What was the Iberian Union?
Q: What was the Iberian Union?
A: The Iberian Union was a state that governed the Iberian peninsula between 1580 and 1640. It joined the crowns of Castile, Portugal and Aragon along with their respective colonial possessions, under the rule of the Hispanic monarchy.
Q: How did it come about?
A: After the young king of Portugal and his uncle died, three of their relatives fought the War of the Portuguese Succession. Philip II of Spain won, thus linking the monarchies of Portugal and Spanish branch of House Habsburg.
Q: What were its main characteristics?
A: The institutions, government and legal traditions remained independent from each other; they merely had same king from Habsburg Spain. Additionally, national laws determined that citizens from one kingdom were considered foreigners in all other kingdoms within union.
Q: Had this been attempted before?
A: Yes - Sancho III of Navarre and Alfonso VII León and Castile both took title Imperator totius Hispaniae meaning "Emperor All Hispania" centuries before. Furthermore, if Miguel da Paz (1498–1500), Prince Portugal and Asturias had become king earlier on then union could have been achieved earlier as well.
Q: What impact did this have on trade?
A: The Portuguese Empire's spice trade peaked at start period but eventually declined due to predations by Dutch, English French as well as growing intrusion into Atlantic slave trade which undermined near monopoly on oceanic spice slave trades. This sent Portuguese spice trade into long decline while also creating strains within union itself.
Q: How did it affect Portugal's economy? A: It led to a state dependency on colonies first India then Brazil due to diversion wealth from Portugal by Habsburg monarchy help support Catholic side Thirty Years' War as well events end Aviz dynasty period Iberian Union itself
