Key Moments in 19th-Century Spain

Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)

Liberal Triennium: 1820-23. Ferdinand VII was forced to swear allegiance to the Constitution of 1812. However, the Holy Alliance intervened, sending the "Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis" army to restore royal absolutism.

Ominous Decade (1823-1833)

Ominous Decade: This period, from 1823 to 1833, is known for King Ferdinand VII's repression of liberals. A succession crisis arose as Ferdinand had only one daughter, Isabel. To allow her to reign, Fernando VII established the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830, a rule concerning state matters, such as succession. This action was opposed by absolutists, who supported Charles, the king's brother. Liberals defended Isabel, leading to the Carlist Wars.

The Republic (1873-1874)

The Republic: After a failed attempt at a democratic monarchy, the Republic was proclaimed. Republicans had organized due to the regime of freedoms that had begun. Although Spain remained a monarchy, the regime change was carried out urgently. However, problems arose from the outset: internal division among Republicans, the Third Carlist War, the War of Cuba, and the Cantonalist movement. A pronouncement in 1874 by General Martínez Campos ended the Republic and paved the way for the return of the Bourbons with Alfonso XII, son of Elizabeth II.

Political Corruption

Rigging: One of the practices that allowed voter fraud was adding or removing votes from the polls, according to the desired election result.

Cacique: An influence system in which electoral politics was based during the Spanish Restoration, allowing for the manipulation of voting outcomes.

Regency: A provisional government of a nation, led due to the minority, incapacity, or absence of the legitimate monarch.

Napoleonic Era

Napoleon dominated Europe. To isolate his enemy, England, he sought Spain's cooperation in conquering Portugal. However, Napoleon used this opportunity to install his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as king of Spain, securing France's southern border.

War of Independence (1808-1814)

The War of Independence began in 1808 with the Spanish population's uprising against the French army. The Mayor of Móstoles called to arms to aid Ferdinand VII, who was held by Napoleon. After a French crackdown, other Spanish cities revolted. From 1812, an Anglo-Hispanic army led by Wellington gained ground, eventually expelling the French in 1814. Ferdinand VII then recovered the throne.

Mutiny of Aranjuez (1808)

Mutiny of Aranjuez: On March 17, 1808, a mutiny led by supporters of Ferdinand VII occurred. Exploiting popular discontent over the French presence in Spain, the revolt led to the dismissal of Godoy and Charles IV's abdication.

The First Spanish Constitution (1812)

The First Spanish Constitution: In 1812, the courts approved the first Spanish constitution. This constitution abolished absolutism, established national sovereignty, and proposed a constitutional monarchy with a division of powers.

The Carlist Wars

• The First Carlist War: (1833-40) After the death of Ferdinand VII, the Infante Carlos called his followers to revolt. Carlist forces, using guerrilla tactics, dominated rural areas of the Basque Country, Navarra, Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia.
• The Second Carlist War: (1846-49) This war was known as the "Guerra dels Matiners" and primarily took place in Catalonia.
• The Third Carlist War: (1872-76) The revolution of 1868 and the election of a foreign king, Amadeo I of Savoy, led to another Carlist war. The Carlists were defeated by General Martínez Campos under the reign of Alfonso XII.