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The Height and Downfall of the Hapsburgs

Americas
Initially disappointing colonization of the Americas proves fruitful. - Silver discovered in Mexico (1520) - rapid increase of inflation in Spain, social problem but not political - leads to massive influx in wealth, but economic stagnation - Beginning of serious Spanish economic problems In Spain, everything is dear but silver.

Spains economic problems


More money = more wealth But gold/silver is less valuable.

Retards economic development, no reason for industrial investment.


Most wealth went to public projects, not investment Spain lacks sophisticated banking system (legacy from latedevelopment, reconquista diverted resources) Financiers invested gold in banks in Holland (problematic later)

What did Charles V do with the money?


Charles V (1519 1556) - Not Spanish, so had difficulty with Spain. War with France (1521): - Spain successfully takes N. Italy - Papacy allies with France, fearing Hapsburg power, Spain sacks Rome - forces Pope to refuse Henry VIIIs divorce (1553) (England now enemy of Hapsburgs, Catholic Church) - 1548: France allies with Ottoman Empire

WAR!
Successful, but expensive. - By 1528, Charles was reliant on loans from Dutch banks - Similar loans were being made to rising powers like England and France - Spains bleeding money and enriching enemies. 1540s: Tepid alliance with England, more or less contained France Great power struggles gradually bankrupting the Empire But, trouble from within

Protestant Reformation
1517: Martin Luther proposes 95 theses designed to reform corrupt Catholic Church. - Believed that church was overly secular, concerned with wealth, insufficiently focused on spiritual world - Objected to indulgences, donation to church in exchange for heavenly consequences. Noted: indulgences defy any logical concept of morality, violate several core principles of Catholic Doctine. Church attempts to silence Luther Incapable, mainly due to rising literacy.

Schmalkaldic League
Group of German city-states, motivated by Luthers objections Quickly find political alignment: - Many princes object to paying taxes to Rome, see little value in membership of HRE - France immediately allies, provides military aid

Formed 1531, designed to protect Lutherans, essentially pronounces independence from HRE
Small military force, avoids outright antagonism of Charles V, but seizes church land, property. Survives 1530s because Hapsburgs are distracted by other wars.

Schmalkaldic War
(1547-48) Technical Spanish success, subdues, defeats Schmalkaldic, Lutheran territory, forces Lutherans to capitulate.

But Luthers ideas are too popular, and spread too quickly to suppress with force.
1551: proposes Augsburg Interim, designed to reintegrate Lutherans into Catholic Church - Locals object - Princes revolt, France assists Another defeat, but more friendly to Lutherans. Peace of Augsburg (1553): recognizes Lutheran church, independent of Rome Charles retires, due to health

Phillip II
Philip II (1556-1598): Golden Age of the Spanish Empire but

Political legitimacy issues - Hapsburg domains very ununited. Separate legal systems, economies, cultures, often hampers Phillips ability to rule - Absolute Monarch in name only - Constant threat of revolts
Economic problems: - Charles Vs wars left the Hapsburg Empire deeply in debt. - New World financing military - Spainish economy not producing much wealth

Defender of Church
See primary duty as defending Catholic Church - From Ottomans, from Protestants Success: decisively defeats Ottomans at Battle of Lepanto (1571) Not success: Protestantism proves unsuppressable - England secedes from Papal domain (1530s) - Protestantism in Germany, Netherlands hobbles HRE control - French, though Catholic, see relgious wars, opposed to Spain

Dutch Revolt
Dutch Revolt: (1568 - ???) - Series of never-ending revolts led by Protestant Princes in Netherlands. - Drain treasury, force Spain into bankruptcy - Protestants receive modest assistance from Elizabeth I of England - Prompts Spanish invasion of England (1588) wherein the Spanish fleet gets annihilated. - Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604) Rapid deterioration of health in 1590s, dies (1598), son Philip III suceeds.

Spain in 1600
Military powerful but deep economic problems - Attempts at reform were unsuccessful, based on increasing royal authority in provinces - Couldnt overcome highly federalized Hapsburg system. Famine throughout 1590s and plague in 1600 caused further destruction. Continued War with English, Dutch (1609-1621) exacerbated financial difficulties.

Thirty Years War


1618-1648: Incredibly destructive, costly war (or series of wars) Sparked by protestant revolt in Bohemia (modern Czech Rep.) Spain: worried about increasing revolts in adjacent Hapsburg territory France: sought to lessen Hapsburg power which directly surrounded it Sweden: Sought to gain control over German lands German Princes: sought independence, religious freedom

Results
Bad for Hapsburgs Peace of Westphalia: essential end of HRE, German states win sovereignty - Netherlands, Switzerland independent of Hapsburgs Portugal revolts, wins independence (Brazil out of empire) Holland, Sweden major international powers Franco-Spanish war ends favourably for France 1) Powerful France 2) Smaller Hapsburg Lands 3) Much less colonial income 4) Loss of HRE

Bourbons > Hapsburgs


After defeat of Spain (1659), France is major military super power. 1665: Charles II of Spain becomes king, incompetent, mentally deficient, presides over a series of successful revolts. France, England begin colonizing Americas, Asia (loss of Spanish monopoly)

Wars of Spanish succession (17001719), Bourbon victory over Spanish throne.


Hapsburg territory only in Austria

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