Alfonso XIII’s Farewell Manifesto: Spain’s 1931 Political Shift
Alfonso XIII: A Manifesto of the Nation, 1931
Historical Context
This is a political document, a fragment of the farewell manifesto of King Alfonso XIII, dated April 13, 1931. This was a day after municipal elections in which Republican candidates had won in the main Spanish cities. Its author is King Alfonso XIII, son of Alfonso XII. His personal reign spanned from 1902 to 1931. The King read the manifesto to his Cabinet on the afternoon of April 14 before going into exile. The next day, it was published in the newspaper *ABC* and later in major newspapers around the country, informing all Spaniards. It is, therefore, a public text intended for general circulation. It is a subjective text that the King wrote to make known to the Spanish people the reasons that led him to decide to leave: not enjoying popular support and avoiding a civil war.
Analysis of the Manifesto
In the first paragraph, Alfonso XIII discusses not receiving support in the 1931 municipal elections, which were scheduled for April 12, 1931. There was a triumph of the Republican-Socialist coalition in major cities. The King consulted law enforcement but did not have the explicit support of General Sanjurjo and left Spain for exile. He tried to serve Spain at all times. The second paragraph is about a mistake (as to enable the dictatorship) that he committed, but that Spaniards were also blamed for these shortcomings. He said he sought a solution but actually consulted the Army. He said he did not decide anything and moved away from a possible civil war and did not waive his rights because, he says, the assignment is historic. The third and last paragraph expresses the suspension of royal power (he expected to return to power, he did not abdicate).
The Collapse of the Monarchy
The collapse of the monarchy was not only the result of the previous dictatorship but also of the way Berenguer had a transactional approach to the problem. There were serious deficiencies in its governance, such as:
- A slow return to legality (soft dictatorship).
- Economic anachronism.
- Little support for the most conservative sectors; outdated *caciquismo*.
All this resulted in strong anti-monarchist opposition.
The Rise of Republicanism
The Republican idea adopted a much more moderate stance, with the support of the middle classes and political mobilization that had never existed in Spain. This led to the Pact of San Sebastian (signed in August 1930), which meant an alliance between various sectors of republicanism and the political forces that were outside the system. It also led to the formation of a Revolutionary Committee to achieve regime change through a civilian-backed military uprising.
All the intellectuals came to the call of a “Service Group of the Republic” that emerged after a statement by José Ortega y Gasset.
Military Uprisings
There followed a series of unsuccessful military uprisings:
- A military uprising in Jaca (December 15) resulted in the death sentence of Captains Galán and García Hernández.
- The aerodrome took four winds in Madrid, where General Queipo de Llano and other military personnel were hampered by the hesitation to call a general strike.
As a result of these developments, the most prominent figures of the civil conspiracy were arrested: Niceto Alcalá Zamora, Largo Caballero, and Fernando de los Rios.
The Fall of Berenguer
The fall of Berenguer was encouraged at the end of 1930 when he tried to call general elections. Political parties refused without first holding municipal elections that would ensure electoral fairness. Berenguer was forced to resign.
The End of the Monarchy
The victory of the anti-monarchist parties in major cities (in 41 of the 50 provincial capitals) determined the fate of the monarchy. The loss of prestige for their support of the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera and the awkwardness of Berenguer and Aznar in finding a viable solution for Alfonso XIII took their toll.
Conclusion
Municipal elections were scheduled for April 12, 1931. The result was the triumph of the Republican-Socialist coalition in major cities and the collapse of the *caciquismo* in the country (triumph of the right). The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed in an atmosphere of popular jubilation. Before making this decision, the King referred to the forces of order, did not have the explicit support of General Sanjurjo, and went into exile. In Catalonia, the Catalan Republic was proclaimed. A new Constitution would be drafted (1931), and two *biennia* would be formed: a progressive one and another formed by CEDA and the Radical Party.