Spain History Timeline & FactsThe Celts and Ancient History Bronze and Iron Age - The ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary Click the following link for details of the ancient Celts History Timeline & Facts Concise History of Spain 573AD The Visigoths conquered Spain 711 Muslims from northern Africa invaded Spain displacing the Goths 1094 El Cid, a Castilian Christian, fought the Moors and conquered Valencia 1100s Portugal gained its independence 1200s The Muslim territory had been reduced to the Kingdom of Granada 1200's The Christian territory controlled the Kingdoms of Aragon, Navarre, and Castile 1469 The marriage of Prince Ferdinand of Aragon and Princess Isabella of Castille 1474 Isabella became Queen of Castile 1479 Ferdinand became King of Aragon 1480 The Spanish Inquisition was established 1492 The Muslims of Granada were defeated 1492 Christopher Columbus voyage to America was financed by the King and Queen 1494 Spain and Portugal claimed the lands of the New World 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed Central America 1516 Charles I became Spanish king and extended the Spanish Empire to include Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg 1519 Charles I became the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V 1521 Hernando Cortes conquered the Mexican Aztecs 1533 Francisco Pizarro conquered the South American Inca empire 1588 Philip launched the Spanish Armada which the English defeated 1714 The War of the Spanish Succession ended when Spain lost all of its European empire 1763 Spain lost Florida to the United Kingdom 1808 French forces led by Napoleon conquered Spain but the Spanish regained control in 1814 17 July 1821 Spain ceded Florida to the United States 1898 The Spanish were defeated in the Spanish - American War . Cuba was given its independence and Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico were given to the United States 1914-1918 World War I - Spain remained neutral April 1931 The Spaniards voted for a republican form of Spanish government 1936 General Francisco Franco became the leader of the rebels and civil war ensued 1939-1945 World War II - Spain remained neutral 1969 Franco declared that Prince Juan Carlos would become the next king of Spain 1975 Franco died and Juan Carlos became king Spain History Time line |