Amadeo I’s Reign & The First Spanish Republic (1871-1874)
The Reign of Amadeo I of Savoy (1871-1873)
Amadeo I’s reign was brief, lasting only two years, from January 1871 to February 1873. He faced considerable opposition from various factions, including Carlists, Elizabethans, and Republicans. Considered an outsider, he struggled to gain significant political and social support. His reign was further complicated by the ongoing war in Cuba and the outbreak of the Third Carlist War in 1872.
The death of Prim led to the disintegration of the coalition government, causing significant instability. In just two years, three general elections were held. The Progressive Party fractured due to internal conflict between:
- Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, who aligned with the Unionists and formed the Constitutionalist Party.
- Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla, who aligned with the Democrats and founded the Radical Party.
Amadeo I was unable to establish a stable system of alternating parties.
Opposition to Amadeo I’s Regime
Opposition to Amadeo’s rule came from several groups:
- Traditional Elites (nobility and clergy) resisted his autocratic tendencies.
- Republicans, dissatisfied with the monarchy, launched several insurrections in Andalusia and Catalonia, demanding land redistribution, the abolition of conscription, and the elimination of consumption taxes.
- The labor movement, influenced by the Paris Commune, gained momentum, particularly in Levante and Andalusia from 1871. The International Association of Workers (AIT) was debated for a ban in Parliament.
- The Church expressed discontent with the freedom of worship enshrined in the 1869 Constitution.
- Alphonsine Monarchists, led by Cánovas del Castillo, actively sought the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.
- The Carlists, supporting Charles VII, initiated the Third Carlist War.
The War of Cuba (1868-1878)
Known as the “Long War,” the conflict began in 1868 and concluded with the Peace of Zanjón in 1878. Rebels opposed colonial status, economic oppression, and demanded greater participation in the island’s government. It was both a colonial war between Cuba and Spain and an internal conflict between natives and Spanish residents. The United States supported the rebels.
The Third Carlist War (1872-1876)
Led by the pretender Charles VII, the Carlists defended the Catholic religion and the foral rights of the Basque-Navarre territories. The war ended in 1876 with the abolition of foral privileges. From 1878, the Basque government and councils negotiated a quota for their contribution to the state coffers.
The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
Proclaimed on February 11, 1873, following Amadeo I’s abdication, the First Republic was a short-lived and politically unstable regime. Initially, the Radicals from Amadeo I’s last government, led by Estanislao Figueras, held power.
After the May 1873 elections, Francisco Pi y Margall, a leading theorist of federalism, became president. He advocated for the separation of Church and State and a territorial reorganization of Spain into 17 states (including Cuba). This period saw increased social conflict.
In July 1873, hardliners initiated a federal republic and the establishment of cantons. While most cantons were dissolved, the canton of Cartagena persisted for several months, becoming a symbol of the cantonalist movement.
The Republic took a rightward turn, relying on the army (Generals Pavía and Martínez Campos). Emilio Castelar and Nicolás Salmerón served as presidents. Castelar suspended constitutional guarantees, creating an environment conducive to General Pavía’s coup, which dissolved Parliament in January 1874.
Authoritarian Republic (January-December 1874)
The year 1874 marked a transition between the Republic and the Bourbon Restoration. Power was transferred to General Serrano, who continued Castelar’s authoritarian rule. Serrano was supported by veteran Liberals of the *Sexenio* who had not cooperated with the Republic (Topete, Sagasta, and Cristino Martos). Cánovas del Castillo actively promoted the return of the Bourbons. Finally, the Pronunciamiento of Sagunto, led by General Martínez Campos on December 29, 1874, ended the revolutionary *Sexenio* and ushered in the restoration of the monarchy under Alfonso XII.