The Carlist Wars: A 19th-Century Spanish Conflict

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Regime in Opposition to Deliver It: The Carlist Wars and the Foral Question

The First Carlist War (1833-1839)

The government acceded very strongly to deliver it. Maria Cristina saw an oppositional, anti-liberal traditionalist group, the Carlists, gathered around the *Infante* Don Carlos, Count of Molina (brother of Fernando VII). The Carlists accepted that bringing them went against the way of thinking of the Spanish people, and additionally, they identified the new industries (machinery) with low-quality work. Part of the clergy and the current state supported the *medio* (which had disappeared in the 10th century and the first fruits), as well as the lower nobility, with the objective (among others) of obtaining charges at birth. Their motto was "God, Country, and King" (to which they then added privileges).

The First Carlist War began with a series of military pronouncements that would start a civil war in Spain, the so-called First Carlist War (which would be followed by two more in different phases).

The First Carlist War started with uprisings in Vizcaya and Navarra and can be divided into three phases:

First Phase (1833-1835)

Don Carlos sought to reach the capital. Initially, the Carlists did not have a regular army, so they organized into guerilla units (thanks to popular support, especially in the north). Prussia, Austria, and Russia had guaranteed support for the *Infante*, but when the first state obtained a capital, it really began to back him. Don Carlos sent his most brilliant general, Zumalacárregui, to take Bilbao, a nearly impossible task. The Carlist army (about 25,000 men) would lose the battle, and Zumalacárregui would die, depriving Carlism of one of its principal and most respected leaders. Meanwhile, General Cabrera unified the Carlists in Aragon and Catalonia.

Second Phase (1835-1837)

This phase was characterized by military expeditions. The Carlist capital was set at Morella (in the area of *Maestrazgo*), while General Gómez led an expedition throughout Spain, seeking financial support. The Liberals (who received international support from England, France, and Portugal) maintained the defense of Bilbao. General Espartero achieved victory for the Liberal troops in Luchana (1836), ending the siege of the city. On the other hand, Don Carlos initiated the first expedition toward Madrid, although they would only reach Guadalajara, as Gómez was hoping for a larger army. However, this allowed the Liberals to design a plan and defeat the Carlists, forcing them to retreat north.

Third and Final Phase (1837-1839)

The Liberal victory was achieved, leading to a confrontation and division in the Carlist group. On one side were the *transaccionistas*, under General Maroto, who favored reaching an agreement with the Liberals. This would become a reality with the signing of the Convention of Vergara (1839) between General Maroto and the Liberal General Espartero. The agreement established the terms of negotiation to maintain the privileges in the Basque provinces and Navarra. On the other hand, the hardliners under General Cabrera (closer to Don Carlos and supported by a radical peasant base) were supportive of continuing a war that was already lost. However, confined to the Maestrazgo area, they would finally be defeated with the capture of Morella (1840).

The Second and Third Carlist Wars

In 1846, there would be a Second Carlist War, which began with *matiners* (early risers) of Carlist uprisings in Catalonia. However, it did not get very far, ending with the Carlist defeat in 1849. Still, it showed the strong opposition to Liberalism in northwest Spain and in areas with a *foral* tradition (Navarra and the current Basque Country).

Later, in 1873, a Third Carlist War would begin with an uprising in Vizcaya (during the short reign of Amadeo I), spanning areas of Navarra and Catalonia. They had the hope of placing Charles VII on the throne after the disappearance of Isabel II from the political landscape. But again, Carlism ultimately lost the war in 1875, becoming a permanent source of instability.

The Foral Question

The foral question reached its peak after the Convention of Vergara (1839), which included a vague promise of maintaining the privileges of Vizcaya and Navarra. But in 1841, Navarra lost its customs, tax privileges, exemptions, military, and self-government. In return, they got a tax system with benefits: the payment of an annual quota to the Treasury. Vizcaya and Álava also lost their boards and customs. It was called the *Pase Foral*, a former law of the courts and municipal institutions that are due but not enforced and are delayed but not suspended by the provisions of the central government. However, the Basques were exempt from conscription. It was also advantageous for the Basque population's annual contribution to the state, the so-called Economic Agreement (1846).

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