Carlos II (Queen Maria Anna) 1668-1700
The Triumph of Counter-Reformation
Like his father (although he was unlike him in every way), King Carlos II preferred to ignore the Edict of Tolerance. As soon as he came to power, His Catholic Majesty declared that he will live to see the day when all of the Holy Roman Empire is ruled by Catholics.
It is a wonder a King like him would even to dare to say those brave words, not even speaking of following them. Carlos was, let's face, quite a mediocre ruler. Actually, he was a bad ruler. Only the fact that the empire had outgrown the need for good rulers helped to guide Spain into the 18th century. The new King was a bad diplomat, a bad economist and one hell of a coward. He was man enough to like women, but too ugly to be liked by them. In the end, the most powerful man in the world, was not man enough to leave an heir behind him. Luckily for Spain, his mother, Queen Maria Anna of Austria, ruled as a regent for him.
But, the show must go on. Even though Carlos was a bad king, he did have good advisors. Besides, the rest of Europe (and, it seemed, the world) was too terrified by Spain to oppose it openly. No nation dared to declare war on anyone, for the fear of Spanish retribution. In the beginning of his reign, his mother warned every country imaginable to behave themselves. So they did - to her great disappointment.
Still, the cleansing of Protestants in Germany continued. In 1667 Her Catholic Majesty hurt herself thinking of a good excuse to pick a fight with Bohemia. Apparently, one was found, and 1670 Bohemia was subdued and forced to cede Erz and pay tribute. The victim's misfortunes did not end there, as Bohemians tried to ally themselves with Brandenburg.
In 1671, this time not even bothering to find an excuse, the Queen declared war on the latter. After two years of pathetic attempts to take Protestant fortresses by storm, Austria annexes Bohemia, while Spain takes Brandenburg.
Giving the country two years to rest, Maria declares war on Denmark, claiming her goals to be the protection of Catholics in Holstein and liberation of Baltic Sea from the Protestant pirates.
Some 40,000 Spanish troops roll across the border, while another 40,000 sail across the Sund to Norway. The Spanish navy is surprised by the presence of Russian fleet in the Baltic, but is able to defend itself against Danish allies quite easily. Meanwhile, Spanish colonial troops attack Danish colonies in South Africa.
By the end of 1675 Denmark is on her knees. Three Danish colonies in Africa, Ostlandt and Bergenshus in Norway and, finally, Holstein, are handed over to Spain. With this victory ends the Protestant era in Germany. The latter is now divided between Spain, Austria and Poland, which managed to diplo-annex Venice, thus gaining the possession of Bremen.
This causes a big celebration in Madrid, and while the royal family is full of joy, the world is full with quite and desperate hope that this mind be the end of the Spanish conquest. That once their goal is reached and Germany is for Catholics only, the Spanish monarchs will stop behaving like maniacs. For, as they say in a distant Tartary, hope always dies last.
In 1677, Carlos' illegitimate brother, Don John of Austria, manages to exile Queen Maria Anna, and starts ruling through Carlos as a regent. His coming to power bring even more hope to the oppressed people of Europe, especially when he arranges a royal marriage with France, thus taking first step on the road to peace.
Unfortunately for world peace, he is slain by an assassin's hand in 1679. No one knows who was behind the assassination. Queen Maria Anna returns to power.
The "Grand Alliance" War
Her Catholic Majesty's first order of business is to claim the French throne for her son, Carlos II. While he is busy chasing the flies, she sees the danger in the so-called "Grand Alliance" of France, England, Scotland and Bavaria. She also see the opportunity to punish the enemies of Spain all at one time, regardless of what her own people think about it (and they think a lot and all of it is, evidently, bad - stability decreases dramatically). In 1680 she forces the merchant elite to donate yet another forty warships - all for the war effort, she "pleads" with them. And while the navy is ready, so is the army.
In February of 1682 the Queen employs the services of her cardinals, who produce enough miracles to encourage the population. Seizing the moment, Her Catholic Majesty as her son declare war on France, which is by all right his anyway, as she argues with her allies Austria and Eire. The so-called "Grand Alliance War" begins and the conflict immedeately spreads from Europe to Africa and India. Ethiopia soon joins on the side of the Allies, while Habsburgs are supported by... well, Habsburgs and Irish.
In December of 1682 Scotland is no more. In January the nobles across the kingdom agree to stop their feuds, which stabilizes the country completely. In March Turenne performs miracles at Champagne. With his 8,000-weak army he defeats 25,000 well-armed and rested Spanish troops. Then he is overran by another, 50,000-strong Spanish army and killed on the battlefield.
Later Palatinate gives in to Spanish demands and gives up Mainz.
In 1684 Spanish finally bring enough troops to South Africa to be able to capture English forts in the region. English finally realize the futility of resistance and, even after smashing their victory in India, they still sue for peace, offering all but Table in Africa and their precious trading center in Hawaii.
A year later, desperate Louis XIV offers Spain all French African territories plus Poitou, Bretagne, Bern, Morbihan, Vendee and Alsace. The “Grand” Alliance did not look so grand after the war.
Austrian Inheritance
In 1688 France annexes Palatinate. In these very desperate times for the French nation, the people find it a good enough reason for celebration. French expansion in Germany does not go unnoticed by Maria Anna and she counters their move by arranging the high-level meeting between herself, His Majesty, King Carlos II – her less than capable son, and Leopold I of Austria. The meeting lasted a full week. The negotiators agreed to join the Habsburg lands into one empire - with Carlos the Emperor and Leopold and his descendants being the heirs to the throne.
Immediately after it, Queen Maria Anna declared Carlos the heir to Austrian throne and through it – the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The first is disputed only by some Austrian rebels. The latter is confirmed at the meeting of all the Electors of the Empire: Spain, Poland-Lithuania and Bavaria.
In 1691 the latter enters the alliance with Spain and between 1692 and 1694 the Queen fights Louis XIV on a diplomatic front for the friendship of Poland-Lithuania. Few years ago Poland allied itself with France, but soon it faces a difficult dilemma. It has good relations with both France and Spain, but France is considerably weaker and would be of little help in wars against Turkey, Sweden or Russia. However, in 1693 Palatinate declares its independence from France and Jan III Sobieski of Poland makes up his mind. He refuses to join the war on the side of France, and once invited, joins Spanish alliance with Ireland and Bavaria.
Jan dies in 1696, and so does Queen Maria Anna – the real force behind the Spanish throne. The country is in turmoil, stability drops and people are uncertain of their future. The colonization efforts in Africa and India slow down, while the King goes on with his life like nothing had happened.
He dies in 1700, stability increases and people breathe easier. His subjects shed little tears – the real ruler died four years ago and her name was Queen Maria Anna of Austria.
Spain in Europe?.. Spain is Europe?.. Europe in Spain?.. Year 1690
