Spain’s Tumultuous 19th Century: Absolutism, Liberalism, and Revolution
Spain’s Tumultuous 19th Century: Absolutism vs. Liberalism
Ferdinand VII and the 1812 Constitution
While Ferdinand VII was imprisoned in France, the Spanish people drafted the Constitution of 1812, limiting the king’s power and ending the Old Regime. However, this constitution divided Spain. Absolutists, the Church, and much of the populace opposed it, creating a rift between liberals and absolutists.
Ferdinand’s Return and the Manifesto of the Persians
Upon his release in 1814, Ferdinand VII arrived in Valencia and was met by absolutist supporters who presented him with the Manifesto of the Persians, urging him to restore the old regime. Ferdinand promptly declared the 1812 Constitution invalid and reinstated old institutions, including the Inquisition.
Discontent and Uprisings
Ferdinand’s attempt to revert to enlightened despotism satisfied neither absolutists nor liberals. Liberal discontent in the army led to numerous uprisings, most of which failed.
The Constitutional Triennium (1820-1823)
In 1820, Colonel Rafael de Riego’s uprising in support of the 1812 Constitution gained traction, forcing Ferdinand VII to swear allegiance to it. This ushered in the Constitutional Triennium, a period marked by political instability.
The Triennium faced opposition from the king, who sought foreign intervention, and from absolutist guerillas. The liberals themselves fractured into moderates and radicals, further complicating the political landscape.
The Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis and the Ominous Decade
Fearing the spread of revolution, the Holy Alliance authorized France to send an army into Spain. The French intervention ended the Triennium, restoring Ferdinand VII to absolute power and initiating the Ominous Decade (1823-1833).
This decade saw a brutal crackdown on liberals, though the absolutist regime gradually softened, incorporating some modernization efforts. Disappointed radical absolutists, supporting Ferdinand’s brother Carlos, formed a party.
Succession Crisis and the Carlist Wars
The birth of Ferdinand’s daughter, Isabel, in 1830 sparked a succession crisis. Supporters of Don Carlos, the previous heir, clashed with supporters of Maria Cristina and Isabel. The queen sought support from liberals.
The legal complexities surrounding the succession, with conflicting laws regarding female inheritance, fueled the dispute. Upon Ferdinand’s death in 1833, Isabel was recognized as heir, with her mother as regent. The Carlists, rejecting this outcome, initiated the Carlist Wars.