Liberalism, Conservatism, and Carlist Wars in Spain
Liberalism and Conservatism in Spain (1834-1874)
From 1833 to 1874, three events of great importance occurred in Spain. These related events were:
- The introduction of the parliamentary constitutional liberal state and the final disappearance of the Old Regime’s political system.
- The emergence of Carlism, representing resistance, by force of arms, to any political change.
- The start of the development of capitalism in Spain, and the completion of the disentailment process.
The death of King Ferdinand VII in 1833 triggered a civil war. Ferdinand’s relationship with Maria Cristina de Borbon resulted in a daughter, Isabella. However, the Salic Law excluded Isabella from the throne. Upon the king’s death, his brother, Charles, claimed his rights to the throne after being exiled to Portugal for refusing to recognize his niece as heir. He was supported by armed uprisings that culminated in the First Carlist War (1833-1840). Carlism’s defenders were landowners, rural notables, and much of the clergy.
Carlism emerged as a desperate attempt at resistance by groups adversely affected by the political and socioeconomic changes that were to be imposed. The result was a civil war in which, at the first clash, the liberals (Isabelinos) were victorious, forcing Charles to flee to France. The Carlist ideology boils down to “God, Country, and King,” characterized by:
- Opposition to liberal reforms.
- Defense of the Ancient Regime.
- Catholic traditionalism and defense of the Church’s interests.
- Defense of Basque and Navarrese regional fueros (charters).
The Age of Regency (1833-1843)
Ferdinand VII’s death marked the beginning of a new phase in Spain’s modern history, characterized by two separate and parallel processes:
- The consolidation of liberalism.
- The Carlist War, which was the last attempt at resistance by the absolutists.
The Constitution requires two general requirements to be regent: to be of legal age and Spanish. There are two cases in our Constitution for the legitimacy of the Regency: regency due to minority and regency due to disqualification. The first occurs in the case of the king’s minority, and is exercised by “the father or mother of the King, and failing that, the older relative nearest in succession to the Crown.” In the case of regency by disqualification, it shall be exercised by the Crown Prince if of legal age. If the Crown Prince is a minor, the Regency will be temporarily served in the manner provided for the minority. The constitution establishes an extra dative: “if no person is entitled to assume the Regency, it shall be appointed by the Cortes Generales” and is composed of one, three, or five persons.
Reign of Isabella II (1843-1868)
Upon the death of Ferdinand VII on September 29, 1833, his wife, Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, assumed the regency with the support of liberals and on behalf of her daughter and future queen, Isabella II. The conflict with his brother, Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, who aspired to the throne by virtue of an alleged effect of the Salic Law (since repealed by Charles IV and Ferdinand VII himself), led the country into the First Carlist War.
Upon reaching adulthood by resolution of the Parliament, following the failure of Espartero’s Regency in 1843, several periods followed, characterized by attempts at modernization. However, internal tensions between liberals continued to exert pressure, as did supporters of absolutism on moderate governments. These governments were heavily influenced by the military. The ultimate failure, due to economic difficulties and the decline of the Liberal Union, led Spain to the experience of the Democratic Sexenio (Six Years).