-
400 BCE
Fall of the Tartese Kingdoms
From the 5th century B.C. the references to Tartessos as a kingdom disappear and the texts begin to name the area as Turdetania. Although historians have offered some possible explanations to such a rich and powerful monarchy, none of them is conclusive. Therefore, the Kingdom of the Tartessians remains until now a great enigma, straddling history, myth and legend. -
264 BCE
The beginning of the First Punic War
Rome seized the Carthaginian possessions of Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, which became the first Roman provinces. Therefore Carthage conquered the Levant of the Iberian Peninsula, to dream of possessions. This war lasted from 264 to 241 B.C. -
29 BCE
The beginning of the Cantabrian-Asturian wars
Rome conquered the northern territory of the peninsula that it did not yet have in its possession, were the hardest wars, being the least developed area. The objectives pursued by Rome with this conquest were: the full control of the peninsula, the eradication of pillage and the exploitation of mineral wealth. These wars lasted from 29 to 19 B.C. -
200
Crisis of the third century in Hispania
The Roman world witnessed a profound crisis that took place from the third century. This crisis deeply weakened the Roman state, which despite a certain recovery in the fourth century by legal means, was unable to withstand the consequences of this crisis, which were reflected in all areas: political, military, economic, demographic and social. -
380
Definitive implantation of Christianity in Hispania
The definitive implantation took place after the Edict of Thessaloniki, by Emperor Theodosius I, which established Christianity as the official religion of the empire. -
409
Arrival of three barbaric peoples in the peninsula
In 409, three barbarian villages broke into the peninsula, two of them Germanic (Swedes and Vandals) and the other of Asian origin (Alans), who had crossed the Rhine River years ago, which marked the border. During the first two years, these peoples dedicated themselves to plundering the territories they crossed. -
410
Sacking of Rome
The city of Rome was sacked in 410 by the army of the Visigoths led by Alaric. -
589
Conversion to Christianity of Recaredo
Recaredo, successor of Leovigildo, converted to Catholicism at the Third Council of Toledo, along with noble and Arian bishops. He thus achieved the religious unification of the Visigoth minority and the Hispano-Roman majority, while strengthening their political power. -
654
Legal unification of the Visigoth monarchy
The legal unification was carried out by Recesvinto in 654 with the compilation of all the previous legislation in the Liber ludiciorum and the Fuero Juzgao, and its subsequent application to both populations. The only ones who were discriminated against and suffered repressive provisions throughout the period were the Jews, which explains their support for the Muslim invaders in the eighth century. -
Jul 26, 711
Fall of the Visigoth Monarchy
The victory of the Muslims in the Battle of Guadalete in 711 ended the Visigoth monarchy. Esata fought for the entry of the Muslims led by Tariq in 711, seeing the weakness of this monarchy by the war of succession after Witiza died. -
Jul 26, 711
Beginning of the Emirate dependent on Damascus
This emirate begins with the battle of Guadalete, where the Muslims defeat Don Rodrigo and the capital is placed in Córdoba. The Emirate is governed by the Emir, who holds political power but not religious power. It is a period of political instability due to the confrontation between Arabs and Berbers. This emirate lasts from 711 to 756 -
722
Battle of Covadonga
This war occurred in Asturias in 722, after the fall of the Visigoth monarchy. He was pitting the Muslims against the Christians, who had taken refuge in the northern part of the peninsula, and they were led by Don Pelayo. This war was of great importance because it reinforced the confidence of the Christians and the newly formed Kingdom of Asturias, led by Pelayo. -
756
Beginning of the Independent Emirate of Baghdad
The Emirate became politically independent of Baghdad, was ruled by Abd al-Rahman I, and accepted the religious authorship of the Caliph of Baghdad. It is a time marked by the uprisings of Mozarabic and muladíes. In the fifth century, it reached its maximum economic and cultural splendour. This form of government lasted from 756 to 929. -
929
Beginning of the Caliphate of Cordoba
The Emirate becomes a Caliphate and is ruled by Abd al-Rahman III and continues its capital in Córdoba. It becomes independent in the political and religious sphere of Baghdad. Time of maximum splendor of Al-Andalus. The advance of the Christian kingdoms was halted. In 961 Abd al-Rahman III died and his son al-Hakam II succeeded him. After his death in 976 his son Hisham II would rule but was incapacitated and Almanzor occupied the government. It lasted from 929 to 1031. -
1031
Taifas Kingdoms. Almohades and Almoravids
The Caliphate was divided into about twenty taifas. At that time of weakness the Christian kingdoms advanced south. Some of these taifas asked the Almoravids for help.
