Spain’s Liberal Triennium: Constitutional Reforms and Absolutist Opposition
The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823): Colonel Rafael del Riego led a revolt with his soldiers, touring Andalusia and proclaiming the Constitution of 1812. The passivity and neutrality of the army of peasants forced the king to accept becoming constitutional. Fernando VII appointed a new government, proclaimed an amnesty, and convened elections. The Cortes were formed with a majority of Liberal MPs and began significant legislative work. Reforms such as freedom of industry and the abolition of guilds were restored. New standards were developed, including the reduction of tithes and the reform of the tax system. Their actions aimed to dismantle feudalism in the countryside, transforming land into a commodity. Furthermore, they sought to liberalize trade and industry, initiating political modernization and administrative reforms, and creating the National Militia.
The monarchy’s opposition quickly arose. Fernando VII had accepted the new regime but, from the beginning, not only paralyzed all laws using his veto power but also secretly conspired against the government. He sought an alliance with European absolutist powers to invade the country and restore absolutism. The new regime also faced opposition from peasants. The liberal laws did not recognize peasant aspirations. While the feudal system was ended, the old landlords became the new owners, and peasants were transformed into tenants who could be evicted from their land. Additionally, monetization forced peasants to sell their products. In an economy still based on self-sufficiency, farmers struggled to obtain enough money from their products to pay the new taxes and fees. Peasants revolted against the traditional liberal nobility. The nobility and, above all, the Church encouraged revolts against the Triennium rulers. The difficulties led to clashes between liberals themselves. Moderates supported implementing reforms cautiously to avoid alienating the king and nobility, while extremists advocated for accelerating reforms and confronting the monarch.
The Reign of Fernando VII (1814-1833): The Return to Absolutism (1814-1820): Fernando VII’s return posed the problem of integrating into the new political model defined by the Cortes of Cadiz and the Constitution of 1812. Fernando VII had left the country as an absolute monarch and returned as a constitutional one. The liberals harbored doubts about the King and did everything possible to ensure his return to the country was made directly to Madrid, where he would swear allegiance to the Constitution. Fernando VII feigned willingness to accept its conditions.
The absolutist nobility and clergy knew that rallying around the monarch was their best chance for the Old Regime to return. The King was organized to show his support for absolutism, which was restored (Manifesto of the Persians). Fernando VII betrayed his promises and staged a coup d’état, declaring the decrees of the Cortes of Cadiz void and re-establishing absolutism. Within months, all ancient institutions were restored, the feudal system was reinstated, and the Inquisition was re-established. It was a return to the old regime; Napoleon had been defeated. The European absolutist powers had succeeded at the Congress of Vienna in restoring the old order in Europe and forming the Holy Alliance to ensure the defense of absolutism and suppress liberalism. King Fernando VII and his government faced an impossible task: rebuilding a country shattered by war, with agriculture… and discarding the old methods of the Old Regime. Their efforts failed. Opposition to the new situation quickly manifested. The liberal bourgeoisie and urban middle classes demanded a return to the constitutional regime. A segment of the peasantry refused to pay rent and opposed the restoration.