AHC: Great Power Spain

I'd say this is a bit overstated: having its western bits frequently invaded didn't prevent a united Germany from becoming a Great Power, and before the 19th century it was always easier to invade than Spain. (Aside from the Napoleonic wars, how often was Spain "invaded and plundered?") France can prevent Spain from becoming a European hegemon, but it's unlikely to stop an intelligently run Spain from remaining a major power: France isn't run by diabolical schemers constantly plotting to ruin Spain's day, and Spain isn't a political and geographic soft target like, say, Poland.
IIRC, it wa Napoleons invasion that gave Spains colonies the oppurtunity to break away from it.
 
One important side note is that Spain got absolutely wrecked by plague throughout the 17th century: Great Plague of Sevilla

As a result of this plus emigration, Spain stagnated demographically vis a vis its rivals in Europe, and it's also a trend I noticed in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century when Anatolia and the Balkans got hit by disease(or was it famine?) that ultimately ruined the tax base/manpower of both states. IMO one could make a case that while not defining in the fall or rise of a great power, demographic ruin is a very serious issue that undoubtedly contributed to the decline of both states, at least as military forces to be reckoned with.
 
I think the best solution for a long term great power 'Spain' would be for the Spanish court to be moved to the Americas.

They don't need to move to the Americas, they just need an American friend.

For example: "Hey there Mexico, we have a deal for you: you have everything we need to industrialize, so help us with that, and then we'll do the same for you and then also give you independence!"

The only reasonable scenario this could happen is if Napoleon never occupies Spain and it keeps its colonies for at least another 30 years. Then it looks at Belgium, sees what's starting to happen in England, and some visionary leader fixes the deal with Mexico (or a different colony, Peru or Colombia?)
 
They don't need to move to the Americas, they just need an American friend.

For example: "Hey there Mexico, we have a deal for you: you have everything we need to industrialize, so help us with that, and then we'll do the same for you and then also give you independence!"

The only reasonable scenario this could happen is if Napoleon never occupies Spain and it keeps its colonies for at least another 30 years. Then it looks at Belgium, sees what's starting to happen in England, and some visionary leader fixes the deal with Mexico (or a different colony, Peru or Colombia?)

IIRC Spain is actually fairly well endowed in terms of mineral resources, their problem here would be a lack of markets without their colonies as well as a lack of competitive production. Half the reason why mercantilism in the colonies was such a big deal to them.
 

Deleted member 67076

Killing of the Hapsburgs would be the easiest and earliest way possible as innumerable amounts of men and coin were spent on the pointless European Wars.

Later on, conducting something like the Bourbon reforms much earlier would do the trick as well as keeping more of the colonies as integral Spanish parts.
 
Simpe, Spain retains hold of netherlands and is more tolerant of minorities. OTL the Netherlands and Low Countries produced the majority of Spains income it was 7 times more than that gotten by Spain from the new world treasure fleets. What I have noticed is that the Spanish economy was geared in such a way that Castille, Galicia, and Andalusia were geared towards agriculture while the Netherlands, low countries, Basque lands, and Catalonia were geared towards manufacturing. So when Spain lost the Netherlands this balance between the Manufacturing and agricultural sectors in Spain collapsed and that could explain the low literacy rates and lack of urbanization or agricultural productivity.
At the same time if Stain does not fight all over Europe in pointless wars than its finances would be more secure. From what I have gathered the Bankers who financed Habsurg Spain lost their assets multiple times due to Spain declaring multiple bankruptcies. Get rid of those bankruptcies and with retention of the entire Netherlands I can see Spain retaining it's status as a great power. Hell make the Iberian Union also last at the same time and what you get is one really overpowered Spanish empire that is in a good position to industrialize sort off.

The issue with just low countries is that the eighty years war destroyed Flanders and Brabant and once the Spanish took over refugees fled Antwerp for Amsterdam which in turn fueled the dutch golden age while the low countries which were previously the hub of dutch trade stagnated.
 
Simpe, Spain retains hold of netherlands and is more tolerant of minorities. OTL the Netherlands and Low Countries produced the majority of Spains income it was 7 times more than that gotten by Spain from the new world treasure fleets. What I have noticed is that the Spanish economy was geared in such a way that Castille, Galicia, and Andalusia were geared towards agriculture while the Netherlands, low countries, Basque lands, and Catalonia were geared towards manufacturing. So when Spain lost the Netherlands this balance between the Manufacturing and agricultural sectors in Spain collapsed and that could explain the low literacy rates and lack of urbanization or agricultural productivity.
At the same time if Stain does not fight all over Europe in pointless wars than its finances would be more secure. From what I have gathered the Bankers who financed Habsurg Spain lost their assets multiple times due to Spain declaring multiple bankruptcies. Get rid of those bankruptcies and with retention of the entire Netherlands I can see Spain retaining it's status as a great power. Hell make the Iberian Union also last at the same time and what you get is one really overpowered Spanish empire that is in a good position to industrialize sort off.

The issue with just low countries is that the eighty years war destroyed Flanders and Brabant and once the Spanish took over refugees fled Antwerp for Amsterdam which in turn fueled the dutch golden age while the low countries which were previously the hub of dutch trade stagnated.

Is there maybe a way to start up a manufacturing base in Galicia due to a Spanish leader who correctly realizes they won't be able to keep the Netherlands forever?
 

Zlorfik

Banned
In sum

things to fix:

-Decentralization
-Underdeveloped domestic economy

things to prevent:

-Hardon for European wars
-Successful Portuguese War of Independence
-Rabid persecution of heretics (heathens are fair game)
 
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