As a result Al-Andalus was again divided into the second kingdoms of taifas. These second kingdoms fell upon the arrival of the Almohads. Alfonso VIII defeated them in 1212 at the Battle of Navas de Tolosa. Only the Nasrid kingdom of Granada remained. -
Jul 16, 1212
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
Alfonso VII, defeated the Muslims in the Battle of the Navas de Tolosa, in the approaches of Despeñaperos, the importance of this war is the opening of the valley of the Guadalquivir by the Castilians. -
Jun 15, 1217
Beginning of the Reign of Ferdinand II "The Saint"
Ferdinand II would definitely unify the crowns of Castillas and León. This monarch carried out an extraordinary expansion, reconquering Córdoba (1236), jaén (1246) and Sevilla (1248). As a result from the late 13th century the only Muslim territory on the peninsula would be the Nazarite kingdom of Granada, forcing Ferdinand to pay pariahs. Ferdinand III died in 1252 leaving his son Alfonso X a strengthened monarchy comparable to any in Europe. -
1237
Beginning of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada
This kingdom managed to survive until 1492, supporting the Cartilla Kingdom both economically and militarily. Only Arabic was spoken in this area, as there was only a Muslim population and a Hebrew minority. In 1474, with the civil insurance between Isabel and la Beltraneja, they refused to pay pariahs. This gave the pretext that in 1482 Castile began a military campaign against this Kingdom, Boabdil was the last monarch and delivered the city on January 2, 1492. -
Aug 2, 1273
Foundation of the Mesta
The Honored Council of the Mesta was founded by Alfonso X "The Wise" in 1273 and lasted until 1836. It brought together aspects relating to the transhumant farming of Merino sheep. Its objectives were: to exploit the vast territories reconquered, to control the nobility and clergy and to homogenize the exploitation of the countryside. This privilege gave royal channels so that the cattle ranchers could transhuman, among other privileges. -
1469
Dynastic Union
In 1468, Enrique IV king of Castile names his sister Isabel as princess of Asturias and heir to the throne of Castile after the Treaty of Bulls of Guisando, she is forced to marry whomever Enrique chooses. However, in 1469, Isabel married Fernando II (son of Juan II) without Enrique's consent, thus producing a dynastic union of both crowns. Each kingdom maintained its own laws, institutions, norms... so Spain lacked unity, with advantages that favored the position of leader of Castile. -
1479
Beginning of the Reign of Catholic kings
With his marriage bond were joined two crowns of Castile and Aragon. They established a strong monarchy in the face of the delusion of power of churchmen and nobles. With the conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, the Kingdom of Navarre, among others, the territorial union of present-day Spain was achieved. Even if each kingdom were governed by its own laws. The Kings established a powerful foreign policy and the discovery of America in 1492 marked world history. It lasted until 1504. -
1504
End of The Exterior Proyection of The Catholic Kings
Aragon and France fight for hegemony in Italy, however it is Fernando the Catholic (King of Sicily) who establishes the Spanish hegemony in Italy. France returns Roussillon and Cerdanya to Spain after the Barcelona treaty. Between 1508 and 1510 half of North Africa was conquered. On October 12, 1492, America is "discovered" thanks to the erroneous expedition of Christopher Columbus. He arrived in the Bahamas and later made 3 more trips discovering more lands. -
1522
First round the world
In order to reach the Spice Islands, an expedition led by Fernando Magellan set out in 1519, they crossed the Atlantic, coasted South America and crossed the South Sea baptized with the Pacific Ocean. After three months they reached the Mariana Islands and the Philippines where Magellan perished in combat against the indigenous people. Juan Sebastián Elcano took command. Three years after his departure, he had made the first trip around the world. -
Jan 16, 1556
Abdication of Charles I
He abdicated in 1556 in Brussels dividing his inheritance, the house of Austria, into two branches: the Spanish, in which he was succeeded by his son Felipe II, universal heir and continuator of his work, and the German, with the imperial title, for the brother of Carlos I, Fernando I. After his abdication he returned to Spain, settling in some rooms built for him in the monastery of Yuste (Cáceres). There he died in 1558. -
1580
End of The Interior Projection of The Catholic Kings
After the war, the kingdom set itself the objective of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, occupying it on January 2, 1492 after the surrender of Boabdil. This campaign lasted 12 years. The Kingdom of Navarre protects itself from the kings. In 1468, the Canary Islands were conquered, after the abandonment of Portugal, ending in 1496. In 1580, Felipe II claimed the throne of Portugal after the continuous deaths of his heirs. -
Fall of "La Armada Invencible"
He abdicated in 1556 in Brussels dividing his inheritance, the house of Austria, into two branches: the Spanish, in which he was succeeded by his son Felipe II, universal heir and continuator of his work, and the German, with the imperial title, for the brother of Carlos I, Fernando I. After his abdication he returned to Spain, settling in some rooms built for him in the monastery of Yuste (Cáceres). There he died in 1558. -
