Key Historical Terms of Spain: From Absolutism to the Civil War
Decretos de Nueva Planta
A set of centralizing administrative and legal policies or laws issued by King Philip V between 1711 and 1716. These decrees abolished the privileges of self-governing institutions of the Crown of Aragon (comprising the territories of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands) and implemented a centralized system and the absolute power of the king.
The Enlightenment
A cultural and ideological movement that developed in the 18th century (also known as the Age of Enlightenment). It emphasized reason and individualism, challenging traditional authority and prejudices that hindered free thought.
The Old Regime
The dominant political, economic, and social system in Europe until the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was characterized politically by the absolute power of the monarch, socially by inequality before the law due to privileged groups (such as the nobility), and economically by restrictive regulations that hindered the free functioning of the market.
Mutiny of Aranjuez
The deployment of French Emperor Napoleon’s troops in Spain led to deep public discontent, which further increased the unpopularity of King Charles IV’s favorite, Manuel Godoy.
Cortes of Cádiz
The crisis in Spain, triggered by the French invasion of 1808 and the absence of the King, prompted the Central Junta to convene a Parliament. This assembly met in Cádiz in 1810, as it was the only major city outside the control of the French army.
Manifesto of the Persians
A document prepared by Mozo de Rosales and presented to Ferdinand VII in 1814, advocating for the abolition of the 1812 Constitution and the restoration of absolutism.
Constitutional Triennium
A historical period between 1820 and 1823, characterized by the re-establishment of the 1812 Constitution. The Riego Uprising in 1820 forced Ferdinand VII, the absolute monarch, to reinstate the 1812 Constitution, which limited his powers.
Lausanne Manifesto
A manifesto issued in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Prince Don Juan de Borbón. This document proposed to the Spanish people a representative government (a constitutional monarchy and rule of law with political pluralism and regional autonomy), while also addressing the responsibilities from the past Civil War.
Popular Front
An electoral alliance of republican and workers’ parties (including socialists, communists, and anarchists) formed for the February 1936 elections, aiming to prevent the advance of right-wing groups.
Falange
A political movement founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera in 1933, characterized as anti-liberal, anti-Marxist, nationalist, and totalitarian.
Battle of the Ebro
The most significant battle of the Spanish Civil War. The Republican government decided to launch this offensive to relieve pressure on other fronts. The Republican army crossed the Ebro River and surprised its enemies, conquering a strip of land on the other side. However, Franco reacted swiftly, and after a grueling battle, managed to wear down and ultimately destroy the Republican army.
Africanistas
This term referred to military officers who spent most of their careers in the colonial army stationed in the Spanish Protectorate of Morocco.
Tragic Week
A series of violent events in Barcelona in July 1909. Triggered by the shipment of reserve soldiers bound for the war in Morocco, a popular riot erupted, leading to violent incidents. The masses stormed and burned convents and churches, committing various excesses. The government declared a “state of war” and dispatched the army to quell the uprising.
Manzanares Manifesto
The 1854 Revolution, led by a group of soldiers, reached a stalemate due to government resistance. To encourage mass participation, the Manifesto of Manzanares was drafted. It outlined various demands of the Progressive Party, including: extending the right to vote, reforming the press law, eliminating consumption taxes, and restoring the National Militia to combat court corruption. This manifesto inspired popular uprisings in cities, which ultimately toppled the government and ensured the revolution’s success.