19th Century Spain: War, Monarchy, and Romanticism

19th Century Spain: A Historical Overview

The nineteenth century began with Napoleon's invasion in 1808, sparking a popular uprising and the War of Independence (1808-1814). King Ferdinand VII returned after the war and restored absolute monarchy. Disputes between absolutists (supporters of the king's full powers) and liberals (defending national sovereignty and civil liberties) were constant.

Many intellectuals were exiled to Europe, leading to a period of cultural decline. Upon the king's death, returning émigrés significantly contributed to the rise of Romanticism in Spain. The Carlist War, fought between Charles (the king's brother) and Elizabeth II (the victor), resulted in the triumph of liberal thought, which then divided into moderate liberals and progressives.

In 1868, the Queen was overthrown, followed by the brief reign of Amadeo and the First Republic. The late nineteenth century saw the loss of the last colonies, including the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Illiteracy rates were as high as 70%.

Romanticism in Spain

Romanticism was a complex cultural movement that developed in Europe during the first half of the nineteenth century. It represented an ideological revolution. Originating in Germany and England in the late eighteenth century, precursors included the English poet Young and the German Goethe. Romanticism protested against the prevailing values and socio-political problems, championing freedom.

This new way of living and creating reflected a new attitude towards the problems of humanity.

Characteristics of Romanticism

• Individualism: The artist expresses their emotions with an exaggerated ego, viewing themselves as the center of the world and the intermediary between art and humanity.
• Cult of Freedom: Individualism proclaims the right to free speech and individual liberty against society. Social and artistic rules were rejected. However, this liberation came at a price: a deep feeling of emptiness and loneliness, leading to inner restlessness, pessimism, and constant dissatisfaction.
• Rebellion and Contradictions: The search for impossible happiness inevitably clashed with reality. Escape became necessary, leading romantics to look to the legendary past, exotic locales, or their own inner selves.
• Nationalism: Romantic nationalism proclaimed the importance of every country and region, celebrating their customs and traditional values.

Ideological Tendencies

1. Conservative: Seeking to restore traditional, religious, and patriotic values (e.g., Walter Scott in England, Chateaubriand in France, and the Duke of Rivas and Zorrilla in Spain).
2. Liberal: Embodying the most progressive and revolutionary values (e.g., Byron in England, and Larra and Espronceda in Spain).