End of the Expulsion of the Moriscos
The Moorish population consisted of about 325,000 people. It was ordered by King Philip III and carried out in a staggered manner between 1609 and 1613. The first Moors expelled were those of the Kingdom of Valencia, followed by those of Andalusia, Extremadura and the two Castles. The last expelled were those of the Kingdom of Murcia. The kingdoms of Valencia and Aragon were the most affected, as they lost one third and one sixth of their population, respectively. -
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia refers to the two peace treaties of Osnabrück and Münster, signed on 24 October 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War in Germany and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Netherlands. These treaties involved the Holy Roman Emperor, the Spanish Monarchy, the kingdoms of France and Sweden, and the United Provinces.
He initiated a new order in Central Europe based on the concept of national sovereignty. -
New plant decrees
They are a consequence of the War of Succession to the Spanish Crown. Felipe V took the opportunity to abolish the courts, that is, the own legislation and the political system of government by which each one was governed, and to realize the political-administrative unity with Castile, as well as to establish the use of Castilian as an administrative and legal language. Finally, internal borders and customs were abolished. -
New plant decrees
They are a consequence of the War of Succession to the Spanish Crown. Felipe V took the opportunity to abolish the courts, that is, the own legislation and the political system of government by which each one was governed, and to realize the political-administrative unity with Castile, as well as to establish the use of Castilian as an administrative and legal language. Finally, internal borders and customs were abolished. -
End of the War of the Spanish Succession
The war of Spanish succession was an international conflict that lasted from 1701 until the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which had as its fundamental cause the death without issue of Charles II of Spain. The main consequence was the establishment of the House of Bourbon on the throne of Spain. The War of Succession evolved into a civil war. The main consequences were the loss of their European possessions and the disappearance of the Crown of Aragon. -
First and second family pact
In 1733 the Polish War of Succession broke out. Spain and France fought together against Austria, signing the First Family Pact (1733). At the end of the war, the infante Charles became king of Naples and Sicily. In 1740 the War of Succession of Austria broke out, in which again France and Spain are united signing the Second Family Pact (1743). The war ended in 1748 and in it the second son of Elizabeth, the infante Philip, was recognized as Duke of Parma -
Third family pact
This last agreement was signed in the reign of Charles III to defend the Spanish-French colonial interests in America, against British aspirations. After some disastrous beginnings, France and Spain supported the American settlers in their struggle against England, which had to recognize the independence of the United States and return Menorca and Florida to Spain in the Peace of Versailles of 1783. -
Esquilache Riots
Mutiny of Esquilache. When Charles III became King of Spain he brought with him Italian ministers, among them Esquilache, who carried out a broad reform program. In Madrid he introduced another measure, very unpopular, such as changing the way of dress. The people of Madrid rebelled against the minister and his decrees (1766). Charles III was thought that it had not been spontaneous but rather promoted or instigated by the Jesuits who were expelled -
Creation of the new towns of Sierra Morena
Were a Spanish intendency whose creation began around 1767, during the reign of Carlos III created under the protection of the Population Charter. Subsequently, this Fuero was repealed three times: between 1810 and 1811 under the reign of José I Bonaparte, by the Cortes of Cádiz (between 1813 and 1814) and during the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823). The definitive suppression was carried out on March 5, 1835. During its term this intendence was the «fifth Andalusian province». -
End of War of Independence of the thirteen American colonies
In 1776 the war of independence of the thirteen American colonies, belonging to Great Britain, origin of the present United States, broke out. France and Spain intervened on behalf of the colonists. It was a golden opportunity to get even with the defeat of 1763. It ended with the British defeat and the signing of the Versailles Peace in 1783, which recognized the independence of the United States. Spain, in turn, recovered Florida and the island of Menorca. -
End of the war against France
The war against France (1793-1795). The conflict takes place in the context of the so-called first coalition war (1792-1797), which the main European monarchies (Prussia, Austria, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and the United Provinces) allied to confront France and its new revolutionary government. In the Spanish case, the war ended with the defeat and signing of the Peace of Basel (1795) -
The Wars against the United Kingdom (1796-1808).
