Ferdinand VII's Reign: Absolutism and Liberalism in Spain

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Ferdinand VII's Reign: A Struggle Between Absolutism and Liberalism

The War of Independence against Napoleon presented Spain with the opportunity to experience firsthand the political developments taking place in Europe. While the Spanish people united to defeat the French invaders, the French presence also introduced revolutionary ideas and precipitated the formation of a liberal government in Cadiz. However, the majority of the Spanish populace remained largely unaware of these new liberal ideas. This became evident when the desired prince, Ferdinand VII, repealed the policies of the Cortes of Cadiz and restored a reactionary form of absolutism.

In 1814, Ferdinand VII returned to Spain and ruled until his death in 1833. After overriding the Constitution of 1812, he used all means at his disposal to act as an absolute monarch, fiercely opposing the liberals and the political system created in Cadiz. His reign can be divided into three distinct periods: two absolutist and one liberal.

The Absolutist Sexennium (1814-1820)

The first period, known as the Absolutist Sexennium, ended in 1820. Ferdinand VII's arrival was met with popular enthusiasm, except among liberals who demanded that he obey the decrees of Cadiz and the Constitution of 1812. Absolutists, however, argued that the king should regain his sovereignty and nullify all reforms. With the support of the clergy, nobles, and military leaders, Ferdinand VII declared the decrees of Cadiz and the 1812 Constitution void, restoring the institutions of the Ancien Régime. This provoked little opposition among the masses, who saw liberal reforms as attacks on religion and traditional customs.

The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)

Liberal forces, seeking to compel the king to accept the liberal system, resorted to the formation of secret societies, conspiracies, and pronunciamientos. A pronunciamiento was an army uprising advocating for the replacement of absolute monarchy with a liberal one based on the principles of the Constitution of Cadiz. One such pronunciamiento, led by Juan Diaz Porlier in A Coruña, was unsuccessful. However, Rafael del Riego's pronunciamiento in 1820 succeeded in restoring the Constitution of 1812, forcing Ferdinand VII to accept it.

This event marked the beginning of the second period of Ferdinand VII's reign, known as the Liberal Triennium. The liberal government revived legislation passed by the Cortes of Cadiz, including the Constitution, courts, elections based on indirect universal suffrage, freedom of the press, the formation of popular and provincial councils, the National Militia, and the abolition of the Inquisition. However, differences among liberals led to the emergence of two distinct factions: the Moderates and the Extremists, who fiercely competed for control of institutions. This division favored absolutist attempts to restore the old regime, with the support of Ferdinand VII, who never sincerely accepted the liberal constitution.

The Ominous Decade (1823-1833)

The liberal experiment was short-lived. The European powers of the Vienna Congress intervened in Spain, occupying the country with the army known as the Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis. Welcomed by Ferdinand VII, who was eager to restore absolutism, the king canceled the political work of the liberals, imposed repression, and reinstated absolutist policies. Liberalism would not return to power until the monarch's death.

Consequences of Ferdinand VII's Reign

Ferdinand VII's reign was marked by instability and a continuous power struggle between two antagonistic political positions: absolutism and liberalism. The consequences for Spain were profound:

  • Hatred and resentment among the Spanish people
  • Economic backwardness compared to the rest of Europe
  • Loss of the American colonies
  • Continuous intervention of the military in political life

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