1588 AD
The Invincible Armada is defeated by the so-called Protestant Wind. This enabled the small and easily manoeuvrable English ships to out-manoeuvre the large Spanish Armada. The famous quotation from Philip II says:

I did not send my ships to fight the elements, but the English.

The Spanish Habsburgs decline and the command of the seas is yielded to England.

1702–1713 AD
Spanish War of Secession. After this European war, the Bourbon dynasty comes to power. They are the present dynasty in Spain.

1715 AD
The Nueva Planta Decree revokes most of the historical rights and privileges of the different kingdoms that conformed the Spanish Crown. Many of these privileges will not be given back until the 20^th century.

1809 AD
The Napoleonic French troops, then invading Spain, enter Cartagena.

Under the Bonaparte, Spain missed the trains of the Enlightment and the mercantile and industrial revolutions of the 18th century, dramatically falling behind Britain, France and Germany in economic and political power.

During the Napoleonic invasion the American colonies claimed their independence.

1812 AD
In 1812 the first Spanish constitution was drafted in Cadiz.

1813-1833 AD
The Spanish people blame the liberal, enlightened policies of the Francophiles for the Napoleonic invasion and welcome the authoritarian rule of Ferdinand VII, who revokes the constitution of 1812.