By the Treaty of Saint Ildefonso of 1796, Spain again became an ally of France and entered into war with England. At that time the main Spanish contribution was its navy.The Peace of Amiens (1802) ended the conflict, although the confrontation would resurface again in 1804, extending until 1808. In the context of this conflict took place the defeat of Trafalgar (1805). The consequences: the paralysis of international trade and the appearance of a huge budget deficit. -
Battle of Bailén
Napoleon thought the invasion would be quick and easy. However, the resistance of cities such as Girona, Zaragoza or Tarragona, immobilized part of the French army and prevented the advance towards the Levant. Furthermore, the defeat of the invaders in the The Battle of Bailén (July) had an immediate impact: the conquest of Andalusia was prevented. José I leaves Madrid. Napoleon went to Spain in November to lead a counteroffensive with an army of 250,000 men. -
Treaty of Fontainebleau
Godoy, with the acquiescence of Carlos IV, signed with Napoleon the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807), which authorized the Napoleonic armies to enter Spain to attack Portugal, an ally of Great Britain. In exchange, a future distribution of Portugal between France and Spain would be agreed upon, and a principality would be created for Godoy, all of which provoked the irritation of the population. The troops were located at strategic points such as Barcelona, Vitoria and Madrid. -
Aranjuez Mutiny
On March 18, 1808, a riot broke out in Aranjuez, the city where the kings were. The mutiny, with popular participation, but led by the palace nobility and the clergy, pursued the dismissal of Godoy and the abdication of Carlos IV to his son Fernando. -
Bayonne abdications
The Bayonne abdications took place on May 5 and 6, 1808 in the French city of Bayonne. It is the name by which the successive resignations of King Charles IV and his son Ferdinand VII to the throne of Spain in favor of Napoleon Bonaparte are known. -
Treaty of Valencay
In 1812, the course of the war was affected by the campaign that Napoleon began in Russia and that forced him to withdraw thousands of troops. Given this, the Spanish troops, supported by the guerrillas and by the British army achieved the victory of Arapile. The French added two other decisive defeats, Vitoria and San Marcial. Napoleon, on the verge of defeat and unable to maintain the two fronts, decided to agree to the end of the conflict with the Spanish, with the signing of the Treaty. -
Abrantes Manifesto
On September 29, 1833, Fernando VII died, two days later his brother Carlos Mª Isidro, through the Abrantes Manifesto, claimed the throne from Portugal. -
Royal Statute
Martínez de la Rosa undertook a series of very moderate reforms, highlighting the Royal Statute in 1834, which, although not a Constitution, includes a set of rules for convening Cortes. It recognizes a shared sovereignty between the king and the Cortes. These will be composed of two chambers: that of the Próceres and that of the Procurators. Suffrage is based on census (depends on income), so only 0.15% of the population votes. -
San Ildefonso Farm Mutiny
This causes the San Ildefonso Farm Mutiny to take place in the summer of 1836: a group of sergeants force their way into the palace of San Ildefonso de La Granja, María Cristina's summer residence, and force her to restore the Constitution of Cádiz of 1812, repealing the Royal Statute of 1834 and handing over power to the progressive Calatrava. -
Royal Expedition
Royal expedition of 1837 led by Don Carlos himself who, from Navarra, went to Catalonia and went to Madrid with the intention of taking the capital. However, failing to take the city, they had to retreat to the north. -
Constitution of 1837
It ends up enacting a new Constitution in 1837, brief and with the intention of being a common point of progressives and moderates. Its main features are:
National sovereignty is recognized.
Suffrage continues to be based on census but is extended to about 3% of the population.
Legislative power is shared by the Cortes with the king.
Rights and freedoms greater than that of 1812: the national militia was established, freedom of the press, opinion, association, non-denominational. -
Disentailment of Mendizábal
Juan Álvarez de Mendizábal reinstated the decrees of the Triennium on the suppression of majorities, suppressed religious orders and expropriated their property.
Given the different size of the plots, although they were theoretically affordable to the peasants, in practice those who were already landowners monopolized the purchases. The confiscation process initiated by Mendizábal lasted until 1845 and sold 75% of the ecclesiastical patrimony. The Church turns against the State -
Constitution of 1845
The 1845 Constitution assumes the principles of conservative liberalism:
Shared sovereignty between the Crown and the Cortes.
