AD 1800-2000 Modern

In AD 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. Two months later the Spanish rebelled and, joined by Portugal and Britain, defeated the French in the War of Independence, or Peninsular War (1808-12). Ferdinand VII (reigned 1814-43) was reinstated as king of Spain. Revolts in Spain’s American colonies ended in the loss of all except Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines – these were lost to the United States in 1898.

The 19th century saw Spain deeply divided between liberals and ultra-royalists. The reigns of a succession of reactionary monarchs were punctuated by civil wars and short-lived liberal constitutions. Under Alfonso XIII (reigned 1885-1931) constitutional monarchy survived until the 1920s, when Primo de Rivera became dictator. Portugal endured a constitutional struggle with absolutist monarchs until October 1910, when armed forces joined a popular revolt and declared a republic.

For much of the 20th century, Spain and Portugal were ruled by right-wing dictators. Dr Salazar controlled Portugal from 1928 to 1968. Constant civil strife in Spain led to the Civil War (1936-9), between Republicans and Nationalists. The Nationalists, led by General Franco, won and Spain stagnated under his regime until 1975. He was replaced by a constitutional monarchy under the moderate Bourbon king Juan Carlos.