18th and 19th Century Spanish Political Terms Defined

Enlightened Despotism

Enlightened Despotism is the name given to the form of government of some political regimes in the late 18th century. It combines the absolute power of monarchs with a desire for reform of the economy and society. Enlightened Despotism is summarized in the phrase "Everything for the people, but without the people".

Guerrilla Warfare

Guerrilla is a method of fighting against the French, born in 1809. It prevented the conquest and control of the territory, limiting itself to systematically harassing the enemy by attacking convoys and stragglers. It was structured around small groups or gangs and came to have nearly 55,000 members in 1811.

Juntas

Juntas are groups of people who come together with the objective of taking over the reins of power at a specific time. In Spain, coinciding with the beginning of the War of Independence in 1808, Juntas began to emerge in many provinces. They were eventually coordinated by a Supreme Central Junta that moved its headquarters from Aranjuez to Cadiz.

National Militia

The National Militia was an armed force of civilians whose aim was to safeguard the constitutional order established in 1812. Recruited among men 30 to 50 years old, it depended on local councils, and its scope was provincial.

Constitutional Monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy is a form of government in which the king or queen are not holders of sovereignty. Instead, sovereignty lies with the nation, which delegates that sovereignty to a representative house that can control royal power.

Family Pacts

Family Pacts is the name given to the military alliances agreed to by the Bourbons of France and Spain during the 18th century to counter British power in Europe and America. Three pacts were signed: two with Philip V (1733 and 1743) and the third with Charles III (1761).

Moderate Party

The Moderate Party was a political group formed by liberals with conservative leanings. They defended the balance of power between the courts and the Crown, shared sovereignty, and created a political system in which the king was a moderating element with decisive direction. Its leadership was in the hands of General Narvaez.

Progressive Party

The Progressive Party was a political group formed by liberals with radical leanings. They accepted the monarchy but argued that national sovereignty resided in Parliament, elected by popular vote. They guaranteed individual rights and were anticlerical. Their leadership fell into the hands of General Espartero.