The Carlist Wars: Spain's Internal Conflicts and State Formation

The Carlist Wars: Spain's Defining 19th-Century Conflicts

These wars explain much about the problems associated with state building in modern Spain. They were not simply dynastic struggles; there were also conflicts between the Carlists (supporters of the Old Regime) and the Isabelines (in favor of liberal constitutionalism). Moreover, they can also be considered a war between high-class citizens (urban populations) and poor peasants (rural segments).

The First Carlist War (1833-1840)

The end of Ferdinand VII's regency allowed Mª Cristina to ascend to the throne until Isabella II could reign the country. This was possible due to the elimination of the Salic Law, which did not allow women to inherit the throne, and the promulgation of the Pragmatic Sanction by Ferdinand VII to maintain liberalism. Ferdinand VII's brother, Don Carlos María Isidro, did not accept this and opposed the Isabelines, thus initiating the First Carlist War. Don Carlos championed the Basque Fueros at a time when liberalism sought to eliminate them. The main figures of this war were General Espartero (the leader of the liberals) and Zumalakarregi (the leader of the absolutists).

Carlists knew about the difficult orography of the Basque Country, so they employed guerrilla tactics, leading to liberal defeats, such as in Amezkoa (Navarre). Don Carlos gained control of the Basque territories, but not the cities, as they were in favor of liberalism. Consequently, the Carlists' new aim was to conquer these urban centers. Carlos wanted to take Bilbao, while Zumalakarregi planned to attack Madrid to obtain international recognition and military support. In 1835, he laid siege to the city but was wounded and died. Subsequently, Espartero managed to lift the siege.

Neither group managed to gain decisive control, and exhausted, they believed an agreement was the only way forward. General Muñagorri (a liberal) presented the "Peace and Fueros" proposal in 1838 to end the war. However, this proposal was not accepted by Álava and Navarre.

Finally, General Maroto (who replaced Zumalakarregi) met with the liberal General Espartero. They signed the Vergara Agreement in 1839, bringing an end to the First Carlist War. According to this agreement, Carlists were to recognize Isabella II as queen, and in exchange, liberals committed to maintaining the Fueros of the Basque Territories.

Although the Fueros were initially maintained, as a consequence of the First Carlist War, several reforms concerning them were proposed. For instance, on October 25, a law enacted by Espartero limited the Fueros, forcing them to adapt to the Spanish Constitution of 1837. The Navarrese renounced them, and soon their foral regime ended. However, Gipuzkoa, Biscay, and Álava unified their positions and presented a proposal for the Fueros in Madrid.