Editing Monarchy of Spain (section)

===Bourbon Monarchy===
{{See also|Enlightenment in Spain|Bourbon Reforms}}
With the death of the childless Charles II, the succession to the throne was disputed. Charles II had designated his sister [[Maria Theresa of Spain|Maria Theresa]]'s grandson, [[Philip V of Spain|Philip of France]], [[Duke of Anjou]], as his heir. The possible unification of Spain with France, the two big European powers at the time, sparked the [[Spanish War of Succession]] in the 18th century, culminating in the treaties of [[Treaty of Utrecht (1713)|Utrecht (1713)]] and [[First Congress of Rastatt|Rastatt (1714)]], which preserved the European [[Balance of power in international relations|balance of power]].

[[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] was the first member of the [[House of Bourbon#Bourbons of Spain and Italy|House of Bourbon]] (Spanish: ''Borbón'') to rule Spain. That dynasty still rules today under Felipe (Philip) VI.

In the mid-eighteenth century, particularly under [[Charles III of Spain]], the Spanish Crown embarked on an ambitious and far-reaching project to implement major reforms in the administration of Spain and the [[Spanish Empire]]. These changes, collectively known as the [[Bourbon Reforms]], attempted to rationalize administration and produce more revenue from the overseas empire.<ref>James Lockhart and Stuart Schwartz, ''Early Latin America''. New York: Cambridge University Press 1983, pp. 346–52, 359–68.</ref>

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the French Emperor [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] forced [[Ferdinand VII of Spain|Ferdinand VII]] to [[abdicate]] in 1808, and the Bourbons became a focus of popular resistance against French rule. However, Ferdinand's rejection of the liberal [[Spanish Constitution of 1812]], as well as his ministerial appointments, particularly the exclusion of liberals, gradually eroded popular support for the Spanish monarchy. With the [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1830]], Ferdinand set aside the [[Salic law]], introduced by Philip V, that prohibited women from becoming sovereigns of Spain. Thereby, as had been customary before the arrival of the Bourbons, Ferdinand VII's eldest daughter [[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella]] became his [[Early life of Isabella II of Spain|heiress presumptive]]. Opponents of the Pragmatic Sanction argued that it was never officially promulgated, claiming Ferdinand VII's younger brother, [[Infante Carlos, Count of Molina|Prince Carlos]], the rightful heir to the crown according to the Salic Law.