Carlism: Origins, Wars, and Consequences in Spain
Carlism: Core Principles
Carlism focuses on three sacred principles: God, Country, and King.
God: Carlists advocate for the union of church and state, often expressed as “altar and throne.”
Patria: They champion traditional Spain, criticizing liberals as foreign influences.
King: They believe in a monarchy as a sacred institution of divine origin, with powers not bound by any constitution.
Carlism and Regional Councils
Carlism strongly supports regional councils, particularly in the Basque Country, Navarra, and the ancient Kingdom of Aragon (Maestrazgo).
They defended the fueros, specific laws of each territory, against the liberal programs of legal unification. The privileges of the Basque Country were extensive, including limited military service obligations, only required when fighting occurred within its territory.
Administration was managed by general assemblies composed of delegates from each municipality. These assemblies could veto laws based on statutory immunity.
Carlist Wars
The First Carlist War (1833-1840)
The First Carlist War is divided into three stages:
1st Stage: 1833-1835
This stage lasted until the death of Zumalacárregui. It involved a general insurrection, which succeeded primarily in the Basque Country and Navarra. Carlists employed guerrilla tactics, taking the initiative and extending the conflict to Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia. However, most military activity remained in the Basque Country.
2nd Stage: Carlist Expeditions Across Spain
During this stage, Carlists launched expeditions across Spain to expand the war. Liberals did not confront them because the Carlists lacked support outside the North. Don Carlos approached Madrid in 1837, but Carlist defeats revealed the supposed superiority of the liberals.
3rd Phase: 1837-1840
The Carlists’ inability to achieve victory led to internal divisions. In Vergara, Espartero and General Maroto signed an armistice in 1839 (the Embrace of Vergara). The Catalonian-Aragon-Levant sector continued the war under Ramon Cabrera, but he was cornered by Espartero in 1840 and fled to France. Charles D. went into exile, but his supporters continued their opposition to liberalism.
The Second Carlist War (1848-49, 1860)
After the failure of a moderate-liberal marriage project involving Elizabeth II’s son, Don Carlos initiated the Second Carlist War in 1848.
- Carlist guerrillas operated in rural areas north of the Ebro and Catalonia. They were defeated by liberals in April 1849. In 1860, a new attempt was made by a ruling. The Liberal army detained the Earl of Montemolin, who renounced all rights to the Crown.
The Third Carlist War (1873-76)
The Third Carlist War was fueled by two factors: the throne was vacant, and moderate liberals consolidated their positions, gaining 20 deputies in the elections of 1872. In 1869, a new armed uprising began, but it ultimately failed.
Consequences of the Carlist Wars
- The monarchy leaned towards liberalism.
- The military gained political prominence, becoming a linchpin in the defense of the liberal regime.
- The wars resulted in enormous costs and a significant population loss, slowing economic growth.