Have You Always Wondered?

A Brief History of Spain

Spain the 3rd most visited nation in the world and the 14th largest economy. But a bit complicated history. Why? Well when Islamics conquered what is now Portugal and most of Spain, the Christian kingdoms fought against the Islamic invaders. 5 Kingdoms where formed Portugal, Castile, Leone, Navarre, and Aragon. In 1230 A.D the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Leone formed to to make the Kingdom Castile & Leone. In the 1400's Castile-Leone, Aragon, and Portugal took back all the land invaded. Also in the late 1400's Queen Isabela I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon married becoming the monarchs of both kingdoms. In 1492 Christopher Columbus asked the monarchs for a trade route to India by sailing west through the Atlantic Ocean because of fear of being attacked by the rising Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, and Columbus promised to bring Catholicism to the land and make it the Kingdom's land. The monarchs accepted his deal. Months later Columbus came back and said he found Asia. When the Castile's arrived and more was discovered they found a new land mass not Asia. In 1515 Castile-Leone annexed Navarre. When King Ferdinand II of Aragon died in 1517 his grandson took power. Kingdom of Portugal was independent by the way. Fast forward to 1700. King Charles II Hasburg died in 1700 and wanted Phillip V Bourbon to be the next King of Spain. This lead other European nations including Aragon to declare war on Spain. Spain got help from France and Bavaria. This war is the reason why the city of Gibraltar is more British than Spanish. Over time Spain annexed Aragon. Spain also annexed Catalonia shortly after the Napoleonic Wars. In 1873 the Spanish king was overthrown starting the 1st Republic of Spain. The next year the Spanish monarchy was restored. Fast forward to 1931. The Spanish king was overthrown (again) and starting another Republic. In 1936 Francisco Franco started a Civil War because Franco hated democracy, Franco was supported by Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and the Portuguese government, while the Spanish Republic was supported by Joseph Stalin and the Mexican government. In 1939 Franco won the Spanish Civil War and turned Spain into a Fascist nation until 1975 the year Franco died and in 1976 the Spanish monarchy was restored and it is the Spain we see today. Video belongs to YouTuber RealLifeLore