Ferdinand VII & Isabella II: A History of 19th Century Spain

Ferdinand VII: The Restoration of Absolutism (1813-1833)

Ferdinand returned to Spain in 1814. His reign is divided into three phases:

1. Six Years of Absolutism (1814-1820):

   Upon his return, Ferdinand sought to establish an absolute monarchy, reverting to the Ancien Régime. He annulled the constitution and reversed the Cortes' reforms.

2. Liberal Triennium (1820-1823):

   A successful pronunciamiento forced Ferdinand to reinstate the constitution. Liberals formed the national militia, composed of liberal volunteers, to defend it. Ferdinand appealed to the Holy Alliance for help in restoring absolutism.

3. Ominous Decades (1823-1833):

   The first crisis emerged in 1823 when the king rejected financial reforms, fearing the loss of support from those who would have to pay taxes. A major crisis arose in 1830 with the birth of his daughter, Isabella. He enacted the Pragmatic Sanction, defying the Salic Law to allow his daughter to inherit the throne, against the wishes of many supporters who favored his brother, Carlos Maria Isidro.

Isabella II and the Building of a Liberal State (1833-1868)

Isabella II's reign is divided into five phases:

1. Regency of Maria Christina (1833-1840):

   During the regency of Isabella's mother, two key events occurred: Mendizábal's confiscation of Church lands (desamortización), and the drafting of the 1837 Constitution.

2. Regency of Espartero (1840-1843):

   The introduction of free trade marked this period. Although of age, Isabella II did not assume the throne until later.

3. Moderate Decade (1843-1854):

   Under the leadership of Narvaez, head of the moderate parties and a close confidant of Isabella II, a new constitution was drafted in 1845.

4. Bienium (1854-1856):

   A successful pronunciamiento brought progressives to power, resulting in the passage of the Railway Law and Madoz's desamortización (confiscation).

5. Decline of the System (1856-1868):

   A liberal unionist government led by O'Donnell faced growing opposition from democrats and republicans, culminating in the revolution known as “La Gloriosa.”