Territorial change of Spanish Empire

“Spanish Empire” — appears in this map’s data from AD 1516 to 1879. Its territory was largest in AD 1809 – 1810, at ≈ 11.35 million km².

Territory by period

Period	Area
AD 1516 – 1518	≈ 257 thousand km²
AD 1521 – 1525	≈ 486 thousand km²
AD 1526 – 1528	≈ 878 thousand km²
AD 1529 – 1533	≈ 986 thousand km²
AD 1534 – 1539	≈ 1.47 million km²
AD 1540 – 1546	≈ 3.97 million km²
AD 1547 – 1551	≈ 4.10 million km²
AD 1552 – 1563	≈ 4.22 million km²
AD 1564 – 1571	≈ 4.23 million km²
AD 1572 – 1578	≈ 4.41 million km²
AD 1579 – 1581	≈ 4.52 million km²
AD 1582 – 1587	≈ 5.70 million km²
AD 1588 – 1594	≈ 6.08 million km²
AD 1595 – 1599	≈ 6.40 million km²
AD 1600 – 1608	≈ 6.38 million km²
AD 1609 – 1611	≈ 6.51 million km²
AD 1612 – 1618	≈ 6.53 million km²
AD 1619 – 1621	≈ 6.90 million km²
AD 1622 – 1625	≈ 6.91 million km²
AD 1626 – 1628	≈ 7.07 million km²
AD 1629 – 1631	≈ 7.12 million km²
AD 1632 – 1635	≈ 7.10 million km²
AD 1636 – 1639	≈ 7.06 million km²
AD 1640 – 1658	≈ 6.15 million km²
AD 1659 – 1669	≈ 6.23 million km²
AD 1670 – 1676	≈ 6.26 million km²
AD 1677 – 1682	≈ 6.27 million km²
AD 1683 – 1686	≈ 6.25 million km²
AD 1687 – 1690	≈ 6.48 million km²
AD 1691 – 1695	≈ 6.51 million km²
AD 1696 – 1699	≈ 6.61 million km²
AD 1700 – 1701	≈ 6.91 million km²
AD 1702 – 1705	≈ 6.90 million km²
AD 1706 – 1708	≈ 6.83 million km²
AD 1709 – 1712	≈ 6.93 million km²
AD 1713 – 1717	≈ 7.02 million km²
AD 1718 – 1720	≈ 7.02 million km²
AD 1721 – 1726	≈ 7.04 million km²
AD 1727 – 1733	≈ 7.05 million km²
AD 1734 – 1740	≈ 7.06 million km²
AD 1741 – 1743	≈ 7.08 million km²
AD 1744 – 1751	≈ 7.08 million km²
AD 1752 – 1756	≈ 9.36 million km²
AD 1757 – 1761	≈ 9.71 million km²
AD 1762 – 1762	≈ 9.73 million km²
AD 1763 – 1768	≈ 9.55 million km²
AD 1769 – 1771	≈ 9.78 million km²
AD 1772 – 1774	≈ 9.80 million km²
AD 1775 – 1775	≈ 9.81 million km²
AD 1776 – 1777	≈ 9.81 million km²
AD 1778 – 1779	≈ 11.00 million km²
AD 1780 – 1780	≈ 11.01 million km²
AD 1781 – 1782	≈ 11.17 million km²
AD 1783 – 1787	≈ 11.20 million km²
AD 1788 – 1790	≈ 11.25 million km²
AD 1791 – 1793	≈ 11.25 million km²
AD 1794 – 1795	≈ 11.26 million km²
AD 1796 – 1796	≈ 11.26 million km²
AD 1797 – 1798	≈ 11.27 million km²
AD 1799 – 1799	≈ 11.28 million km²
AD 1800 – 1802	≈ 11.24 million km²
AD 1803 – 1805	≈ 11.19 million km²
AD 1806 – 1806	≈ 11.30 million km²
AD 1807 – 1808	≈ 11.30 million km²
AD 1809 – 1810	≈ 11.35 million km²
AD 1811 – 1811	≈ 8.53 million km²
AD 1812 – 1813	≈ 8.45 million km²
AD 1814 – 1814	≈ 7.86 million km²
AD 1815 – 1819	≈ 8.50 million km²
AD 1820 – 1821	≈ 7.83 million km²
AD 1822 – 1823	≈ 1.98 million km²
AD 1824 – 1852	≈ 506 thousand km²
AD 1853 – 1858	≈ 487 thousand km²
AD 1859 – 1860	≈ 487 thousand km²
AD 1861 – 1872	≈ 541 thousand km²
AD 1877 – 1879	≈ 373 km²

Outline at its largest extent

Outline of the territory in AD 1809 – 1810 (map drawing). Neighbouring countries are not drawn.

Area and rank by frame

For each frame in which borders change: this country’s territory and its rank by area among the countries that have territory in that frame.

