Spain Under Ferdinand VII: A Time of Political Turmoil

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Ferdinand VII's Reign: Absolutism and Liberalism in Spain

The Absolutist Sexennium (1814-1820)

In 1814, Ferdinand VII returned to Spain and, with the support of the army, nobility, and clergy, as outlined in the Manifesto of the Persians, staged a coup on May 4th. This marked a return to absolutism, part of the broader European restoration of the Old Regime. This period, known as the Absolutist Sexennium, was characterized by continuous political instability. The economic situation was disastrous, with falling prices worsening the plight of the peasantry and triggering successive protest movements. Discontent spread to the cities and the army, as state expenditures exceeded revenues, leading to state bankruptcy. Meanwhile, liberals began to reorganize underground.

The Constitutional Triennium (1820-1823)

On January 1, 1820, a military commander successfully pronounced in favor of the Constitution. This period, known as the Constitutional Triennium, was marked by continuous political turmoil due to several factors. Firstly, there was a division among liberals, between moderates and radicals. Secondly, the king adopted a regressive attitude. New reform legislation was adopted, with initial steps taken towards reform, but most of them benefited the proletariat more. The religious policy of the courts was marked by anticlericalism and the defense of state authority. The courts also dealt with military reform, aiming to improve instruction, wages, and the promotion system. Education was reformed, and finally, the problem of the treasury was addressed by devaluing currency, cutting costs, and seeking foreign credit.

The Ominous Decade (1823-1833)

In July 1822, a counter-revolutionary insurrection occurred when four regiments of the Royal Guard mutinied but were suppressed by the regular army and the National Guard. Absolutist guerrilla groups, organized by the aristocracy and clergy, were active in the north. The European powers, at the Congress of Verona, decided on military intervention and entrusted France with a military operation called the "Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis." The subsequent period, known as the Ominous Decade, saw a return to absolutism, with repression and terror against liberals. After the fall of Cadiz, Ferdinand VII nullified all legislation from the Triennium and resumed repression. Volunteer militias, known as the Royalist Volunteers, were formed by supporters of rigid absolutism. However, the return to absolutism was not identical to that of 1814. A cabinet was created, expenditures were cut, and a formal budget was introduced to control finances. This caused the appearance of the so-called "realists." The country remained in economic chaos, and after 1830, liberal conspiracies reemerged.

The Succession Crisis

Ferdinand VII had no descendants until he married Maria Cristina in 1829, who gave birth to Princess Isabella. Ferdinand published the Pragmatic Sanction, which eliminated the Salic Law and reestablished the traditional line of succession. This sparked a new conflict. In September 1832, during an event known as the "La Granja incident," Ferdinand was pressured into signing the abolition of the Pragmatic Sanction. However, before his death, he reinstated it. In late 1833, Ferdinand VII died, and the regency of Maria Cristina began.

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