WI: Spanish Empire Middle or Global Power in the 19th Century

Is it possible the Spanish Empire can be either a middle power and being stable in the 19th Century?

Challenge also if Spain can become a Global power with Britain and having many colonies throughout the world.
 
Yes it is have Ferdinand and Charles be executed by the guards after some disastrous defeat for France and then have the other Charles die in battle. Then Francesco de Paula is King of Spain, and following the end of Peninsular War, he retains the Constitution of 1812 and asks that the fighting stop (at this point people were fighting in the name of the King of Spain).

The colonies loved the highly liberal Constitution of 1812, it gave them an equal say in the government. The thing was OTL Ferdinand VIII did away with it.

With Spain retaining its Empire they would probably have a stronger navy. Also with the constitution we might see colonies having their own defense forces. Another good thing would be if the new Spanish regime in Mexico City rejects Stephen F Austin when he comes back down to confirm the old agreement.


Or for a far back POD have Spain send more colonists, OTL it sent half the colonists the British did
 
Yes it is have Ferdinand and Charles be executed by the guards after some disastrous defeat for France and then have the other Charles die in battle. Then Francesco de Paula is King of Spain, and following the end of Peninsular War, he retains the Constitution of 1812 and asks that the fighting stop (at this point people were fighting in the name of the King of Spain).

The colonies loved the highly liberal Constitution of 1812, it gave them an equal say in the government. The thing was OTL Ferdinand VIII did away with it.

With Spain retaining its Empire they would probably have a stronger navy. Also with the constitution we might see colonies having their own defense forces. Another good thing would be if the new Spanish regime in Mexico City rejects Stephen F Austin when he comes back down to confirm the old agreement.


Or for a far back POD have Spain send more colonists, OTL it sent half the colonists the British did


Hm an interesting scenario. From what I can find on Wikipedia, Francisco de Paula was a moderate, which compared to his older brothers is a huge gain in his favor, even if he ended up being a failure in all other matters. As for the 1812 constitution, the only real issue I can find is ministerial obligation to a Parliament rather than the Crown. Remove that provision, along with the one dealing with National sovereignty, and I can see the constitution accepted by the new King. If those two provisions remain, I can't see any Spanish Royal, no matter how liberal, accepting it. After all, no other European monarchy in the 19th century (aside from France and Italy) ever implicitly renounced the divine right of Kings and all kept ministers responsible to the Crown, rather than a Parliament.
 
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