Hello, this is my first post here, so I don't know whether this would be a regular thread, an ahc or an "is this plausible?" thread.
As far I'm concerned, Spain never was an "official" empire, as the Spanish colonial empire was never ruled by an independent Spanish emperor they merely had the title of king.
With a pod of 718 (foundation of the Kingdom of Asturias), how do we create a unified Spanish Empire, ruled by an Emperor (or Empress). I'm interested in this question because I found out there actually was a title called Emperor of All Spain (Imperator totius Hispaniae), even though none of these claimants ever controlled all of Spain.
This would be my conditions:
-Spain becomes an Empire with an Emperor/Empress as its ruler
-It must be Christian (not Islamic)
-It must be established by a Spanish or Portuguese ruler
-It must last at least 150 years without interruption
-It has to effectively control all of OTL mainland Spain (by conquest, inheritance or marriage)
-It must be recognized by at least several foreign nations
-It must be called Spain (or Hispania, Lusitania, España or something like that)
-The ruling dynasty must remain Spanish or Portuguese, no foreign rulers are allowed to ever rule the empire, no foreign dynasty can inherit the empire. The ruling dynasty may change, but the dynasty must be a Spanish or Portuguese noble house
-Spain must exist as a nation no later than 1500 (it must be founded before that date)
-Its capital must remain in Spain
Bonus points if (one or more):
-The empire lasts to the present day (constitutional monarchy is allowed)
-The empire is recognized by the Pope
-It includes Portugal in the present
-It includes Morocco in the present
-It controls Rome (or the Papacy moves to a Spanish city)
-The empire is founded by a woman
-It remains a great power till now
-Its ruling dynasty claims one or more foreign kingdoms (doesn't mean they have to be ruled by the same person)
-Portugal unites Iberia and becomes "Lusitania" (or just regular Spain)
-The Renaissance starts in Spain
Would this be possible?
As far I'm concerned, Spain never was an "official" empire, as the Spanish colonial empire was never ruled by an independent Spanish emperor they merely had the title of king.
With a pod of 718 (foundation of the Kingdom of Asturias), how do we create a unified Spanish Empire, ruled by an Emperor (or Empress). I'm interested in this question because I found out there actually was a title called Emperor of All Spain (Imperator totius Hispaniae), even though none of these claimants ever controlled all of Spain.
This would be my conditions:
-Spain becomes an Empire with an Emperor/Empress as its ruler
-It must be Christian (not Islamic)
-It must be established by a Spanish or Portuguese ruler
-It must last at least 150 years without interruption
-It has to effectively control all of OTL mainland Spain (by conquest, inheritance or marriage)
-It must be recognized by at least several foreign nations
-It must be called Spain (or Hispania, Lusitania, España or something like that)
-The ruling dynasty must remain Spanish or Portuguese, no foreign rulers are allowed to ever rule the empire, no foreign dynasty can inherit the empire. The ruling dynasty may change, but the dynasty must be a Spanish or Portuguese noble house
-Spain must exist as a nation no later than 1500 (it must be founded before that date)
-Its capital must remain in Spain
Bonus points if (one or more):
-The empire lasts to the present day (constitutional monarchy is allowed)
-The empire is recognized by the Pope
-It includes Portugal in the present
-It includes Morocco in the present
-It controls Rome (or the Papacy moves to a Spanish city)
-The empire is founded by a woman
-It remains a great power till now
-Its ruling dynasty claims one or more foreign kingdoms (doesn't mean they have to be ruled by the same person)
-Portugal unites Iberia and becomes "Lusitania" (or just regular Spain)
-The Renaissance starts in Spain
Would this be possible?