Frame	Area	Rank
AD 1516	≈ 257 thousand km²	34 of 123
AD 1521	≈ 486 thousand km²	16 of 119
AD 1526	≈ 878 thousand km²	11 of 121
AD 1529	≈ 986 thousand km²	11 of 124
AD 1534	≈ 1.47 million km²	10 of 125
AD 1540	≈ 3.97 million km²	2 of 122
AD 1547	≈ 4.10 million km²	1 of 121
AD 1552	≈ 4.22 million km²	1 of 119
AD 1556	≈ 4.22 million km²	1 of 117
AD 1564	≈ 4.23 million km²	1 of 116
AD 1572	≈ 4.41 million km²	1 of 110
AD 1579	≈ 4.52 million km²	1 of 101
AD 1582	≈ 5.70 million km²	1 of 99
AD 1588	≈ 6.08 million km²	1 of 100
AD 1595	≈ 6.40 million km²	1 of 99
AD 1600	≈ 6.38 million km²	1 of 97
AD 1602	≈ 6.38 million km²	1 of 98
AD 1609	≈ 6.51 million km²	1 of 100
AD 1612	≈ 6.53 million km²	1 of 105
AD 1619	≈ 6.90 million km²	1 of 107
AD 1622	≈ 6.91 million km²	1 of 107
AD 1626	≈ 7.07 million km²	1 of 109
AD 1629	≈ 7.12 million km²	1 of 109
AD 1632	≈ 7.10 million km²	2 of 109
AD 1636	≈ 7.06 million km²	2 of 110
AD 1640	≈ 6.15 million km²	2 of 114
AD 1642	≈ 6.15 million km²	2 of 115
AD 1645	≈ 6.15 million km²	2 of 115
AD 1648	≈ 6.15 million km²	2 of 117
AD 1653	≈ 6.15 million km²	2 of 115
AD 1659	≈ 6.23 million km²	3 of 114
AD 1662	≈ 6.23 million km²	3 of 116
AD 1670	≈ 6.26 million km²	2 of 117
AD 1673	≈ 6.26 million km²	2 of 117
AD 1677	≈ 6.27 million km²	2 of 116
AD 1683	≈ 6.25 million km²	3 of 117
AD 1687	≈ 6.48 million km²	2 of 113
AD 1691	≈ 6.51 million km²	2 of 111
AD 1696	≈ 6.61 million km²	3 of 108
AD 1700	≈ 6.91 million km²	3 of 107
AD 1702	≈ 6.90 million km²	3 of 109
AD 1706	≈ 6.83 million km²	3 of 114
AD 1709	≈ 6.93 million km²	3 of 120
AD 1713	≈ 7.02 million km²	3 of 123
AD 1718	≈ 7.02 million km²	3 of 124
AD 1721	≈ 7.04 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1727	≈ 7.05 million km²	3 of 128
AD 1734	≈ 7.06 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1738	≈ 7.06 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1741	≈ 7.08 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1744	≈ 7.08 million km²	3 of 129
AD 1748	≈ 7.08 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1752	≈ 9.36 million km²	2 of 132
AD 1757	≈ 9.71 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1762	≈ 9.73 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1763	≈ 9.55 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1769	≈ 9.78 million km²	3 of 128
AD 1772	≈ 9.80 million km²	3 of 127
AD 1775	≈ 9.81 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1776	≈ 9.81 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1778	≈ 11.00 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1780	≈ 11.01 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1781	≈ 11.17 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1783	≈ 11.20 million km²	3 of 130
AD 1788	≈ 11.25 million km²	3 of 129
AD 1791	≈ 11.25 million km²	3 of 128
AD 1792	≈ 11.25 million km²	3 of 130
AD 1794	≈ 11.26 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1796	≈ 11.26 million km²	3 of 124
AD 1797	≈ 11.27 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1799	≈ 11.28 million km²	3 of 124
AD 1800	≈ 11.24 million km²	3 of 123
AD 1803	≈ 11.19 million km²	3 of 123
AD 1805	≈ 11.19 million km²	3 of 125
AD 1806	≈ 11.30 million km²	3 of 138
AD 1807	≈ 11.30 million km²	3 of 132
AD 1809	≈ 11.35 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1811	≈ 8.53 million km²	3 of 131
AD 1812	≈ 8.45 million km²	3 of 133
AD 1814	≈ 7.86 million km²	4 of 142
AD 1815	≈ 8.50 million km²	3 of 139
AD 1820	≈ 7.83 million km²	4 of 148
AD 1822	≈ 1.98 million km²	9 of 147
AD 1824	≈ 506 thousand km²	24 of 148
AD 1825	≈ 506 thousand km²	25 of 150
AD 1828	≈ 506 thousand km²	26 of 144
AD 1830	≈ 506 thousand km²	27 of 143
AD 1834	≈ 506 thousand km²	28 of 143
AD 1836	≈ 506 thousand km²	28 of 145
AD 1840	≈ 506 thousand km²	29 of 155
AD 1842	≈ 506 thousand km²	29 of 156
AD 1846	≈ 506 thousand km²	28 of 152
AD 1848	≈ 506 thousand km²	27 of 147
AD 1849	≈ 506 thousand km²	26 of 144
AD 1853	≈ 487 thousand km²	28 of 144
AD 1856	≈ 487 thousand km²	28 of 149
AD 1857	≈ 487 thousand km²	28 of 150
AD 1859	≈ 487 thousand km²	28 of 146
AD 1860	≈ 487 thousand km²	28 of 142
AD 1861	≈ 541 thousand km²	28 of 140
AD 1862	≈ 541 thousand km²	28 of 138
AD 1863	≈ 541 thousand km²	28 of 139
AD 1864	≈ 541 thousand km²	27 of 139
AD 1865	≈ 541 thousand km²	27 of 139
AD 1866	≈ 541 thousand km²	26 of 133
AD 1868	≈ 541 thousand km²	26 of 134
AD 1870	≈ 541 thousand km²	26 of 132
AD 1871	≈ 541 thousand km²	26 of 113
AD 1877	≈ 373 km²	103 of 104

