Fueros and Liberalism in 19th Century Basque Country
Fueros and Liberalism: An Introduction
Fueros, or Charters, were privileges and customs in force based on the “Pyrenean right” transmitted orally, reflecting a horizontal organization of society unlike Roman and Germanic rights. This system originated when Theobald I of the House of Champagne came to the throne of Navarre in the 13th century. The General Charter, a compromise between Pyrenean Law and the new order, was written down by order of Theobald I in 1234, but the charter of Lower Navarre was not registered until the 17th century. Spanish and French kings approved these books of law until their abolition in the 18th century. For the leading classes, the Charters or Fueros, matxinadas, and the arrival of the Bourbons to the Spanish throne in 1700 were significant events. Felipe V approved the Decretos de Nueva Planta.
1. Beginning of the 19th Century
The 19th century began in the Basque Country with the Napoleonic occupation and was marked by the dynastic Carlist Wars. Before the Napoleonic invasion, an event known as the Zamakolada occurred in Biscay. Godoy gave his approval for a new port with one condition: that young Biscayans should do military service. However, the royal troops ended up occupying Biscay, and the project was canceled. The Napoleonic invasion took place in 1808, placing peninsular territories between the Pyrenees and the Ebro under French military government. After the defeat of the imperial troops, Ferdinand VII was restored to the Spanish throne. In 1833, Fernando VII died, and his daughter Isabel, still a child, inherited the throne.
2. First Carlist War
When the king died in 1833, Isabel II was crowned, though she was still a child. Her mother, Mª Cristina, was appointed as regent. The Carlists, who had already had ten years of intense political activity but had been marginalized in key positions of government, revolted.
The Basque Country Uprising
In the Basque Country, Zabala, Pedro took Bilbao on October 3. Berastegi did the same with Vitoria-Gasteiz. There were also uprisings in Iruña and Donostia, but the government troops managed to put them down. Two weeks later, the uprising had spread to virtually all corners of the Basque Country. The area of the conflict was defined: the cities supported the liberals, while the rest of the countryside sided with the Carlists.
Zumalakarregi’s Leadership
In 1833, representatives of the four Basque territories met in Etxarri-Aranatz. Zumalakarregi was named commander of the Carlist troops. The beginning of the war was spectacular for Zumalakarregi, who created a remarkable guerrilla force. In June 1835, the siege of Bilbao began, and five days later, Zumalakarregi fell. He died in Zegama. His death changed the course of events.
The Embrace of Vergara
By 1837, the war had stalled, and all the Carlist trends were moving towards Maroto, the leader. Maroto shot those who did not share his line. In 1839, Maroto made a pact with Espartero, known as the Embrace of Vergara, in August 1839. After the Basque defeat and the Embrace of Vergara, the Law of 25 October 1839 was passed, ratifying the Fueros.
3. Insertion of the Foral Regime
: With the Law of 25 October 1839 can be considered as a first real attack to the Fueros. When Espartero assumed the regency in 1840, the Foral Diputaciones showed their loyalty to was signed in 1841 and Navarre ceased a kingdom Besides that, the Old Courts of Navarre were supressed, Navarre lost legislative power In October 1841, the Foral Diputaciones joined the uprising led by O´Donnell and Espartero took advantage of the situation to make significant changes to the Law of 1839 but did not complete removal of the Fueros During the reign of Isabel II the Fueros were restored. Basque liberals were moderates and wanted to keep the Fueros in order to prevent Carlist uprisings. The Decree of 4th July, 1844 was signed and partial restoration of the Fueros was stablished The overthrow of Isabel II in the Glorious Revolution of 1868, gave the Carlists the Carlos VII as king of Spain However Constitution of 1868 made clear that Carlos VII had no chance Amadeo of Savoy gained the throne.
4.The third Carlist war: Decades later, hostilities set the Basques against each other in a new Carlist War from 1872 to 1876
, the dynastic dispute Third Carlist War, since, after the first, there was a series mainly in Catalonia, known Second Carlist War. in 1872, all the members of parliament for the four Basque territories were Carlists. That year, Carlos VII grandchild of Carlos V) and general Díaz de Rada failed and the Carlists The Carlist military Assembly, in Bayonne, was dissolved. In 1873, after several the Carlist forces triumphed. It was the beginning of of guerrilla warfare, such as led by the priest Santa Cruz. The Basque Country was again under the Carlist control and was called Federal Carlist State with its own coin Besides that, the university was restored in Oñati The Department of Communications was in Bayonne and only few cities (Bilbao, Portugalete were held by liberal troops. The Carlist took Estella and it was converted into the capital of the Federal Carlist State. In 1874, the Carlists besieged Bilbao, which became a fierce battle the war ended when liberal received reinforcements from outside. On 2 May, General Concha entered Bilbao ending the siege Estella, he was killed the monarchy was restored under Alfonso XII and the king moved to Navarre to lead his army. They were took by surprise by Carlist troops However, Carlism, despite its circumstantial success, was doomed. As in the First Carlist War, things got out of control during 1875, the liberals began recovering areas and in 1876, after the fall of Estella Carlos exile andBasque Carlists ended up emigrating to America The Fueros of Navarre were abolished by the Law of Pacts by Espartero in 1841 and the on 21 July 1876. The suppression of the Fueros meant that young people were forced to do military service and the Spanish government allowed to collect taxes The Government of Cánovas finally agreed to establish a series of economic agreements (called Conciertos económicos Cánovas wanted to please the Basque bourgeoisie with this tax system “cupo”. Basque provinces payed a fixed