History France–Spain relations

1 history

1.1 before kingdom of spain
1.2 franco-spanish war
1.3 under franco
1.4 modern history of spain–france relations

history
before kingdom of spain

louis xiv of france , philip iv of spain signing treaty of pyrenees in 1659, ending 24-year franco-spanish war.

the entire mainlands of both gaul , hispania possessions of roman empire.

while term spain may improper when used refer france–spain relations before union of crown of castile , crown of aragon in 1516, there has been important relations between france , spain.

one important feature of relations catalonia & navarre fought shoulder shoulder frankish kings (during carolingian dynasty), protect europe al andalus muslim kingdom. barcelona county of frankish empire, under protection of franc imperator.

this vassality of catalonia , navarre frankish empire remained effective 985. @ point, because armies mobilized in verdum s county, lothair of france , byzantine allies did not assist navarre & catalonia in defense against caliph, implying failed defend of barcelona arabs. almanzor did not stay in cities (the first assault launched july 6, 985; withdrew troops july 23), incursion arguably first step of process of independence of county of barcelona kingdom of france, , heralded become aragon kingdom. while independent of france , integrated in crown of aragon, barcelona remained legally county of france , king of france retained de jure right vote in catalan courts in next centuries. situation generated numerous territorial conflicts between 2 kingdoms control south of france , north of spain (the support of aragon count of toulouse, death in perpignan of philip iii of france married isabel of aragon, , albigenses crusades of famous examples) , played significant political role in start of catalan revolt ended treaty of pyrenees.

franco-spanish war

the franco-spanish war broke out in 1635, when french king louis xiii felt threatened entire kingdom bordered habsburg territories, including spain. in 1659, treaty of pyrenees ended war , ceded spanish-possessed catalan county of roussillon france, had supported principality of catalonia in revolt against spanish crown. western flanders, equivalent modern french department of nord, ceded. anomaly of treaty although villages in roussillon ceded france, llívia deemed city , therefore retained spain present day exclave 3 kilometres (2 mi) france. treaty signed on pheasant island, uninhabited, unserviced island in bidasoa river between french commune of hendaye , spanish municipality of irun. both settlements, , therefore countries, took sovereignty of island 6 months out of each year. after philip iv of spain defeat, marie-thérèse of austria, infant of spain, married king of france louis xiv.

in 1701, after death of last habsburg king of spain, charles ii, french house of bourbon, led louis xiv, staked claim spanish throne. war ended bourbon philip v being recognised king of spain. house of bourbon remains on spanish throne present day.

revolutionary france , bourbon spain signed treaty of san ildefonso in 1796 part of shared opposition britain. relationship strained after defeat in 1805 @ battle of trafalgar, , in 1808, french emperor napoleon named brother joseph king of spain part of plan closer invading britain s ally, portugal. bourbon king ferdinand vii imprisoned napoleon, still remained recognised spanish monarch napoleon s adversaries. returned throne in 1813 after britain , portugal s victory (vastly helped spanish soldiers , rebels) in peninsular war.

under franco

border stone between france , exclaved spanish city of llívia. after stalled deal allow defeated republican army control city, france permitted franco control it.

when nationalist forces of general francisco franco victorious @ end of spanish civil war in 1939, there discussion of llívia, small exclaved spanish city 3 km (2 mi) france, becoming territory of defeated republican army. no conclusion reached , french authorities allowed nationalists occupy llívia.

with restoration of french government in latter part of second world war, relations between spain , france became more complex. exiled spanish communists had infiltrated northern spain france via val d aran repelled franco s army , police forces. border between 2 countries temporarily closed french in june 1945. closed indefinitely on march 1, 1946, following execution of communist guerrilla cristino garcía in spain. franco government criticized action, commenting many refugees france had used same border escape safety in spain during war. several days after border closing, france issued diplomatic note united states , britain calling formation of new provisional government in madrid.

additionally, spain s formerly close relationship italy , nazi germany led suspicion , accusations. nazis , french collaborators fled francoist spain following end of war, notably pierre laval, turned on allies in july 1945. 1 french report claimed 100,000 nazis , collaborators sheltered in spain. soviet union declared there 200,000 nazis in country , franco manufacturing nuclear weapons , intended invade france in 1946.

with advent of cold war, relations gradually improved. pyrenean border re-opened again in february 1948. several months later france (along britain) signed commercial agreement franco government. relations further improved in 1950 when french government, concerned international subversion, forced spanish communist party leave france.

franco-spanish relations improved further founding of french fifth republic in 1958. despite rebel french general raoul salan finding sanctuary among falangists in spain 6 months in 1960–61, french finance minister visited madrid in april 1963 conclude new commercial treaty.

when spain led general francisco franco, french believed eta attacks aimed @ overthrowing government of franco, , did not feel targeted eta. however, when attacks continued after death of franco, france started collaboration spanish government against eta.

modern history of spain–france relations

in recent years, due improving economy in spain, balance between france , spain has shifted somewhat. balance has changed because of liberalisation of spanish society since death of franco in 1975.

france 1 of largest trading partners of spain. in march 2015, philip vi of spain chose go france first diplomatic visit since accession. visit regarded way hail excellent bilateral relations between france , spain.