The Reign of Isabella II: 1833-1868 | Spanish Monarchy
The Reign of Isabella II (1833-1868)
The Regency of Maria Cristina of Naples (1833-1840)
Upon Fernando VII’s death in 1833, Maria Cristina became Regent. To secure the monarchy for her daughter, Isabella, she embraced liberalism. This was opposed by the king’s brother, Infante Carlos, sparking the First Carlist War between the Carlists (absolutists) and the Isabellists (liberals).
The regency faced two challenges: the Carlist War and establishing the liberal regime. The war, lasting until 1840, saw the Carlists (supported by absolutists) initially acting in a disorganized manner, primarily in the Basque Country, Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia. This changed under General Zumalacárregui, who formed a Carlist army. After his death, the Carlists attempted to take Madrid in 1837 but failed, notably during the siege of Bilbao, where General Espartero’s defense was crucial.
Liberal victories divided the Carlists. General Maroto signed the Convention of Vergara with Espartero in August 1839. Fighting continued under General Cabrera in the Maestrazgo region. Prime Minister Cea Bermúdez, representing enlightened absolutism, aimed for broad reforms favoring liberalism without political changes. With the war’s end, liberals demanded a new constitution, leading to Bermúdez’s resignation and the appointment of the moderate liberal Martínez de la Rosa. His failure to reflect principles like national sovereignty angered both progressive and moderate liberals, resulting in his replacement by Calatrava, who introduced a new constitution in 1837, a compromise between the 1812 Constitution and the Royal Statute.
Between 1837 and 1840, several moderate and progressive governments rose and fell, with significant military involvement. In 1840, a dispute over mayoral appointments led to Maria Cristina’s abdication and exile to France.
The Regency of Espartero (1840-1844)
The courts appointed General Baldomero Espartero, a progressive, as Regent. His rule faced numerous problems. Isabella’s education was poorly managed, isolating her from her previous mentors and exposing her only to progressives. Even some progressives opposed Espartero. An uprising led to his exile, with General Narváez entering Madrid victoriously in July 1843.
The Moderate Decade (1844-1854)
With the power vacuum, Isabella II was declared of age at just 13. The moderates, comprising nobility, bourgeoisie, and upper-middle class, governed for ten years. They established the Civil Guard, standardized weights and measures, implemented a new tax system, and enacted a new penal code. Mining and agriculture developed, attracting foreign investment, though speculation (e.g., the Marquis of Salamanca) caused controversy. The progressive party split, giving rise to the democratic party, which advocated for universal suffrage, the right to strike, and other social and individual rights.
The Progressive Biennium (1854-1856)
Queen’s favoritism toward the moderates caused severe discomfort even among themselves and ended with The Vicálvaro. Queen Elizabeth as head of government proposed Espartero progressive sector. The economic situation was bad and paves the way for disorders including the first general strike in Spain which was in Barcelona. Impulse developing sectors such as mining, central railway, public works and the financial system. Seeking international recognition as the war began in Morocco.
Balance of the reign of Isabel II
Was positive to the extent that the structures fall of the ancien regime built the Liberal State. The press became big business.
Social transformations created many situations of poverty and began the struggle for fundamental s