The Reign of Elizabeth II & the Carlist Wars (1833-1840)
The Reign of Elizabeth II and the Carlist Wars (1833-1840)
The Succession Crisis and the Rise of Carlism
In 1830, the birth of Isabella, daughter of King Ferdinand VII, sparked a succession crisis. The Salic Law, introduced by Philip V, prevented female rulers. However, Ferdinand VII, influenced by his wife Maria Cristina, repealed the law with the Pragmatic Sanction, paving the way for Isabella to inherit the throne. This angered the ultraconservative Carlists, who supported Ferdinand’s brother, Carlos María Isidro.
This clash represented a struggle between opposing societal models. The Carlists favored the Old Regime, while Maria Cristina, appointed regent during Ferdinand’s illness, sought support from liberals and formed a reformist government.
The First Carlist War (1833-1840)
Upon Ferdinand VII’s death in 1833, he reaffirmed Isabella as his heir. Simultaneously, Don Carlos proclaimed himself king, initiating an absolutist uprising in northern Spain and Catalonia, thus beginning the First Carlist War. The Carlists, under the motto “God, Country, and King,” defended Don Carlos’s claim, absolute monarchy, the Old Regime, and regional autonomy.
Carlist supporters included clergy, landowners, and peasants in the Basque Country, Navarre, Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia. These groups were wary of liberal reforms, fearing land eviction and new taxes. They also saw the Church as a defender of traditional society.
Isabella’s supporters initially included some nobles, officials, and clergy. However, to broaden her base and counter the Carlists, she had to concede to liberal demands for an end to absolutism and the Old Regime.
The Course of the War
The Carlists initially employed guerilla tactics, focusing on mountainous regions of Navarre and the Basque Country. They also had a presence in northern Castellón, Aragon, the Pyrenees, and Catalonia. Internationally, Don Carlos received support from absolutist powers like Russia, Prussia, and Austria, while Isabella II was backed by Britain, France, and Portugal.
The war unfolded in two phases:
- Phase 1 (1833-1835): Carlist successes in the north, but no major cities were captured. General Zumalacárregui organized a Carlist army, achieving victories but ultimately dying during the siege of Bilbao.
- Phase 2 (1836-1840): The tide turned in favor of the liberals after General Espartero’s victory at Luchana (1836), lifting the siege of Bilbao. The Carlists, lacking resources, launched expeditions, including the Royal Expedition of 1837, which marched towards Madrid but failed to capture the capital.
Internal divisions within Carlism arose between those favoring negotiation and hardliners. General Maroto, a proponent of negotiation, signed the Convention of Vergara (1839) with General Espartero. This agreement preserved regional jurisdictions in the Basque provinces and Navarre and integrated Carlist officers into the royal army. Only Ramon Cabrera continued resistance in the Maestrazgo region until his defeat in 1840.