Legislative initiative in both institutions.
The conservative character of the Senate is reinforced, whose members had a life term, were appointed directly by the Crown and had to enjoy a high level of income and be relevant personalities.
Confessional state: the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion
Very restricted census suffrage. -
Town Halls Act
In the local Administration, a City Council Law (1845) sanctions the lack of municipal autonomy: the mayor is elected by the central power. -
The General Law of Railways
The General Law of Railways (1855) entailed new regulations for railway construction (radial system, gauge, possibility of foreign investment and importing materials without paying tariffs). The first line had been the Barcelona-Mataró line (opened in 1848). -
The Banks Act
The Banking Law (1856) with which the Bank of Spain appears. -
Disentailment of Madoz
When the progressives come to power again (1854-1856), they assume that the economic modernization of the country needs Confiscation. At this stage, the progressive Minister of Finance Pascual Madoz will start again the confiscation process.There is talk of "general confiscation", and now they will be put on sale forcibly, although with compensation, the Church’s assets that remain unsold, but also property and land of municipalities: common and own state and other institutions. -
The Pact of Ostend
Finally, progressives, democrats and republicans, later also the unionists, signed the Pact of Ostend (Belgium, 1866) by which they undertook to overthrow Elizabeth II. In September 1868, the pronouncement that would take place in Cádiz was prepared. On the 18th Admiral Topete revolted in Cádiz. The manifesto released on the 19th, Proclama de Prim, ended with the cry of Viva España con honor, symbol of this revolution of 1868, known as the Glorious. -
Constitution of 1869
It is the first democratic constitution in the history of Spain and was drawn up by constituent courts by universal male suffrage. It was based on the monarchy subject to national sovereignty and reaffirmed universal male suffrage. A very broad recognition of freedoms and rights together with a bicameral system of Congress and Senate -
Yara's scream
In 1868 a popular uprising led by Manuel Céspedes (Yara's cry) began the struggle for autonomy in Cuba. They fought for the abolition of slavery in the sugar plantations and mills and for political autonomy, similar to the one defended at that time by the federal republicans in the metropolis. -
The revolution of 1868
Known as La Gloriosa or La Septembrina, it opens a period of social and political reform that goes beyond a simple change of government, it means the attempt to implant a democratic liberalism. It began with a military pronouncement in Cadiz on 19 September 1868 and ended in January 1784 with the coup d'état of Pavia. -
Serrano's conservative dictatorship
It will last practically all year and will focus on the restoration of order. At this juncture Cánovas del Castillo prepares the Bourbon Restoration with the Sandhurst Manifesto in which Alfonso XII promised a constitutional regime. The military pronouncement of General Martínez Campos in Sagunto accelerated the proclamation of the king on December 29, 1874. -
End of the reign of Amadeus I of Savoy (1870-1873)
The Cortes in 1870 named him king of Spain after winning the vote, but his main valet, Prim, died three days before his arrival. The main problems that will be encountered will be the republican opposition and the Alfonsino party, the split of the progressive party, its only support, the opposition of the Church and the workers' movement, and the discontent of the army along with the third Carlist war. All this led to the abdication on February 10, 1873. -
Beggining of The First Republic
It was proclaimed by the Cortes on February 11, 1873 as a solution of urgency and would last eleven months, its main problems were: the maintenance of two wars that of Cuba and the Carlist, the scarce popular support, the internal division and the problem of cantonalism. The Republic will have four presidents: Estanislao Figueras, Pi and Margall, Salmerón and Emilio Castelar -
Constitution of 1876
The Constitution of 1876 was created, inspired by the Constitution of 1845. It was carried out by a committee of notables. Its main principles were:
Sovereignty was shared between the Cortes and the Crown
Legislative power is held by the bicameral courts.
Executive power is vested in the Crown.
Individual rights and freedoms were recognized
The State is confessional.
Regarding the electoral procedure and the type of suffrage, it did not pronounce itself, referring to a later electoral law. -
Beginning of the presidency of Cánovas
This stage was known as the "Canovist dictatorship". Its objective was: to guarantee the consolidation of the monarchy and build a strongly centralized political system.
The curtailment of freedoms was reflected in measures to control freedom. A politicy of repression against anarchist ideology was practiced.
