Ecclesiastical Confiscation in 19th Century Spain
Introduction
This decree explains the objectives of the 19th-century ecclesiastical confiscations in Spain. The primary goal was to sell state-owned assets, reduce national debt, and stimulate economic development. A secondary aim was to promote land ownership. This period coincided with the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a symbol of order and liberty. Historically, this marked the first large-scale ecclesiastical confiscation, dismantling the ancien régime under pressure from progressive liberal forces.
Key Concepts
Confiscation
Confiscation refers to measures enacted by liberal bourgeois governments to remove legal restrictions on land ownership, enabling its sale and dismantling the Old Regime’s structure. In 19th-century Spain, confiscations occurred under the Cortes of Cádiz (1812), Mendizábal (1836), and Madoz (1855), coinciding with periods of liberal rule. These measures modernized land ownership but exacerbated agrarian issues.
Nation
A nation is a community sharing ethnic, historical, and economic ties, united under common political institutions. It is often used synonymously with “state.” Nationalism exalts the nation, sometimes to the highest degree. A state may comprise multiple nations.
Public Debt
Government bonds are a state mechanism to offset budget deficits. Bonds represent loans to the state, repaid with interest. While frequently used, the state sometimes resorted to confiscation for more drastic solutions.
Historical Context: The Reign of Maria Cristina and the Carlist Wars
The confiscations occurred during the regency of Maria Cristina, a revolutionary period marked by the transition to a parliamentary bourgeois state and a modern capitalist economy. This era saw the rise of a new ruling class comprising the business bourgeoisie and traditional nobility.
In 1833, Don Carlos’s claim to the throne ignited the First Carlist War. The Carlists, representing absolutist ideals, drew support from the conservative nobility, clergy, peasantry, and craft sectors, motivated by preserving their privileges. The “Cristine” side consisted of moderate and reformist absolutists, liberals, the military, high officials, business bourgeoisie, intellectuals, urban middle classes, and some peasantry. They received support from Portugal, England, and France, while the Carlists were backed by Austria, Prussia, and Russia.
Initially, the Carlists gained ground but faltered after Zumalacárregui’s death. General Maroto’s negotiations with General Espartero led to the Convention of Vergara (1839), ending the war.
The Financial Crisis and Confiscation
Maria Cristina, though not a liberal, sought their support and appointed Martinez de la Rosa, a moderate liberal. This led to a more open government and the return of exiled liberals. A Royal Charter convened a conservative, elitist Cortes with limited voting rights. Liberalism split into moderate and progressive wings, the latter favoring the 1812 Constitution.
Spain faced a chronic treasury deficit, largely attributed to land concentration among the privileged classes. The Bourbons resisted addressing this issue, making confiscation inevitable. The Carlist War further strained resources, and anticlerical sentiment fueled the general secularization decree.
Mendizábal’s 1836 decree confiscated regular clergy properties to address public finances and disempower the Church. Later expanded to include secular clergy, the process lasted until 1845. Mendizábal aimed to convert confiscated land into private property, transferring it to buyers who would support the Cristine cause. While benefiting speculators, the sale conditions hindered peasant ownership and only partially addressed the debt.
Contrary to some beliefs, Mendizábal did not intend to create a middle class of landowners. The 1855 Madoz confiscation, enacted during the Progressive Biennium, extended to all remaining church and municipal lands. This accelerated debt repayment but further concentrated land ownership among the oligarchy, alienating peasants who turned to socialist and anarchist movements. This confiscation required cash payment for public debt.