Spanish Liberal Triennium and Ominous Decade (1820-1833)
Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)
Colonel Rafael del Riego’s rebellion in Andalusia, proclaiming the Constitution of 1812, marked the beginning of the Liberal Triennium. The army’s inaction, liberal activism in major cities, and peasant neutrality compelled King Ferdinand VII to accept the Constitution on March 10th. A new government was formed, amnesty declared, and elections called.
The Cadiz reforms were largely reinstated, including:
- Freedom of industry
- Abolition of guilds
- Suppression of jurisdictional domains and primogeniture
- Sale of monastery lands
Furthermore, the government reduced tithes, reformed the tax system, penal code, and army. Trade and industry were liberalized by removing barriers to the free movement of goods, fostering the growth of the bourgeoisie. The country’s political and administrative systems were modernized, with the establishment of councils, elected deputies, and the National Militia.
However, these reforms faced opposition from the monarchy and various sectors of society. Ferdinand VII, forced to accept the new regime, sought to undermine it. Economic protectionism favored agriculture, and the abolition of jurisdictional domains caused discontent among farmers who faced eviction threats. The traditional elite and the Church, harmed by the abolition of tithes and sale of monastic goods, also opposed the liberal government.
Tensions arose within the Liberals themselves, divided between moderates and those advocating radical reforms. This internal division, coupled with opposition from the monarchy, the Church, and farmers, ultimately led to the collapse of the Liberal Triennium.
Ominous Decade (1823-1833)
The Ominous Decade refers to the period following the restoration of Ferdinand VII’s absolute power, aided by the French intervention of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis. It was characterized by severe repression of liberals, eased only by the presence of French troops in some areas.
Ferdinand VII’s fourth marriage to Maria Cristina of Naples produced Isabella (1830), declared his successor. This angered the king’s brother, Carlos Maria Isidro, a staunch absolutist, who prepared to seize power upon Ferdinand’s death. Recognizing the need for liberal support, Maria Cristina offered amnesty and future government participation to secure the throne for Isabella.
The Ominous Decade witnessed a repressive policy, including systematic purges, a reign of terror under the Ministry of Universal Faith, and economic hardship. However, moderate sectors of the financial and industrial bourgeoisie in Madrid and Barcelona received some protectionist measures.
The succession crisis deepened the conflict. The Salic Law, preventing female inheritance, was initially reinstated but later overturned in 1832 to favor Isabella. This dynastic conflict reflected a broader struggle between the old order and the forces of liberalism. Carlos Maria Isidro rallied support from absolutists and those opposed to liberal reforms, while Maria Cristina sought the backing of liberal factions to secure her daughter’s claim to the throne.
Upon Ferdinand VII’s death in 1833, he confirmed Isabella as his heir. Carlos was proclaimed king by his supporters, triggering an absolutist insurrection in northern Spain and Catalonia. This marked the beginning of the First Carlist War.