Spanish Empire

[Diarcesia]

Three problems:
1.No coal in Spain.
2.No iron ore in Spain.
3.Most of Spain is semiarid.

How do you drive an industrial revolution without having resources to make steel and steam engines in your own metropolitan territory? Are you going to carry iron ore and coal through the ocean on wooden ships? Or are you going to build your industries in your colonies only?

Would industrializing the colonies mean they are more likely to want to break from Spain?

Is it okay for a few colonies to surpass Spain economically but not militarily and politically? Or is it too much of a tightrope?

Which Spanish Viceroyalty would be best for industrialization? Mexico?

If the viceroyalties are treated as equals/integrated to Spain itself they might be unlikely to break away.

[Diahon]

there's no realistic way to keep the spanish empire intact and prepared for the fallout of the overthrow of the ancien regime

[Infected Mushroom]

there's no realistic way to keep the spanish empire intact and prepared for the fallout of the overthrow of the ancien regime

Siding with the British earlier was probably a better play.

[Diahon]

Would industrializing the colonies mean they are more likely to want to break from Spain?

Is it okay for a few colonies to surpass Spain economically but not militarily and politically? Or is it too much of a tightrope?

Which Spanish Viceroyalty would be best for industrialization? Mexico?

If the viceroyalties are treated as equals/integrated to Spain itself they might be unlikely to break away.

which is to say that it's impossible

centralizing the empire in an age before easy air travel/instant communication is impossible, and so is decentralizing it -- at best, you encourage power struggles between different sets of colonists, as had happened in the philippines between the peninsulares and insulares and their hangers-on; at worst, you encourage whoever's in charge to break off

[Diarcesia]

If the viceroyalties are treated as equals/integrated to Spain itself they might be unlikely to break away.

which is to say that it's impossible

centralizing the empire in an age before easy air travel/instant communication is impossible, and so is decentralizing it -- at best, you encourage power struggles between different sets of colonists, as had happened in the philippines between the peninsulares and insulares and their hangers-on; at worst, you encourage whoever's in charge to break off

They did hold off right into the cusp of the Industrial Revolution, if Napoleon did not occupy Spain and the Spanish government were more or less sensible, I can see them holding much of their empire until nationalism/decolonization.

[Novus America]

Although it might have been beyond saving regardless, certainly the Bourbons replacing the Hapsburgs was a major problem. The Hapsburgs would have been better suited for preserving it.

Had the Spanish Hapsburg not inbred themselves to extinction the Empire might have survived longer.
Not that this would necessarily be a good thing, but if we are simply asking how it could have possibly survived longer without making a judgment on should it have survived longer.

[Infected Mushroom]

Although it might have been beyond saving regardless, certainly the Bourbons replacing the Hapsburgs was a major problem. The Hapsburgs would have been better suited for preserving it.

Had the Spanish Hapsburg not inbred themselves to extinction the Empire might have survived longer.
Not that this would necessarily be a good thing, but if we are simply asking how it could have possibly survived longer without making a judgment on should it have survived longer.

Why would Hapsburgs be better? Stronger ties to Austria and the Holy Roman Empire?

[Novus America]

Although it might have been beyond saving regardless, certainly the Bourbons replacing the Hapsburgs was a major problem. The Hapsburgs would have been better suited for preserving it.

Had the Spanish Hapsburg not inbred themselves to extinction the Empire might have survived longer.
Not that this would necessarily be a good thing, but if we are simply asking how it could have possibly survived longer without making a judgment on should it have survived longer.

Why would Hapsburgs be better? Stronger ties to Austria and the Holy Roman Empire?

Several reasons. The Spanish Hapsburgs dying out resulted in the war of the Spanish Succession, which was really the beginning of the end, and weakened it. The Bourbon attempts to impose French concepts of monarchy and church/crown relations on the very different Spanish system proved deeply unpopular, especially in the colonies, and alienated the colonial elites from Madrid. As well as causing a lot of anger in the what had been the crown of Aragon, a lot of the contemporary issues with Catalonia for example can be traced back to the Bourbon dissolution of the crown of Aragon.

But yes being tied to the as it would turn out soon to be doomed French Bourbons hurt. Had the Spanish Hapsburgs survived they would have been better able to make more pragmatic alliances and not stick with the later Bourbon system of Louis XIV which was effectively a time bomb.

[Diahon]

Although it might have been beyond saving regardless, certainly the Bourbons replacing the Hapsburgs was a major problem. The Hapsburgs would have been better suited for preserving it.

Had the Spanish Hapsburg not inbred themselves to extinction the Empire might have survived longer.
Not that this would necessarily be a good thing, but if we are simply asking how it could have possibly survived longer without making a judgment on should it have survived longer.

carlos sebastian was not an incompetent man

[Novus America]

Although it might have been beyond saving regardless, certainly the Bourbons replacing the Hapsburgs was a major problem. The Hapsburgs would have been better suited for preserving it.

