Ferdinand VII’s Reign and the Revolutionary Six Years in Spain
The Reign of Ferdinand VII
The Absolutist Six Years (1814-1820)
A group of deputies delivered to the king a document called the Manifesto of the Persians, which defended absolutism and attacked the legislation of the Cortes of Cadiz. Shortly after, the king overrode the Constitution and laws of the Court of Cadiz and threatened anyone who tried to restore them. The liberal revolution had been stopped.
The Liberal Triennium and the Intervention of the Holy Alliance (1820-1823)
The poor state of public finances and the persecution of the liberals were the causes of the continuing pronouncements that occurred in this era. In 1820, Quiroga army officers staged an uprising, and Riego achieved victory and the return of the liberals. Other pronouncements joined Riego and forced the king to restore the Constitution of Cadiz. This marked the beginning of the period in the reign of Ferdinand VII called the Liberal Triennium. The difficulties that liberals had to face were:
- The economic crisis.
- The division of the liberals into moderates and progressives or radicals.
- The Spanish American independence.
Ferdinand asked for help from European absolutist powers, together with the Holy Alliance, which sent an army that invaded the peninsula and restored absolutism once again. Ferdinand VII abolished all the reforms of the Liberal Triennium, Riego was hanged, and the king again ruled as an absolutist. New uprising attempts ended with the execution of Torrijos and the execution of Mariana Pineda in Granada. The succession problem appeared when Ferdinand VII enacted the Pragmatic Sanction, repealing the Salic law that prevented women from reigning in Spain. The birth of his daughter, Elizabeth, who was recognized as the heir to the throne, led to the formation of two factions:
- Liberals, supporters of Elizabeth.
- Absolutists, supporters of the king’s brother, Don Carlos, who was opposed to the liberal system.
The Revolutionary Six Years (1868-1874)
This period was characterized by:
- The triumph of radical and democratic ideals over moderate ones.
- The promulgation of the Constitution of 1869, the most progressive of all made during the 19th century: universal male suffrage, national sovereignty, separation of powers, and a broad declaration of rights and freedoms.
- Intense conflicts: colonial conflict in Cuba, continuation of the Carlist insurrection, and the Cantonal Revolution.
Forms of Revolutionary Government During the Six Years
Provisional Government (1868-1870)
Following the departure of Isabella II, power passed into the hands of the revolutionary juntas, which then formed a provisional government headed by General Serrano. This government summoned the court, which approved the Constitution of 1869, establishing, among other principles, that the legitimate form of government in Spain was a constitutional monarchy.
Democratic Monarchy (1871-1873)
An Italian, Amadeo I of Savoy, was chosen as King of Spain. However, his reign was short due to the difficulties encountered, exacerbated by Cuba’s colonial conflict. In this situation, the king abdicated in February 1873.
The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
After Amadeo I abdicated, the courts met and approved the proclamation of the Republic. Its president, Francisco Pi y Margall, had to deal with the Cantonal insurrection and finally resigned. He was succeeded by Salmerón and later Castelar, but both had serious difficulties in maintaining order and unity in the country. Problems arising during the Six Years led to supporters gathering steam for the return of Alfonso XII. In December 1874, a military uprising succeeded in the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty.