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
House of Bourbon-Dampierre last female of that line, Agnès of Bourbon-Dampierre († 1287), with John of Burgundy, her House merged with the House of Burgundy, and to their daughter Beatrix (1257-1310), Lady of Bourbon. Finally, it was passed on to Beatrix' husband, Robert, Count of Clermont (1256-1317), the 13th and last child of Louis IX, king of France, who was thus the first prince of France to take possession of the territory of Bourbon (in 1310) and founded the Capetian House of Bourbon. House of Bourbon-Dampierre The House of Bourbon-Dampierre refers to a noble dynasty emerged from the marriage of Guy II of