Had the Spanish Hapsburg not inbred themselves to extinction the Empire might have survived longer.
Not that this would necessarily be a good thing, but if we are simply asking how it could have possibly survived longer without making a judgment on should it have survived longer.

carlos sebastian was not an incompetent man

Neither was Louis XIV. But they created systems based in their persons, that would not be sustainable after their deaths. By centralizing power in their own persons, they alienated the clergy and the nobility, without gaining the long term loyalty of the rising mercantile class and the like.

For example expelling the Jesuits. He viewed them as a threat to his absolute power, but also destroyed an institution that had helped hold the empire together. And ironically the Jesuits had been more supportive of the monarchy than the new more secular educated persons who replaced them, who often had republican leanings.

He destroyed institutions, to place power in his own hands. Which only worked while he was alive. Men die, but institutions can outlive men.

It is more important to have strong institutions that can last than one strong leader who will die.
He left his far less capable successors with too much power that they could not properly wield abs control and without the loyal institutions that could have stepped in to fill the gap.

Something similar happened in Yugoslavia with Tito. Tito was not an incompetent ruler, but created a government system that relied on him. Which therefore did not long outlive his death.

One man rule can be efficient when you have an effective ruler, but is almost never sustainable as you inevitably get a less effective leader and it falls apart. One man rule leaves you with a single point of failure.

[Bear Stearns]

I would do what I can to destroy English / Dutch settlement of North America.

[The Black Forrest]

I read the title and it registered as Spanish Inquisition.

[Linkolas Finland]

Knowing what I know now, a lot of things:

I would issue royal edicts dismantling the commercial monopolies of the viceroyalties in new spain and peru, opening up previously isolated commercial lanes to international markets and investment. Simultaneously, I would seize the assets of those bankers whom the inquisition consider guilty of usery violations ( nasty track record bankers would have in spanish history to come ) and use their consolidation ( paired with personal crown investments ) to buy out the private share holders of the national bank of saint carlos ( the precursor to the bank of Spain ), and turn it into a imperial institution. Following the acquisition of San Carlos, I would begin rigorously enforcing existing laws against for profit banking institutions ( methodically eradicating them across the nation and limiting the influence of foreign capital ), while simultaneously using san carlos as a trans-domain invest/trust fund for both wealthy citizens and local communities.

assuming this is around 1790, i'm gonna just go ahead and sell the Americans the whole of Louisiana, in exchange for money and their recognition of Florida as the rightful dominion of the crown. Florida isn't particular useful on the whole as a territory, but will act as a wonderful strategic point later on in the 19th century. Once more on the note of the America's - turn California into a prison colony. I know what's there, and though Louisiana will satiate the American's for a while, I'll need a strong base of support in the west if we're going to dissuade American adventurism ( Mexico is great, but they simply would not expand that far north fast enough of their own accord ).

Once the French revolution kicks, im taking a backseat for as long as I can... right up until Napoleon leaves for Egypt - then, i'm snagging a deal with Britain and we're murdering the little bastard at sea. I think the French Caribbean would be a fine recompense for my assassination of the French consul.

If there is still a war of 1812, I suppose I would support the United states, attempting to use my superior position in the Caribbean to oust the Anglos from their island strongholds in Jamaica and the Bahamas. If the possibility of our caribbean adventures threaten a greater war with Great Britain however, then I'll refrain from direct conquest, and settle for a vast privateer insurrection across British seas bankrolled by secret accounts in the banco de san carlos.

That's about enough for one lifetime I think.

[Linkolas Finland]

Would industrializing the colonies mean they are more likely to want to break from Spain?

Is it okay for a few colonies to surpass Spain economically but not militarily and politically? Or is it too much of a tightrope?

Which Spanish Viceroyalty would be best for industrialization? Mexico?

If the viceroyalties are treated as equals/integrated to Spain itself they might be unlikely to break away.

Yeah like Britain and Canada...

[Diahon]

If the viceroyalties are treated as equals/integrated to Spain itself they might be unlikely to break away.

Yeah like Britain and Canada...

that would likely further encourage factionalism even in steadfastly loyal colonies (like, say, the philippines) or speed up separatism in others (mexico)

[Valentine Z]

Research Supremacy and let my Spanish villagers conquer the world.

[Diahon]

I would implement economic policies to encourage the industrialization of Spain and the rapid development of industry

Three problems:
1.No coal in Spain.
2.No iron ore in Spain.
3.Most of Spain is semiarid.

