First Carlist War: Succession, Conflict, and Liberalism
The Succession Crisis and the Rise of Carlism
Two days after the death of Ferdinand VII, Carlos María Isidro claimed dynastic rights to the Spanish throne (Manifesto of Abrantes). This was the culmination of a succession crisis that began in the final years of Ferdinand VII’s reign. He had no offspring from his first three marriages, so Carlos María, his brother, was in line to inherit the throne. In 1829, the king married his niece, Maria Cristina, who soon became pregnant.
To secure the throne for his future heir, the King issued the Pragmatic Sanction in 1830. This decree repealed the Salic Law (introduced by Philip V), which prevented female succession, and restored the traditional line of succession favoring women. Ferdinand VII’s action implemented a law adopted, though not published, by his father Charles IV in 1789. Supporters of Don Carlos (Carlists) rejected this change, deeming it illegal and a result of liberal conspiracy, as it violated his dynastic rights. Isabel was born in 1830 and became heir to the throne, despite Don Carlos’s protests. In 1832, Don Carlos’s supporters, taking advantage of the King’s illness, pressured Queen Maria Cristina to abolish the Pragmatic Sanction. However, the Queen declared amnesty for exiled liberals and sought support from moderate liberals to secure the throne for her daughter. Ferdinand VII died in 1833, reaffirming his will that Isabel II, barely three years old, would inherit the throne under the regency of Maria Cristina until she reached adulthood. The same day, Carlos was proclaimed King of Spain as Charles V, triggering a Carlist uprising in northern Spain, marking the beginning of the First Carlist War.
The Course of the First Carlist War
The war began in late 1833 with an insurgency in the Basque-Navarrese region and the Maestrazgo. Initially, the Carlists achieved several victories, but the death of General Carlist Zumalacárregui shifted the momentum. In 1837, Carlos V himself led an expedition (Royal Expedition) to the gates of Madrid but failed to capture the city and retreated north. From that point on, the Carlists adopted a defensive strategy. General Maroto, a Carlist leader, negotiated peace with the Elizabethan general Espartero, resulting in the Convention of Vergara (1839). The Carlists surrendered but retained their military ranks and were integrated into the Elizabethan army. Furthermore, the government agreed to consider respecting the charters of the Basque provinces and Navarre.
The End of the War and its Consequences
The war continued in the Maestrazgo (1839-1840), where General Carlist Cabrera and other hardliners refused to surrender until General Espartero captured Morella, the main Carlist stronghold in the Levant. The remaining Carlists followed their king into exile in France.
Impact of the War
The war had several significant consequences. First, the Elizabethan monarchy, needing support, embraced liberalism. Second, the military began to play a larger role in Spanish political life (pronunciamientos). Economically, the war’s substantial costs forced liberal politicians to raise funds through extensive disentailment (Desamortización de Mendizábal).