Mendizabal’s Disentailment in Spain (1836)
Mendizabal’s Disentailment
Historical Context
This text is a historical, first-level document—specifically, a letter addressed to the Regent Queen Maria Cristina, outlining the rationale and anticipated benefits of the disentailment. Published in the Gaceta de Madrid, it was authored by Mendizabal, a liberal progressive minister, in 1836, during the two-year progressive period of Maria Cristina’s regency.
The Political Landscape After Ferdinand VII
Following the death of Ferdinand VII, Spain was divided into two opposing factions: the Isabelines, supporting Ferdinand VII’s daughter Isabella II, and the Carlists, favoring Carlos Maria Isidro, Ferdinand’s brother. Maria Cristina, Isabella’s mother, assumed the regency while Isabella was a minor. Although not ideologically aligned with them, she allied with the liberals to maintain her daughter’s claim to the throne, as Ferdinand had intended. With the assistance of Martinez de la Rosa, a liberal government was formed to counter the Carlist insurrection. Upon Isabella’s ascension to the crown, the Spanish government began to establish a liberal state.
Within the liberal camp, two main parties existed: the moderates and the progressives. Key differences separated them:
- Suffrage: Progressives advocated for a broader suffrage.
- Military: Moderates preferred compulsory military service.
- Election of Authorities: Moderates favored centralized elections in Madrid, while progressives preferred local elections.
- Legislative Power: Moderates supported a bicameral legislature (Congress and Senate), while progressives favored a unicameral system (Deputies Congress).
Despite these differences, they shared common ground, such as supporting a constitutional monarchy.
The Agrarian Problem
During this period, Spain’s population was growing. As land was the primary source of food, more land was needed for cultivation. However, peasants did not own the land they worked, being subject to the conditions imposed by the nobility. Furthermore, agricultural techniques were outdated, hindering production increases. Compounding the issue, upon the death of wealthy landowners, their lands were often bequeathed to the Church, resulting in the Church accumulating vast amounts of entailed land.
Mendizabal’s Proposal and its Consequences
This is the core reason why Mendizabal, in his letter, proposed the disentailment of these lands through public auctions, aiming to generate revenue. This law was intended to address Spain’s fundamental problem of low agricultural production and widespread hunger. It also aimed to modernize the country by improving infrastructure and repaying public debt. However, the law did not achieve its intended success. Because the lands were sold at public auction, only members of the nobility and the bourgeoisie could afford to purchase them. Consequently, peasants remained under the control of the wealthy, discouraging innovation in agricultural practices, as the rich landowners lacked incentive.
Impact on the State and the Church
Nevertheless, the state did benefit from the land sales, acquiring significant funds to address pressing issues. The bourgeoisie also gained land, blurring the lines between them and the nobility. Politically, the Church was deeply angered by the liberal government’s actions, as their holdings had previously been considered untouchable. This led the Church to support the Carlist (absolutist) cause, bolstering the Carlists due to the Church’s considerable influence on the population. As a result, relations between the Church and the State were severed.