Key Historical Concepts and Figures of Spain

Tragic Week (1909)

The Tragic Week was a series of violent confrontations in Barcelona and other cities of Catalonia in July 1909. It began with the embarkation of reserve soldiers bound for the Moroccan War. The masses, protesting the war, attacked and burned churches and convents. The government declared a state of war and sent the army to suppress the uprising. The execution of the anarchist Francisco Ferrer Guardia led to the fall of Maura's government.

Ferdinand VII (1784-1833)

Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, was the son of Charles IV. His reign began with the occupation of Spain by the French army. Ferdinand and his father were exiled to France. Upon his return, he reinstated absolutism, suppressing the liberal reforms.

Cacique

Caciques were key figures in the social and political system of the Restoration period. They were local political bosses who helped landowners by influencing or coercing farmers to vote in a certain way, often using their influence within the administration and judicial system.

José Antonio Primo de Rivera (1903-1936)

José Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, founded the Spanish Falange, a fascist political group. He merged it with other groups of similar ideologies but was unsuccessful in the elections. In 1936, after the start of the Spanish Civil War, he was arrested, transferred to Alicante, and executed in November 1936.

Stabilization Plan of 1959

The Stabilization Plan of 1959 represented a major change in the Spanish economy during the Franco regime. It averted Spain's impending bankruptcy and stabilized public finances by reducing state expenses. It also established a more realistic value for the peseta, which favored exports.

Battle of the Ebro (1938)

The Battle of the Ebro was the most important battle of the Spanish Civil War. In July 1938, the Republican army crossed the Ebro River and surprised their enemies, conquering a strip of land on the other side. After a swift reaction, Franco's forces broke the Republican army. By November 1938, the defeated remnants of the Republican forces returned to their starting base.

Bravo Murillo (1803-1873)

Bravo Murillo was a Spanish politician born in Fregenal de la Sierra (Badajoz). A lawyer by training, he entered politics as a deputy for the Moderate Party. He conspired against General Espartero and had to flee to France. Upon his return to Spain a few years later, he was named president of the government, a position he held until his fall from power in 1852.

Disentailment

Disentailment refers to the process by which assets that were previously amortized (inalienable) became free. This was one of the key processes carried out during the liberal land reform, allowing the properties of the Church and local municipalities to become private property through public auction.

Carlism

Carlists were the supporters of Carlos, Count of Molina, brother of Ferdinand VII. In its first phase, Carlism defended the maintenance of the absolute power of the king. Carlism found significant support in the Basque provinces and was always a conservative and counterrevolutionary movement.