19th Century Spain: History, Politics, and Romanticism
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19th Century Spanish History
The Absolutist Period (Early 19th Century)
At the beginning of the century, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his army invaded Spain. The Spanish reacted, and Spain became the scene of the War of Independence, which ended with the expulsion of the French. During the war, the Constitution of 1812 was drafted in Cadiz. This caused confrontations between liberals and absolutists led by Ferdinand VII.
The Liberal Period
After the death of Ferdinand VII, liberals sided with his daughter Isabella, confronting those who supported King Ferdinand VII's brother Carlos, who favored absolutism. These clashes were called the Carlist Wars. The Liberals won, implementing reforms such as land redistribution and economic improvements.
Revolutionary Period and Restoration
Spain had been stalled due to the Carlist Wars, with negligible progress. There was general dissatisfaction among citizens. The constant clashes between liberals and conservatives created political instability. In September 1868, a revolution was triggered that ended the reign of Isabella II.
The proclamation of Amadeus of Savoy as the new king failed very soon after he left the country in 1873. Nor did the proclamation of the First Republic quell the fighting. The situation remained unchanged until 1874, when Isabella II's son, Alfonso XII, was appointed King of Spain; this period is known as the Restoration.
The Disaster of 1898
The century closed with a new disaster. In 1898, the Spanish colonies of Cuba and the Philippines revolted. After a painful war, Spain lost its last possessions in America.
Spanish Romanticism
Characteristics of Romanticism
- Rebellion against rules
- Political, moral, and artistic freedom
- Idealistic attitude
- Despair and disappointment
- In the 18th century, true beauty was equated with truth; in Romanticism, beauty is truth.
Key Romantic Themes
- Nature: Romanticism is totally identified with nature, often featuring wild landscapes, storms, and night scenes.
- The Distant and Exotic: A return to the Middle Ages and its legends.
- Revival of Popular Romances and Epic Legends: These serve as sources of inspiration for poetry and drama.
- Love: Love is idealized to the point of considering the woman as divine.
Notable Romantic Authors and Works
Duke of Rivas
- Work: Don Álvaro, or the Force of Destiny
- Characters: Don Álvaro, Doña Leonor
- Genre: Drama
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: Tragic ending, mixes verse with prose, poems of varying length, tragic-comical mix, breaks traditional rules.
José Zorrilla
- Work: Don Juan Tenorio
- Characters: Don Juan, Doña Inés
- Genre: Drama
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: Similar to Don Álvaro (tragic ending, mixed verse/prose, etc.).
José de Espronceda
- Work: The Pirate Song (La Canción del Pirata)
- Character: The Pirate
- Genre: Narrative Poetry
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: Predilection for octosyllabic verse, breaks with social norms, features marginalized characters.
Mariano José de Larra
- Work: Newspaper Articles (Artículos de Costumbres)
- Genre: Fiction (Costumbrismo)
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: Criticizes Spanish customs, politics, and society.
Rosalía de Castro
- Work: Follas Novas
- Genre: Lyric Poetry
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: Intimate poetry, written in Galician, evokes her homeland.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
- Work: Rimas
- Theme: Women (often)
- Genre: Lyric Poetry
- Movement: Romanticism
- Century: 19th Century
- Characteristics: 79 compositions, characterized by brevity, intimacy, and musicality; uses varied rhythms, concise language, and nature metaphors.