In Look to the West, Spain stands at a crossroads in its history. The 18th century, much like OTL, saw a decline for the country as its status as premier imperial power was usurped by Britain and France. Yet that decline was also steeper in OTL as Spain lost control over Peru and Rio de la Plata, which successfully became independent as the United Provinces of South America.

In the Jacobin Wars, Spain gave succour to the Dauphin and her armies joined the anti-Republican coalition, but stalled after conquering Navarre from Revolutionary France, with the clear intent of incorporating it into Spain. After this the Dauphin abandoned Spain for Britain as a site to build an army in exile, along with Leo Bone.

Strictly speaking, there is no entity called 'Spain': the King of Spain is technically the King of a huge long list of historical states which were never constitutionally integrated. There is a single Cortes (parliament) whose power was eroded throughout the 18th century thanks to Enlightenment ideas of absolutism, and the historical states have local Audiencias, which are primarily judicial courts but also sometimes take on some of the character of local legislative assemblies. Unlike Britain, Spain does not have an even semi-official post of prime minister, but the chief minister is nonetheless unofficially recognised.

After the defeat in the Second Platinean War and the loss of the United Provinces, the Spanish government pursued a policy of granting greater power to the Audiencias of the remaining colonies in New Spain and New Granada, as well as their Viceroys.

After the War of the Polish Succession, the heir to the Spanish throne was made the King of Naples and Sicily (not unlike Russia and Lithuania).

1724 (restoration) - 1746: Philip V

1746-1761: Ferdinand VI

1761-1788: Charles III

1788- : Philip VI

1748-1755: Zenón de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, Marquis of Ensenada (first time)

1755-1761: José de Carvajal

1761-1767: Zenón de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, Marquis of Ensenada (second time)

1767-1773: Richard Wall

1773-1784: Bernardo Tanucci

1784-: José Moñino y Redondo, conde de Floridablanca

Spain originally had no official flag rules, much like France. In the 1780s (like OTL) a competition was held to bring about a more distinctive naval war ensign that did not have the same white background as that of France and the British white ensign. However, unlike OTL, due to the Second Platinean War, the eventual flag was also designed to avoid resemblance to the mostly yellow flag of the United Provinces. Because the Spanish 'state' technically did not exist, it had no flag beyond the royal banner, and so the war ensign eventually became the state flag (again like OTL).

Old white war ensign (pre-1788) :

New war ensign and eventual national flag (post-1788) :

(This is one of the designs rejected in the OTL flag contest). Note the 'Scandinavian' proportions, which may have influenced the later decision by Denmark to not reuse the similar Union of Kalmar flag after Sweden was brought back into personal union.