Spanish Carlism: History, Ideology, and Wars
Spanish Carlism: A Historical Overview
1. The Succession Crisis (1833)
Carlism, an anti-liberal movement, arose from the succession crisis following Ferdinand VII’s abolishment of the Salic Law. Ferdinand’s moderate reforms provoked opposition from absolutist groups known as ultras, who supported his brother, Infante Don Carlos, as heir. However, Ferdinand’s wife, Maria Cristina of Naples, became pregnant. To ensure his daughter’s claim, Ferdinand abolished the Salic Law, which barred female rulers. Upon Ferdinand’s death, his daughter, Isabel II, was proclaimed queen, sparking the First Carlist War as Don Carlos, now Charles V, launched an uprising.
2. Carlist Ideological Principles
Carlism rejected liberalism, advocating:
- Absolute Monarchy: Believing only the king held sovereignty, Carlists viewed the liberal state as anarchic.
- Catholicism: They staunchly defended the Church and its privileges, opposing religious tolerance.
- Rural Protection: Idealizing rural life, they saw liberalism and industrialization as threats to traditional order.
- Regional Charters: They defended Basque-Navarrese charters and sought to restore privileges of the former Crown of Aragon kingdoms.
3. Social and Geographic Bases of Carlism
Carlism found support among:
- Small farmers threatened by liberal land reforms.
- Lower nobility facing financial ruin due to the loss of privileges.
- Lower clergy, particularly threatened by land confiscations.
Carlism had little support among urban classes, the higher nobility, or laborers.
Geographically, Carlism was strongest in northern Spain, particularly areas with a high concentration of small farmers and regions where charters existed or were remembered, such as Catalonia, Valencia, and the Basque-Navarre region.
4. Background: Revolt of the Agraviats (1827)
A precursor to the Carlist Wars was the Revolt of the Agraviats in Catalonia, a peasant uprising led by clergy who opposed Ferdinand VII’s reforms.
5. The Carlist Wars
a) First Carlist War (1833-1840)
Triggered by Ferdinand VII’s death, this war saw Carlist strength in rural areas. Key figures included generals Zumalacárregui and Cabrera. The Royal Expedition of 1837 saw Charles V reach Madrid, but ultimately failed. The Convention of Vergara (1839) offered concessions to the Carlists, but Cabrera continued fighting until 1840. Navarre’s charters were amended in 1841, reducing its status but recognizing some tax privileges.
b) Second Carlist War (1846-1849)
Less significant than the first, it primarily involved peasant resistance in Catalonia, supporting Charles VI.
c) Third Carlist War (1872-1876)
Following Isabel II’s overthrow, Carlists hoped for Charles VII’s ascension. However, the establishment of a democratic system and Amadeo’s reign led to another uprising. The Basque-Navarre region became a Carlist state with Estella as its capital. The restoration of the Bourbons under Alfonso XII led to the war’s end and the abolition of Basque privileges, replaced by economic concessions.
6. Carlism After the Wars
After their defeat, Carlists formed a political party, participating in elections and gaining representation, particularly in Basque provinces, Navarre, and Catalonia. Known as the Comunión Tradicionalista, they regained strength during the Second Republic. Their militias, the Requetés, played a key role in the 1936 military uprising. In 1937, Franco’s forced merger of the Falange and Carlists diminished their independent political power, though several Carlist parties remain.