With the rise of the Habsburg dynasty in Spain, Barcelona became part of a unified Spanish monarchy, though it retained its own laws and customs. The city’s influence waned as power shifted toward Castile and Madrid. Tensions over centralization, taxation, and military burdens grew, leading to revolts like the Reapers’ War (1640). Though Catalonia was eventually brought back under royal control, the seeds of discontent were planted, and Barcelona’s autonomy was increasingly under pressure during this period.