Mendizábal's Confiscation: Church and State in 19th-Century Spain

Mendizábal's Confiscation in Spain

Background: The Madoz Seizure

The Madoz seizure involved the sale of various properties, particularly municipal lands, to members of the Church. In Asturias, long-term leased lands called foros existed, often owned by the Church, with tenants paying rent across generations. A similar system was present in Galicia. The Madoz seizure declared both personal and common lands for sale, including those leased by municipalities to fund services. This practice stemmed from lands granted to municipalities by kings during the Reconquista. Major military orders were located in Andalusia, Extremadura, Valencia, and Murcia. Payment for seized lands involved a 10% upfront payment and the remainder over fourteen years, strictly in cash.

Impact on Farmers and the State

Farmers often lacked the funds to purchase disentailed lands. Much of the state's revenue from the confiscation financed railway development.

Mendizábal's Decree under Regent Maria Cristina

Regent Maria Cristina, acting on behalf of her minor daughter, Queen Isabella II, decreed a further confiscation to address the debt from the Carlist Wars. The Church, seen as Carlist supporters, became a target. Mendizábal aimed to expropriate Church property, believing it could be used for farming, trade, public services, or preserving historical monuments.

Implementation and Rationale

The government minister issued decrees for the auction of Church properties. Maria Cristina, despite her close ties to the Church, approved the measure due to the clergy's Carlist sympathies. The confiscation involved the nationalization of public and urban properties, including convents and Church lands, affecting both regular and secular clergy. This shift marked a change in ownership, with capitalist private property replacing previous systems. The confiscation also aimed to appease those who had lost properties purchased during the reign of Ferdinand VII, as these buyers supported liberalism. Unlike the Madoz seizure, Mendizábal's decree allowed payment with government bonds, requiring only 20% in cash.

Outcomes and Consequences

While the confiscation did not fully resolve the debt, it improved the situation. Private property became subject to taxes, but the creation of landowning farmers and increased productivity did not materialize as hoped. The law contributed to the assets of worship and the clergy.