19th Century: The Napoleonic Invasion, Karlist Wars, Spanish American War and Spanish Civil War

-1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson defeats French and Spanish at sea

(The loss of this battle marked the definitive end of Spanish naval power.)
 

-1808-1814 Joseph Bonaparte on throne.  War of Independence
 
-1809 Wellington’s troops join with Spanish to triumph over French at Talavera
 
-1812 Promulgation of liberal constitution in Cadiz leads to military uprising
 
-1824 Peru is the last South American country to gain independence
 
-1833-1839 First Carlist War
 
-1836 Mendizabal seizes monastic property for the Spanish state
 
-1841-1843 Maria Cristina, followed by General Espartero, acts as regent for Isabel II
 
-1847-1849 Second Carlist War
 
-1868 Revolution under General Prim forces Isabel II into exile.  Amadeo I is king for three years from 1870

(Isabel II)

-1870-1875 Third Carlist War
 
-1873 Declaration of First Republic, lasting only one year
 
-1875 Second Bourbon restoration puts Alphonso XII on throne

(Alphonso XII and Queen Maria)

 
-1888 Universal Exhibition in Barcelona creates new buildings and parks
 
-1893 Anarchists bomb operagoers in the Barcelona Liceu
 
-1897 Prime Minister Canovas del Castillo assassinated by an Italian Anarchist
 
-1898 Cuba and Philippines gain independence from Spain following the Spanish-American War

-1909 Semana Tragica (Tragic Week) in Barcelona Workers’ revolt against conscription for Moroccan Wars, quashed by Government troops

(Tragic Week)

 
-1912 Prime Minister Jose Canalejas murdered by Anarchists in Madrid
 
-1921 Crushing defeat of Spanish army at Annual, Morocco
 
-1923 Primo de Rivera stages coup to become military dictator under Alphonso XIII
 
-1930 Primo de Rivera resigns after losing military support

(Primo de Rivera)
 

-1931 Republicans win local elections, causing Alphonso XIII to abdicate & Proclamation of Second Republic with a two-year coalition between Socialists and Republicans

(Second Republic election poster.)
 

-1933 General election returns right-wing government
 
-1934 Revolution of Asturian miners suppressed by army under General Franco
 
-1936 Republican Popular Front wins the general election on January 16.  On July 17, Nationalist generals rise against Republicans
 
-1936 Nationalists declare Franco head of state on September 29