1749 Commercial treaty of Aquisgran between Spain and England. Under the administration of Carvajal and Ensenada, Spain begins to recover her prosperity.
1752 Treaty of Aranjuez between Spain, Maria Theresa, and the dukes of Tuscany, and Parma guarantees the neutrality of Italy.
1753 Pope Benedict XIV acknowledges by a concordat the Spanish king’s right to make ecclesiastical appointments.
1754 Death of Carvajal. Richard Wall, an Irishman, succeeds him.
1755 Earthquake in Spain.
1759 Death of Ferdinand. His half-brother, Charles of Naples, succeeds as Charles III. Naples is handed over to Charles’ younger son, Ferdinand. Charles restores Aragon and Catalonia some of their privileges and remits arrears of taxes. Squillaci (Esquilache) appointed minister of finance.
1761 Third family compact with France for mutual defence. Consequent war with England.
1762 Portugal refuses to join the family compact and is invaded by the French and Spaniards. England sends troops to Portugal. The Spaniards defeated at Valencia de Alcantara and Villa Velha. Havana and Manila captured by the English. Colonia del Sacramento taken from Portugal.
1763 Peace with England. Spain cedes Florida and her fishing rights on the Newfoundland banks. England restores Havana and Manila. Grimaldi succeeds Wall. Louisiana ceded to Spain by France. The inhabitants refuse to accept the transfer.
1765 Reorganisation of the Spanish colonies. Discontent and revolts.