grandiose con-
structions, such as the palace at Mafra,
and encourages his courtiers to imitate
the lifestyle of Louis XV's court at Ver-
sailles. After a brief intervention in the
War of the Spanish Succession, Portugal
avoids further foreign entanglements
during his reign.
1700-46
Philip V, the 17 year-old grandson of Louis
XIV of France, becomes king of Spain.
He is challenged by an anti-French co-
alition that includes England, the Dutch
Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Their candidate for the throne is Arch-
duke Carl of the Austrian Habsburg
line.
1714-24
Philip V initiates the so-called Bourbon Re-
forms, including modernization of the
bureaucracy, consolidation of power (ab-
olition of Catalan rights of local govern-
ment), improvement of infrastructure,
and promotion of mining and manufac-
turing. However, much effort is wasted
on attempts to secure control of France
during the minority of his young relative
Louis XV, although it had previously been
agreed that the two countries would
never be united.
1701-14
War of the Spanish Succession. Although
much fighting takes place in other parts
of Europe or in overseas colonies, there
are several major battles in Spain itself,
with Archduke Carl temporarily captur-
ing both Barcelona and Madrid. After the
breakup of the coalition Philip V is able to
secure recognition as king. Britain retains
control of Gibraltar and Minorca as well
as access to the Spanish colonial market
for African slaves. Philip is also obliged to
surrender the Spanish Netherlands and
certain possessions in Italy to his Austrian
rival.
1724
Perhaps feeling overworked, Philip abdi-
cates in favor of his eldest son. Louis I
dies after only six months, and Philip re-
sumes the throne.
1725-46
The latter part of Philip's reign is occupied
by Spanish participation in a series of
wars, usually involving an alliance with
France against Great Britain and Austria.
The chief result of these efforts is the es-
tablishment of junior branches of the
Spanish Bourbon dynasty in Naples and
Parma.
1706-50
King John V of Portugal spends his early
years under the regency of his father's
sister, the Dowager Queen Catherine of
England. John is the beneficiary of a tre-
mendous influx of wealth from the hith-
 
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