Enlightenment in Spain Enlightenment in Spain The ideas of the Age of Enlightenment (in Spanish, "Ilustración") came to Spain in the eighteenth century with the new Bourbon dynasty, following the death of the last , Charles II, in 1700. "Like the Spanish Enlightenment, the Spanish Bourbon monarchs were imbued with Spain's Catholic identity." The period of reform and 'enlightened despotism' under the Bourbons focused on centralizing and modernizing the Spanish government, and improvement of infrastructure, beginning with the rule of King Charles III and the work of his minister, José Moñino, count of Floridablanca. In the political and economic sphere, the crown implemented
Nicholas Bourbon (the elder) Nicholas Bourbon (the elder) Nicholas Bourbon (; 1503 or 1505 - after 1550) was a French court preceptor and poet. He wrote a collection of poems called "Nugae" (Latin for 'trifles'), which are known as the "Bagatelles" in French. He is the great-uncle of Nicholas Bourbon (1574–1644), a member of the Académie française. Bourbon was born in Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, France. He went to England in 1535 to pay homage to Henry VIII of England and his second Queen Consort Anne Boleyn in gratitude for help received from them while under persecution in France. He later wrote a series of poems in