Reign of Elizabeth II: Liberalism and Carlist Wars
The Reign of Elizabeth II and the Definitive Establishment of Liberalism in Spain
The reign of Elizabeth II marked the definitive establishment of liberalism in Spain. It happened during a transition from absolutist reformism (ministerial despotism) to a system controlled by moderates. The new liberal system benefited the economic oligarchies. The change developed in the midst of a civil war: the First Carlist War, or the Seven Years’ War, fought between liberals and absolutists.
Political Changes and Ideological Clashes
The absolutist reign of Elizabeth II was very complex. Regarding politics, there were changes amidst clashes between the liberals, divided since 1837 into moderates and progressives.
The Moderates were old collaborators of Ferdinand VII, including officials. Among them, leaders like Donoso Cortés and Narváez stand out. Known as “Doceañistas,” they wanted shared sovereignty, as proposed by Jovellanos, between the king and the legitimate aristocracy. They favored restricted and census suffrage, where only the upper class could vote. Their social base was the high bourgeoisie, high nobility, and army commanders. They wanted a centralized country, restriction of the freedom of the press, and economic protectionism.
The Progressives were integrated by the “Exaltados” (radicals) of the 1820s, and later included new liberals. Among them, leaders like Mendizábal, Espartero, and Madoz stand out. They wanted national sovereignty, establishing universal suffrage, connecting with the middle class and urban populations through the national militia, and extending autonomy to municipalities. Their social base was in the small bourgeoisie. They wanted economic liberalism, the division of powers, individual rights, the right to vote, the appearance of political parties, the extension of public instruction, and the modernization of the administration.
Economic and Social Transformations
In terms of the economy and society, the high bourgeoisie allied with the high nobility, who were enriched by the abolition of feudalism and ecclesiastical and municipal land disentailment. The guilds were eliminated, and the industrialization process began. The non-liberal capitalist system was introduced in Spain, as in the rest of Contemporary Europe, but it marginalized workers and peasants.
The Liberal Opposition: The Carlist Wars
The age of minority of Isabella II began with the First Carlist War (1833-1840), a conflict that pitted liberals against absolutists. The causes were:
- The Inheritance Question: The Carlists did not recognize Isabella II as queen, nor her mother Maria Christina as regent during her minority. They believed only Charles V had the right to be king, invoking the Salic Law.
- Ideological Confrontation: The Carlists had consistently opposed the implementation of liberalism and its elements. Carlism defended the rights of the Ancien Régime, while the liberals supported Isabella II and a constitutional monarchy. The liberals were anticlerical, had their greatest support in the cities, and defended a centralist state.
Factions in the Conflict
- Carlist Side: Supported by rural areas (Catalonia, Basque Country, Navarre, and parts of Valencia), the lower clergy, monastic clergy, and part of the discontented nobility and army officers. They received international support from Austria, Prussia, Russia, and the Papal States.
- Liberal Side: Supported by most cities, the industrial bourgeoisie, urban workers, part of the high clergy and nobility, and most of the army. They received international support from France, England, and Portugal.
Characteristics and Phases of the War
It was a very brutal war, with positions becoming increasingly radicalized over time. The only real army was the liberal one, while the Carlists acted through guerrilla warfare.
First Phase (1833-1835):
Formation of the Basque-Navarre focus of the Carlist insurrection. The Carlists tried to provoke a civil war, and they succeeded. The Isabelinos (liberals) achieved important victories in the Basque Country and Navarre. Due to a lack of funds to crush Carlism, alternative situations arose. The Carlists needed to demonstrate their capacity and took Bilbao. Zumalacárregui died of wounds in 1835, while Espartero and Fernández de Córdoba obtained victories for the liberal side.