Spanish Political History and the 19th Century Monarchy

Spain: The Restoration and 19th Century Politics

In the 19th century, Spain experienced similar political processes to the rest of Europe. During the reign of Fernando VII, absolutism was restored. The reign of Fernando VII is divided into three phases:

• The Absolute Phase (1814-1833): He enjoyed the support of the Spanish people. He wanted to return to the Ancien Régime as outlined in the Persian Manifesto; he abolished the Constitution of 1812 and re-established the absolute monarchy.
• The Liberal Phase (1820-1823): A period of political instability and military coups designed to overthrow absolutism.
• The Ominous Decade (1823-1833): In 1823, Fernando VII asked the Holy Alliance for assistance. They sent a French army, the 100,000 Sons of Saint Louis, who defeated the liberals.

Finally, at the end of his reign, he proclaimed his Pragmatic Sanction. This replaced the Salic Law, proclaiming his daughter Queen, which angered his brother Carlos. During the reign of Isabel II, absolutism ended, and she established a liberal constitutional monarchy. Isabel was supported by the liberal parties: the Moderates, who governed most of the reign, and the Progressives. During her reign, three Carlist Wars took place:

• First Carlist War (1833-1839): This took place because Fernando VII’s brother, Carlos, claimed the throne because he did not accept the Pragmatic Sanction.
• Second Carlist War (1846-1849): The war was caused by Isabel II’s refusal to marry Carlos Luis Bourbon. The war ended with the defeat of the Carlists.

During the reign of Isabel II, there was a crisis because of political problems. These included the manipulation of election results by successive governments.

The Democratic Sexennium (1868-1874)

In 1868, a military revolution began. The uprising, known as the Glorious Revolution, was well supported in all the major cities in Spain. The period can be divided into three phases:

• Provisional Government (1868-1870): General Serrano and General Prim looked for a Spanish King who was not a Bourbon. The Constitution of 1869 introduced manhood suffrage, freedom of religion, and guaranteed rights.
• The Constitutional Monarchy (1871-1873): Amadeo of Savoy, the son of Victor Emmanuel II, was named King. During his reign, the Third Carlist War (1872-1876) occurred because the provisional government had not chosen the Carlist candidate.
• First Republic: When Amadeo abdicated, the Cortes proclaimed Spain a republic divided into 17 federal states.

The republicans were working for a new constitution, but they did not have time to have it approved before General Pavía entered the Cortes in January 1874. Then, there was a military revolt which aimed to bring back the Bourbons, and the First Republic ended.

Romanticism in Spain

Romanticism is an artistic movement which developed in Europe during the first half of the 19th century.