The electoral law of 1878 marked the selective and authoritarian nature of suffrage.
This stage of Cánovas governments ended conflicts such as the Carlist War and the Cuban uprising. -
Start of the "Chiquita" War
General Martínez Campos promised to grant Cuba a broad amnesty to the insurgents, the abolition of slavery and forms of self-government. But that promise was not respected and Cubans continued to ask for greater freedoms, giving rise to the so-called Little War (1879-1880). -
Pardo Pact
The death of Alfonso XII endangered the entire Restoration system. The protagonists of the Restoration agreed to stabilize the political situation. An agreement was reached, the Pact of El Pardo, by which Cánovas ceded the government to the Liberal Party. With this peaceful shift, the system was consolidated and guaranteed the succession of María Cristina by her son Alfonso XIII. -
Death of Alfonso XII
The king died on November 25, 1885 and the Regency of María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorraine began. The Regent held the position until her son Alfonso XIII, born in May 1886, came of age. Although it was a period of continuity, several aspects stand out in these years: the social upheaval, the economic problems, the political instability, the emergence of nationalism and the loss of the last colonies in 1898. -
End of the long reign of Sagasta
In July 1890, Sagasta had to leave the government because of the internal division in his party. During this decade the stability of the system was affirmed. Within the Conservative Party, Silvela tried to introduce a "regeneration" of Spanish political life, away from corrupt practices, but failed in his attempt. Only after the assassination of Cánovas and the disaster of 1898 did Silvela's regenerationist theses find their way into Spanish politics. -
Spanish-American War
The reasons for the United States to intervene in the conflict were of various kind. In addition, the Spanish-Cuban war coincided with the moment of maximum expansion of US imperialism. The development of the conflict will be marked by the continuous Spanish defeats, together with the material superiority of the United States. In the conflict, the main war actions took place at sea and in the two main battles the Spanish fleets were destroyed. War took place on two fronts -
Blasting of the Battleship Maine
The Americans took advantage of the blowing up of the battleship Maine (February 15, 1898, for unknown reasons) to issue an ultimatum and demand the Spanish renunciation of Cuban sovereignty, a step prior to declaring war on Spain. American public opinion clamored for war due to a harsh anti-Spanish journalistic campaign in the newspapers. The Spanish government, relying on a campaign of warmongering patriotism launched by the press, launched into a war for which Spain was not prepared. -
Paris treaty
he Spanish-American War, also known as the Hundred Days' War, ended with the capitulation of Spain in August 1898 and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in December of the same year. In this treaty, the US imposed her conditions on Spain. The main stipulations were of a territorial nature: Spain was losing the last stretches of the overseas empire. Spain ceded Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the island of Guam to the US. Cuba, although formally independent. -
Marocco War (1911-1937)
General Fernández Silvestre made a military error whose tragic outcome caused unforeseen consequences. From Melilla he undertook a campaign to reach Alhucemas and subdue the dangerous Rif tribes, but his imprudence and tactical errors, in contrast to the effective performance of the Rif leader Abd-el-Krim, led to the defeat of Annual, which triggered a dramatic military disaster: the virtual destruction of all the forces of the command, with thousands of casualties and a serious danger -
1923 Coup
The goals of the coup were to end the parliamentary system, guarantee public order, end separatism and solve the Moroccan problem. Primo de Rivera had typically military traditional values: order, discipline, authority and love of country. His motto was "Homeland, Religion and Monarchy". The coup succeeds with hardly any opposition. Only a part of the bourgeoisie, especially the Catalan, hit by union violence and gunmen applauds the coup. He had the support of King Alfonso XIII -
Landing of Alhucemas
During the first stage of the dictatorship, the conflict in Morocco focused the interest of Primo de Rivera, who personally became the Moroccan High Commissioner in 1924. The following year, in collaboration with France, the Alhucemas landing was organized (1925), which ended with great success. After several defeats, Abd-el-Krim surrendered, surrendering to the French troops.
