Reign of Ferdinand VII & Isabella II: Spain’s Transformation
Fernando VII’s Reign (1814-1833)
The reign of Fernando VII began after the War of Independence and is divided into three stages: the absolutist six years (1814-1820), the constitutional triennium (1820-1823), and the ominous decade (1823-1833). Attempts to preserve the old regime led to economic chaos. Liberal conspiracies arose, influenced by the French Revolution. Ferdinand VII reluctantly implemented timid reforms, but radical absolutists supported his brother, Don Carlos, for the throne. The succession crisis was triggered when Ferdinand VII’s fourth wife, Maria Cristina, became pregnant. To ensure his offspring’s succession, he abolished the Salic Law, allowing female succession. This led to conflict between supporters of Isabella (the king’s daughter) and Don Carlos, culminating in the First Carlist War.
Isabella II’s Reign (1833-1868)
Isabella II’s reign marked Spain’s transition from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary state and from an old regime economy to a capitalist system. The ruling class comprised the bourgeoisie and traditional nobility.
Phases of Isabella II’s Reign
The reign is divided into:
- Minority of the Queen: Two regencies (Maria Cristina and General Espartero), the Carlist War, and various constitutions.
- Effective Reign: Moderate Decade (1844-1854), Progressive Biennium (1854-1856), and the Government of the Liberal Union (1856-1868).
Characteristics of Isabella II’s Reign
Key features include:
- A conservative monarchy under the 1845 Constitution.
- The Queen’s alignment with conservatism, leading to her unpopularity.
- The military’s significant role in politics.
- The dominance of bourgeois parties in parliament.
- The exclusion of the majority of the population from political life.
Economic and Social Changes
During Isabella II’s reign, significant changes occurred:
- Dismantling of the old regime’s legal order (Mendizabal’s confiscation, abolition of primogeniture).
- Establishment of a capitalist legal order (Madoz’s confiscation, Railways Act of 1855, creation of the Bank of Spain).
Crisis of 1917 and Alfonso XIII’s Reign (1902-1931)
Alfonso XIII’s reign was marked by successive crises:
- 1905-1906: Law of Jurisdictions.
- 1909: Tragic Week.
- 1912: Death of Canalejas.
- 1917: Widespread crisis due to social unrest, military discontent, and parliamentary demands.
The 1917 crisis included a general strike by the CNT and UGT unions, resulting in violent repression. This led to a period of concentration governments, repression of social movements, the Annual Disaster in Morocco, and the end of economic prosperity from World War I. These events paved the way for Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship and the fall of the monarchy.