When Was Treaty of Madrid Signed?

By Alice Nichols

The Treaty of Madrid, also known as the Treaty of the Escorial, was a significant agreement signed between Spain and Portugal in 1750. This treaty aimed to settle disputes over territories in South America by establishing boundaries between the two nations.

When was the Treaty of Madrid signed?
The Treaty of Madrid was signed on October 13, 1750.

Background:
Spain and Portugal were both major colonial powers during the 18th century. They had been competing for control over territories in South America, particularly Brazil. The Portuguese claimed that their territory extended to the west coast of South America while the Spanish believed that their territory included regions east of the Andes Mountains.

This dispute led to tensions between the two nations and even resulted in armed conflicts. In 1701, Spain and Portugal signed a treaty known as the Treaty of Utrecht which defined their respective territories in South America. However, this did not resolve all disputes and conflicts continued to arise.

  • The Treaty:

The Treaty of Madrid was negotiated by French diplomat Étienne-François de Choiseul on behalf of France’s ally, Spain. Portugal was represented by their Prime Minister Sebastião de Melo, also known as Marquis de Pombal.

The treaty aimed to resolve all disputes between Spain and Portugal by defining specific boundaries for their respective territories in South America. The treaty established a line that ran through modern-day Brazil from north to south. All land west of this line belonged to Portugal while all land east of it belonged to Spain.

The Impact:

The Treaty of Madrid had a significant impact on the history of South America. It helped to reduce tensions between Spain and Portugal and provided a clear definition of their respective territories. This allowed both nations to focus on developing their own colonies without fear of encroachment from each other.

However, not everyone was happy with the treaty. The Portuguese felt that they had been cheated out of valuable territory in South America. In 1801, they challenged the Treaty of Madrid and negotiated a new agreement known as the Treaty of Badajoz which slightly altered the boundaries established by the Treaty of Madrid.

Conclusion:

The Treaty of Madrid was a significant agreement that helped to settle disputes between Spain and Portugal over territories in South America. Although it was not a perfect solution, it provided a clear definition of their respective territories and helped to reduce tensions between the two nations. Today, it is remembered as an important milestone in the history of South America.