In 1927, the Spanish army terminated the effective occupation of the entire protectorate in Morocco. -
National Consultative Assembly
A National Consultative Assembly, formed in 1927 with the task of preparing and presenting a new general and complete legislation that would have to be submitted for approval. It was not, therefore, a Representative Parliament of the nation did not have a legislative function, but was limited to elaborating draft laws of the new regime and to advise the government. -
Resignation of Primo de Rivera
Increasingly isolated politically, Primo de Rivera decided to consult the captain generals to find out if he had their support. But his lukewarm responses showed her that he was alone. Faced with the loss of all his support, Primo de Rivera resigned in January 1930. Alfonso XIII commissioned General Berenguer to form a government, with the task of replacing the 1876 Constitution and saving the royal figure, increasingly unpopular as he was considered directly responsible of the dictatorship. -
Beginning of the Reformist Biennium
Niceto Alcalá Zamora, elected President of the Republic by the Cortes, ordered Manuel Azaña to preside over a republican-socialist government, which undertook the reforms initiated by the Provisional Government to dismantle traditional structures and impose the values of democracy. -
Proclamation of the Second Republic
On April 14, 1931, Alfonso XIII, after checking that did not have the support of the army or the Civil Guard to stay on the throne, he left the country. The same day the Revolutionary Committee of the Pact of San Sebastian proclaimed the Second Republic, before the popular enthusiasm.
On April 14, 1931 the Revolutionary Committee was established in Provisional Government, it proclaimed the Second Republic amid great popular demonstrations. -
Beginning of the Rightist Biennium
The abstention promoted by the anarchists and the division of the left facilitated the victory of the center-right parties. The victory of the right was largely attributed to the vote of women, who were voting in these elections for the first time. -
Beginning of the Popular Front
Repression October and subsequent action enabled the creation of the Popular Front, an electoral coalition of leftist forces (republicans, socialists and communists) backed by the anarchists who did not participate, given the disunity of the right (CEDA, monarchists and traditionalists) that coalesced around the National Bloc, but were unable to create a single application for all Spain. -
The coup of July 1936
The coup began to take shape from the same night in February he won the Front Popular.Franco tried the declaration of a state of war and in March there was an attempted uprising, but failed.
From there, Gen. Emilio Mola became the "director" of the coup. Sanjurjo, respected by the military and exile in Portugal since it failed coup in 1932, he was to take command of the rebels,but died the first days of the uprising. Also they had the support of some political sectors such as CEDA and Falange -
Beginning of the civil war
Once the uprising was over, its own failure in the main cities due to the reaction of the workers' militias caused it to become a Civil War. The immediate foreign aid from Italy and Germany to the rebels was an essential factor in prolonging the struggle. The country is divided into two:
The rebels triumphed in rural Spain.
The most important cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao) and the industrial zones remained faithful to the Republic.. -
Franco becomes general
Franco became the undisputed military leader and was proclaimed Head of State and Generalissimo of the Spanish Armies on October 1, 1936. A personal dictatorship was established that annulled the reforms of the republican government and prohibited political parties and unions, except for the Spanish Falange. and of the JONS5 and the Traditionalist Communion (Carlists). -
Bombing of Guernica
Between April and October 1937, the efforts of the nationals were concentrated in the northern part of the peninsula, which had remained loyal to the republic. On April 26, 1937, the Condor Legion bombed Guernica, by order of Franco's headquarters. It was the first bombing of the civilian population. -
Fundamental Laws
In order to legitimize the new State, the following are established: Labor Law (1938), Constitutive Law of Cortes (1942), Spanish Law (1945), National Referendum Law (1945), Law of Succession to the Head of State (1947), Law of Principles of the National Movement (1958) and State Organization Act (1967) -
Battle of the Ebro
On the Aragon front, Franco's army made its way to the Mediterranean, reaching as far as Vinaroz in April. The republican zone is divided into two parts separated by the river Ebro. The republican army, reorganized by Vicente Rojo, prepared an offensive to reunite the republican territory: the battle of the Ebro, the bloodiest and longest of the entire war, until Franco managed to break the republican front. -
Last war pact
On April 1, Franco signed the last part of the war: “Today, captive and unarmed the red army, the national troops have achieved their latest military objectives. Spaniards, the war is over." -
Totalitarian phase
In which we initially distinguish a predominance of the Phalanx (Blue Stage: 1939-1945) until Franco gives more prominence to the Catholics of the ACNP (Stage of National Catholicism: 1945-1957). The first phase was characterized by economic regression, ideological involution and the harshness of repression. Economic policy was based on autarky. -
Technocratic phase
Franco appointed technocratic ministers of Opus Dei in 1957 who approved in 1959 a Stabilization Plan that laid the foundations for a modernization of the economy, which would continue with the Development Plans. -
Munich collusion
In the 60s and 70s, social changes facilitated the generalisation of the opposition, leading men of all political tendencies, except communists, made a declaration in favor of democracy and condemnation of the regime. Inside, the workers' movement, the Catalan and Basque nationalist movements (dissidents of the PNV created ETA); the student movement and the grassroots Catholics managed to create a key social response for the transition to democracy. -
Regime decomposition phase
Franco, physically deteriorated, delegated the Head of Government to his trusted man, Admiral Carrero Blanco, and signs of decomposition of the regime appear: the distancing of the Church, the mobilizing capacity of the opposition, and, above all, the tensions within the regime between immobilizers and spoilers -
Died of Franco
On November 20, 1975 Franco died. Two days later, Juan Carlos de Borbón was proclaimed King of Spain (Juan Carlos I) by the Cortes of Spain. He appointed Torcuato Fernández Miranda, a man he trusted, as president of the Cortes. Carlos Arias Navarro, the last head of government of the dictatorship, remained in office. -
Platajunta of 1976
The main democratic left-wing parties, some tolerated by the government, called for a political break with the Franco regime and with the continuing government of Arias Navarro. Most of the leftist organizations had grouped themselves into two platforms: The Democratic Board and the Democratic Convergence Platform.
