Extremadura in the Cortes of Cadiz & War of Independence
Extremadura in the Cortes of Cadiz
Given the waiver for Joseph Bonaparte, liberal institutions emerged in Spain. These institutions took power under the coordination of the Supreme Central Junta at Aranjuez. The Extremaduran Junta Central Superior (JCS) was organized in 1808. The members of that board were persons of social importance attached to the Church, nobility, army, and administration. The Extremaduran JCS had several locations because of the war.
The situation across the country imposed the need for a convocation of the Cortes after the demise of the institutions of the Ancien Régime (AR). In the strictly political field, Extremadura defended areas such as popular sovereignty, property rights, security, and equality.
In the first election of the constitutional system, Extremadura chose a total of 12 representatives. Illustrious figures included:
- Jose Maria Calatrava: Played a key role in debates and in defense of the constitutional text.
- Diego Muñoz Torrero: Noted for his clear defense of national sovereignty, the abolition of the Inquisition, and freedom of the press.
- Antonio Oliveros: Emphasized the need for all members participating in meetings to swear allegiance to and respect the approved points.
Calatrava and Torrero argued against the negative nature of benefits for the rich, as only they could access auctions and thus increase the holdings of large estates. Their discourse was important in establishing a project where these properties would be granted to the defenders of the homeland and citizens who were not owners.
The extraordinary Cortes closed its sessions on September 14, 1813, and the ordinary courts were established on the 26th.
The War of Independence
The French occupation, fueled by the alarm caused by news from Bayonne and the revolutionary experience of the Mutiny of Aranjuez, provoked a popular uprising in the streets of Madrid on May 2, 1808. This uprising was brutally repressed by the French, marking the beginning of the War of Independence, a conflict full of contradictions.
Phase 1: Initial French Advance (May – November 1808)
The French occupation appeared unstoppable, aiming to reach Galicia and Cantabria in the north, the Tagus in the central zone, and Catalonia and Valencia in the east. However, the French army suffered a serious defeat at Bailén. This was the first time that Napoleon’s troops were defeated, prompting Napoleon to personally take command of an expedition to occupy Spain.
Phase 2: Napoleonic Campaigns (November 1808 – June 1812)
This period was marked by Napoleon’s victorious campaigns. The seemingly unstoppable French army dealt with major roads and captured major capital cities. However, the progressive occupation of Spain was slowed down. ‘Guerrilla warfare’ developed, formed by the common people. They used rivers and bridges to prevent the French from advancing quickly, aiming to wear down the French army and cause them to lose ammunition and men. This military tactic, developed by small groups of soldiers, aimed to slow the French invasion without engaging in direct confrontation.
Phase 3: Allied Victory (July 1812 – December 1813)
Napoleon considered the Spanish war a victory and moved part of his army to the Russian front, a critical mistake. An alliance of British, Portuguese, and Spanish troops, led by Wellington, took advantage of French weakness and achieved victory. Napoleon delivered Ferdinand VII back to the Spanish.
Consequences of the War
The war was a disaster for Spain. The country faced a serious demographic and economic crisis due to:
- Devastated fields
- Destroyed cities
- Unusable communications
- Monetary anarchy
- Leveled factories
- Disorder in rural areas
There was also a great loss of artistic heritage.