How do you drive an industrial revolution without having resources to make steel and steam engines in your own metropolitan territory? Are you going to carry iron ore and coal through the ocean on wooden ships? Or are you going to build your industries in your colonies only?

go japan?

[Infected Mushroom]

Knowing what I know now, a lot of things:

I would issue royal edicts dismantling the commercial monopolies of the viceroyalties in new spain and peru, opening up previously isolated commercial lanes to international markets and investment. Simultaneously, I would seize the assets of those bankers whom the inquisition consider guilty of usery violations ( nasty track record bankers would have in spanish history to come ) and use their consolidation ( paired with personal crown investments ) to buy out the private share holders of the national bank of saint carlos ( the precursor to the bank of Spain ), and turn it into a imperial institution. Following the acquisition of San Carlos, I would begin rigorously enforcing existing laws against for profit banking institutions ( methodically eradicating them across the nation and limiting the influence of foreign capital ), while simultaneously using san carlos as a trans-domain invest/trust fund for both wealthy citizens and local communities.

assuming this is around 1790, i'm gonna just go ahead and sell the Americans the whole of Louisiana, in exchange for money and their recognition of Florida as the rightful dominion of the crown. Florida isn't particular useful on the whole as a territory, but will act as a wonderful strategic point later on in the 19th century. Once more on the note of the America's - turn California into a prison colony. I know what's there, and though Louisiana will satiate the American's for a while, I'll need a strong base of support in the west if we're going to dissuade American adventurism ( Mexico is great, but they simply would not expand that far north fast enough of their own accord ).

Once the French revolution kicks, im taking a backseat for as long as I can... right up until Napoleon leaves for Egypt - then, i'm snagging a deal with Britain and we're murdering the little bastard at sea. I think the French Caribbean would be a fine recompense for my assassination of the French consul.

If there is still a war of 1812, I suppose I would support the United states, attempting to use my superior position in the Caribbean to oust the Anglos from their island strongholds in Jamaica and the Bahamas. If the possibility of our caribbean adventures threaten a greater war with Great Britain however, then I'll refrain from direct conquest, and settle for a vast privateer insurrection across British seas bankrolled by secret accounts in the banco de san carlos.

That's about enough for one lifetime I think.

And can we hold on to Florida? What would Florida do during the American Civil War?

[Diahon]

let the losing confederates flee there till they either surrender or are expelled

what else?

[Dogmeat]

I read the title and it registered as Spanish Inquisition.

I expected that.

[Infected Mushroom]

Research Supremacy and let my Spanish villagers conquer the world.

I thought villagers were for gathering resources.

[Hermosamente]

One of the most important thing I would do first is to reform the economy, one of the reasons for Spain's continuous decline was was that the economy was mismanaged. Cut unnecessary heavy regulations to a minimum/normal level and avoid too much taxation, considering if I was the Empire's ruler before the 19th century and saw the foreshadowing events which led to the OTL, I'd take action immediately. I would also grant more rights to colonies, considering it is one of the major reasons which led to the downfall of the Empire, granting more freedom for the white settlers (criollos) and slowly abolish slavery to the point it is no longer needed due to growth of industrialization.

That being said, it is also crucial to invest in the economy of the colonies. Economic mismanagement and neglect were the primary cause of why the colonies rebelled and after independence, remained relatively poor for decades. Industrialization is a key factor to remain a great power and to upgrade the economy. Considering the potential colonial rivalry from the UK and France which also industrialized, it is important not to neglect the colonies and support subsidizing their industries. The army and navy is also important, assuming Spain still lost the armada to the Brits, it would take a very long time to recover morale but as necessary as it seems, I would gradually avoid conflict between England and France (unless provoked) and focus on keeping the navy large and the military updated.

In similar to the last sentence, diplomacy. Spain has created too many enemies to bear, first step is to try and build friendly relations with other colonial powers, this might seem hard due to rivalries of each of European powers but not impossible. First choice would be Portugal since it's the closest and shares similarities with Spain to an extent, England would be a hard one because it's already Spain's rival to begin with. I don't know about France, but assuming we reached the Napoleonic Wars, I would stay neutral or be on Napoleon's enemies' side if he chose to invade Spain. The outcome however, is what I can't predict what would happen.

[Grand Lincolnshire]

go into console commands

type >research all and >annex FRA

why didn't Spain think of this

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

First of all, we need to stabilize the country. Instead of different governers governing the Americas, members of the royal family do. Then accordingly we send frequent military operations secretly dissappearing dissidents. Then we unite some viceroyalties such as the Peruvian and Patagonian.

[Valentine Z]

Research Supremacy and let my Spanish villagers conquer the world.

I thought villagers were for gathering resources.

Yeah but you can totally go all-villagers. There's even an achievement for winning without using military units!