In March 1976, these two groups united in the Democratic Coordination, popularly known as the "Platajunta". -
Political Reform Act 1976
The king ordered Adolfo Suárez to form a government who, relying above all on the Christian Democrat sectors, promoted the Law for Political Reform that established a Constituent Cortes, approved by the “Francoist” Cortes (which thus signed his death certificate) and submitted to a referendum in December 1976, with great popular participation and a large majority of yeses, which denoted the desire for change in the country -
First democratic elections
On June 15, 1977, the first democratic elections were held after the Franco regime. The UCD (centre right) of Adolfo Suárez obtained a simple majority, followed by the PSOE of Felipe González (centre left). The Suárez government, seeking consensus, set itself two main objectives: Manage an emergency economic policy and Prepare a new Constitution and build the State of Autonomies. -
Constitution 1978
The 1978 Constitution has its sources in Spanish historical Constitutionalism and, above all, in post-war European Constitutionalism. It is extensive, inclusive, rigid and democratic. National sovereignty resides in the Spanish people.
Widely recognized rights and freedoms
It established the non-confessionality of the State
Territorial organization: new decentralized territorial organization of the State
Political regime: parliamentary monarchy:
Division of powers -
The UCD government of Adolfo Suárez (1979-1982)
the regional and municipal map was designed, with the approval of statutes of autonomy and the holding of regional elections, and tambiénse held the first democratic municipal elections. an important legislative work was carried out with the approval of the Workers' Statute and the Act on divorce; and tax reform minister Fuentes Quintana, agreed in. Moncloa Pacts -
The four legislatures of the PSOE (1982-1996)
In October 1982, the PSOE, with the slogan "for change", achieved an absolute majority. The PSOE would govern during 4 legislatures. The absolute majority was renewed in the 1986 and 1989 elections, but not in 1993 when the PSOE had to seek the support of other parties in order to govern. Felipe González, with a great pragmatic sense, practiced a reformist policy, which combined liberal and social democratic measures, for the consolidation of democracy. -
The first legislature of Popular Party (1996 -2004)
José María Aznar, the PP leader, won the 1996 elections by a narrow margin, developing a political centrist and dialogue for the support of nationalist minorities (CiU and PNV) and trade unions. The support of the government came from the former UCD (Mayor Oreja) or young politicians (Rodrigo Rato) to the PP that kept the old image of the Franco regime, represented by Fraga. Economic policy was based on the pursuit of stability, job creation through agreements between social partners. -
The socials government of J.L. Rodríguez Zapatero (2004-2011)
Social policy took a sharp turn with the approval of gay marriage, anti-smoking law and the Law Unit. In addition, they climbed the minimum wage, regularized illegal immigration or were directed to gender violence. Sometimes they clashed with the Catholic hierarchy, such as the requirement of the European Commission to apply VAT to the Church arrived, causing a major conflict between the Government and this institution.This also happened in the field of education.In 2006 the LOE was approved. -
The governments of Mariano Rajoy (2011-2018)
In 2011, Mariano Rajoy, leader of the PP, assumed the presidency of the government. During his tenure, marked by the economic crisis and austerity policies in line with the EU came to light important corruption cases like Gürtel or the ERE of Andalusia. In Catalonia, where will go to more radicalization of political life, increasing supporters of the independence movement to be a social fracture still latent and has had milestones such as the illegal referendum on October 1, 2017.