Its highest rank was in AD 1629: number 109 of 1.

Neighbouring countries

In order of the number of frames in which they share a border (a parent state, its colonies and other names of the same country are counted as one group).

Kingdom of France — 304 frames
Kingdom of Portugal — 266 frames
Kingdom of England — 241 frames
Morocco — 131 frames
Andorra — 98 frames
Sultanate of Maguindanao — 78 frames
Sultanate of Brunei (1368–1888) — 70 frames
County of Urgell — 63 frames
Holy Roman Empire — 48 frames
Papal States — 44 frames
Republic of Genoa — 44 frames
Jesuit missions among the Guaraní — 42 frames
Crown of Aragon — 41 frames
Ottoman Empire — 38 frames
Emirate of Granada — 35 frames
Habsburg monarchy — 34 frames
Itza people — 33 frames
Tangier International Zone — 33 frames
Dutch Republic — 31 frames
Regency of Algiers — 27 frames

Territory exchanged with

Computed from changes in territory between frames (only changes of about 20,000 km² or more are counted; these are not actual routes of advance). Top 30 by area (of 34 in total).

Frame		Other country	Area
AD 1540	gained	Inca Empire	≈ 2.11 million km²
AD 1824	lost	Gran Colombia	≈ 1.49 million km²
AD 1820	lost	New Granada	≈ 744 thousand km²
AD 1812	gained	Venezuela	≈ 402 thousand km²
AD 1815	gained	Venezuela	≈ 402 thousand km²
AD 1582	gained	Portuguese Empire	≈ 367 thousand km²
AD 1820	gained	Mexicans	≈ 312 thousand km²
AD 1815	gained	Chile	≈ 226 thousand km²
AD 1769	gained	Jesuit missions among the Guaraní	≈ 181 thousand km²
AD 1763	lost	British Empire	≈ 162 thousand km²
AD 1781	gained	British Empire	≈ 158 thousand km²
AD 1822	lost	United States	≈ 152 thousand km²
AD 1814	gained	Ecuadorian War of Independence	≈ 140 thousand km²
AD 1547	gained	Maya civilization	≈ 137 thousand km²
AD 1783	gained	British Empire	≈ 132 thousand km²
AD 1812	lost	Mexicans	≈ 119 thousand km²
AD 1609	gained	Sultanate of Maguindanao	≈ 107 thousand km²
AD 1534	gained	Michoacán	≈ 74 thousand km²
AD 1640	lost	Portuguese Empire	≈ 63 thousand km²
AD 1809	gained	Portuguese Empire	≈ 53 thousand km²
AD 1861	gained	Dominican Republic	≈ 53 thousand km²
AD 1803	lost	French Louisiana	≈ 53 thousand km²
AD 1822	lost	First Empire of Haiti	≈ 52 thousand km²
AD 1814	lost	Mexicans	≈ 48 thousand km²
AD 1814	lost	New Granada	≈ 47 thousand km²
AD 1822	lost	Chile	≈ 46 thousand km²
AD 1636	lost	New Netherland	≈ 39 thousand km²
AD 1582	gained	Portuguese Empire	≈ 37 thousand km²
AD 1582	gained	Portuguese Africa	≈ 35 thousand km²
AD 1788	gained	British Empire	≈ 29 thousand km²

Preceded and succeeded by

Preceded by: Crown of Aragon · Crown of Castile

Succeeded by: Spain

Source: Wikidata (CC0)

Wikipedia summary

The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery.

Wikipedia (English) “Spanish Empire”, introduction (first sentences) · text under CC BY-SA 4.0 · read more on Wikipedia

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