Carlist Wars: Spain's 19th-Century Succession Crisis

The Carlist Wars (1833-1875): Liberal Opposition

The Succession Problem

In the later years of Ferdinand VII's life, a succession crisis emerged. In October 1830, his fourth wife, Maria Cristina de Borbón, gave birth to Isabella II. Anticipating the possibility of a female heir, Ferdinand VII approved the Pragmatic Sanction, abolishing the Salic Law of 1713, which prevented women from inheriting the throne. This act disinherited Carlos María Isidro, the king's brother and previous heir. Carlos refused to recognize his niece's right to the throne.

The First Carlist War (1833-1839)

Following Ferdinand VII's death in September 1833, armed uprisings supporting Carlos began, initiating a seven-year civil war. This conflict reflected a deep political and social division within Spain.

• The Elizabethan side, supporting Isabella II, included high-ranking members of the army, church, and state, along with Liberals who saw the potential for their ideals to triumph.
• The Carlist faction comprised those opposing the liberal revolution: minor nobility, some lower clergy, and many farmers, particularly in areas influenced by the Church. They associated liberalism with increased taxes and supported Carlos's claims, advocating for absolutism and immobility.

During Ferdinand VII's reign, Carlos had already gathered support from the "apostólicos," the most intransigent absolutists.

Carlism, the movement supporting Carlos de Borbón, gained significant influence in Navarre, the Basque Country, areas north of the Ebro River, and Maestrazgo (provinces of Castellón and Teruel). This geographical distribution reflected a rural-urban conflict. Notably, cities like Bilbao, Pamplona, and San Sebastián remained liberal throughout the conflict.

The Carlist ideological agenda can be summarized by the motto: "God, Country, Fueros (Charters), King." Its main elements were:

• Opposition to radical liberal reforms.
• Immobilism.
• Protection of absolute monarchy.
• Catholic Traditionalism and defense of the Church's interests.
• Defense of the Basque-Navarrese charters, threatened by the centralist reforms of the liberals. These charters included:
  • Self-government and justice institutions.
  • Tax exemptions.
  • Exemptions from military conscription.

Key Figures and the End of the War

The war featured two prominent military leaders: the Carlist Zumalacárregui, who died during the siege of Bilbao in 1835, and the liberal Espartero. After initial uncertainty, Carlist defeats became consistent from 1837 onward, leading Carlos to flee to France.

The war concluded with the Convention of Vergara (1839), also known as the "Embrace of Vergara." This agreement, signed by Espartero and Maroto (the principal Carlist leader after Zumalacárregui's death), recognized the military ranks of Carlist soldiers and included a vague promise to respect the Basque-Navarrese charters. In practice, some provincial privileges were maintained while others were eliminated.