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1250
Carta Magna
Document signed in England that recognises the power of the Parliament and the rights of the individual. -
1453
Fall of Constantinople
The Ottomans start to expand through the Balkans, theatening Austrian territories. Saracens and Berbers attacked ships & coast in the Mediterranean Sea -
Period: 1516 to 1556
Reign of Carlos I/V
It started as a monarchy in 1516 in Spain. In 1520, he was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He abdicated in 1556, dividing his empire between his son Felipe and his brother Fernando. -
1520
Revolt in Castile (Carlos V)
The bourgeoisie were unhappy with Carlos because he was foreigner, didin't know Spanish, appointed Flemish nobles for the important positions and used Castile's money to make sure he was chosen as Holy Roman Emperor. -
1521
Battle of Villalar
The revolt was initially succesful, but Carlos changed his policy towards the appointments, and the sides changed. The comuneros (inhabitants of the cities & rebels) were defeated. Padilla, Bravo & Maldonado were executed. -
Period: 1521 to 1523
Revolt of the Brotherhoods (Germanías)
In Valencia and Mallorca, the nobles oppresed the lower classes. The lower classes rebelled against them. The nobles and Carlos collaborated to defeat the rebels. -
1525
Battle of Pavia
Francis I feared to be surrounded by Carlos' territories, also France was traditionally hostile to Aragón (rivals for the control of Mediterranean and Italy), Burgundy and Austria. Francis tried to become Holy Roman Emperor to rival the power of Carlos. Francis was taken prisoner while fighting Carlos in this battle over the Duchy of Milan. This did not end french hostilities (Lower Navarra fall in their hands). -
1526
The King of Bohemia and Hungary dies
He died whilst fighting the Ottomans. His crown passed to Carlos -
1527
Sack of Rome
The pope Clement VII feared that Carlos would become the head of the Christendom, and his territories were surrounded by Carlos. Clement joined forces with France, but the imperial troops captured him in the Sack of Rome. -
1529
The Ottomans are repelled from Vienna
Carlos also recovered Tunis, but did not stop the Ottoman pirates -
1547
Battle of Mühlberg
The Lutheran Reformation started in the Holy Roman Empire and the protestant princes rebelled against Carlos. -
1555
Peace of Ausburg
Carlos won the Battle of Mühlberg, but the Protestant Reformation did not end, and he had to sign this treaty, stating that each state would follow the religion of their prince (cuius regio, euius religio) -
Period: 1556 to
Reign of Felipe II
He inherited Spain and Burgundy while Fernando inherited the right to the imperial title and the Habsburg Empire. Felipe II was involved in constant international conflicts. He mantained his kingdom thanks to his powerful royal armies, but his funds were being exhausted, leading to economic problems. The Royal Treasury went in bankrupt several times -
1557
Battle of Saint Quintin
France invaded the Spanish Naples, so Felipe sent imperial troops from the Netherlands to invade France. Felipe won the battle and the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was built to celebrate it. -
1561
Madrid is now Spain's capital
Felipe chose it because Castilla made the greatest financial contributions to the kingdom -
1566
William of Orange starts a rebellion
The arrival of the Calvinism and some economic problems caused a conflict in Flanders. Felipe sent tercios to supress them. This rebellion causes the starting of the Eighty Years' War. -
1568
Rebellion of the moriscos
Some of their customs were prohibited, they were suffering repression because they were suspected of conspiring with Ottoman pirates, so they revolted. -
1571
Battle of Lepanto
Becuase of the constant Ottoman threats in the Mediterranean, the Holy League (the pope, Spain, Venice and others) created a fleet to defeat them. -
1571
War of Alpujarras
The moriscos that rebelled in 1568 were defeated by the royal army and all the moriscos (non rebels too) were expelled from Granada. -
1578
Sebastian of Portugal dies without an heir
Felipe claimed the crown because he was a relative, he was supported by the merchants and the nobles.
Antonio of Portugal also claimed the crown because he was the grandson of Manuel I, he was supported by the artisans and the working classes.
Felipe invaded Portugal and defeated Antonio -
1580
Felipe is crowned king of Portugal
Recognised the portuguese courts in Tomar. All portuguese territories were incorporated into his kingdom, but their laws and institutions were kept. -
1581
The Dutch Republic is formed
After the Union of Utretch, a treaty signed between the Flemish rebels. -
The Spanish Armada
England was a protestant kingdom and began to compete for the control in the Atlantic Ocean. Elizabeth supported the pirates that attacked Spanish ships. Felipe tried to invade England with his "invincible" fleet. The battle ended in Spanish defeat (by the English ships and storms). -
Period: to
Revolt in Aragon
The lower nobility, the artisans and the working classes rebelled against Felipe. Caused by long-standing social conflict (banditry, discontent with the king).
The rebels were defeated by the royal army -
Period: to
Twelve Years Truce
The watershed in the Eighty Years War. Signed by the Duke of Lerma to end the hostilities between Spain and the Dutch. The truce ended when Felipe IV became king of Spain -
Period: to
English Civil War
The King Charles I tried to impose absolutism. The Parliament rebelled against him.
The parliamentary army was led by Oliver Cromwell. They won and executed Charles I. After that, a Commonwealth (republic) was declared. -
Period: to
Reign of Louis XIV
Called the "Sun King". Louis tried to hold absolute power in France. After some years of resistance (La Fronde), he managed to impose absolutism. This will allow France to become the main european power by the end of 17th century -
Glorious Revolution
After Cromwell's death, James II tried to hold absolute power, which caused the Parliament to rebel again.
James II was overthrown, and the Parliament chose William of Orange as new king. -
Bill of Rights
Document signed each time a new english monarch is selected (First signed by William III of Orange).
This document limited the power of the monarch and recognised the rights od the individual. This started the establishment of the Constitutional or Parliamentary Monarchy.