AHC-United Iberian Peninsula 21st century

What would it take for the entire Iberian Peninsula to be under 1 government by the end of the 20th century? The rules are that the government must control modern day Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar, but nothing else in the European continent. The government must be centered on the Iberian Peninsula, so a Spanish empire can exist. It must me long term control, not occupying Portugal for a while and getting kicked out later. I assume that the government in charge will be Spain, but bonus points if you can make it Portugal. Plausibility is preferred, but not required. Possibility is required, no ASB's.
 
Miguel da Paz (son of Manuel I of Portugal and Isabella of Aragon) surviving is your best bet.

Another are the Habsburgs handling the Portuguese better, that is stupidly hard considering that they were at war with nearly everyone during the entire Iberian Union.

After 1640 it's plainly impossible, the Portuguese wouldn't accept an union with Spain anymore and vice-versa.
 
Miguel da Paz (son of Manuel I of Portugal and Isabella of Aragon) surviving is your best bet.

Another are the Habsburgs handling the Portuguese better, that is stupidly hard considering that they were at war with nearly everyone during the entire Iberian Union.

After 1640 it's plainly impossible, the Portuguese wouldn't accept an union with Spain anymore and vice-versa.
What if the Habsburgs made Lisbon their capital and stayed there?
 
Seville wasn't capital to begin with,wasn't it?

Nope, and I agree with the idea of making Lisbon the seat of government. It appeases the Portuguese nobles and reaffirms a commitment to colonial and commercial endeavors, and IMO nothing will bring the Spanish crowns together like profits and colonies.

Your best bet is to see an Iberian peninsula that opts to remove itself from European politics as much as possible. Which is a challenge in and of itself.
 
Milarqui's Legacy of the Glorious has a 19th century POD, and looks plausible but may require more changes than showed in that TL.
 
Seville wasn't capital to begin with,wasn't it?

It was the largest Spanish city. Madrid at the time amounted to nothing - if the royal court moved, there wouldn't be much of a city left to protest. But the Aragonese/Catalans in Barcelona and the mercantile class of Seville would be pissed.
 
It was the largest Spanish city. Madrid at the time amounted to nothing - if the royal court moved, there wouldn't be much of a city left to protest. But the Aragonese/Catalans in Barcelona and the mercantile class of Seville would be pissed.
Pissed about what?They weren't capitals to begin with.It's not like something they are going to rebel for,isn't it?
 
Yeah, an Iberian Union that manages to make the Portuguese feel appreciated, with Lisbon becoming the royal (if not administrative) capital showing a willingness to focus on colonization and exploration ...

Although to get that, path of least resistance might be to somehow finagle the union into being under a House that's not Hapsburg, and have no other (obvious) designs on rest of continental Europe, and following the Portuguese trend of being inclined to ignore Europe as long as they're not bothered
 
There was a noticable movement in the 19th century for this, which apparently included supporters in both Spain and Portugal who were politically powerful. I wonder if Pedro V of Portugal could have married Isabella II of Spain (or more likely allohistorical counterparts of those two) to help create serious discussions for unity in both nations and eventually unite Spain and Portugal.
 
Your best bet is to see an Iberian peninsula that opts to remove itself from European politics as much as possible. Which is a challenge in and of itself.

Britain has the channel, Spain has the Pyrenees. I think it is doable if they want it enough. This is a good time because Gibraltar is not British, yet.
 
There was a noticable movement in the 19th century for this, which apparently included supporters in both Spain and Portugal who were politically powerful. I wonder if Pedro V of Portugal could have married Isabella II of Spain (or more likely allohistorical counterparts of those two) to help create serious discussions for unity in both nations and eventually unite Spain and Portugal.

Do you have a source for this? Would love to read more?
 
Like many said they are various ways to achieve a United Iberian Peninsula and having it stay this way until the 21st century.

The first is Miguel da Paz surviving into adulthood as people said. However King Miguel would have just united the Crowns of Portugal and Castille. It is possible Lisbon would have become the capital of said union and likely would have remained if Aragon was latter added though how and when is something I dunno.

The Second is a better handling by the Habsuburgs. Namely Philip III and IV. Philip II actually did respect and rule Portugal almost seperatly from Spain. He even entertained the possiblity of making Lisbon the capital of the Union but it was shut down by most of the conservative elite of Castille for fear of them losing priviliges to the Portuguese Elite. Maybe if Philip had gone forward and made Lisbon the capital of the Iberian Union it could have kept the Portuguese in. Although you probably run the risk of the Catalans leaving if that is the case.
 
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