The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
The Monarchy of Amadeus of Savoy (1870-1873)
The 1868 revolution in Spain led to the rise of a provisional government headed by Serrano and other rebel generals. The new government convened the Constituent Cortes, which, with a large monarchist majority, proclaimed the 1869 Constitution. This constitution established a constitutional monarchy as the form of government.
Finding a king who would accept the Spanish crown proved difficult. Spain at that time was an impoverished and troubled nation. The search for a suitable candidate focused on a Catholic, democratic monarch. Finally, they found him in the person of the Duke of Aosta, Amadeo de Savoie, son of the King of Italy. He seemed to have it all: from an ancient dynasty (linked with the Spanish), a progressive Catholic, and a Freemason, licensed by the Pope to reconcile religion and Freemasonry.
Amadeo was the first King of Spain elected in Parliament, which seemed, not unreasonably, like high treason to the monarchists. On November 16, 1870, the members of Parliament voted. He faced systematic refusal from Republicans and Carlists, each for reasons connected with their interests, but also from the aristocracy, who saw him as an alien outsider, the church, for supporting secularization, and the people, due to his inability to speak Spanish.
Immediately, a parliamentary commission went to Florence to inform the Duke. On December 4, he officially accepted the election and shortly after embarked for Spain. While Amadeo I traveled to Madrid to take office, General Juan Prim, his main supporter, was assassinated in a bombing on December 27, 1870, on the Calle del Turco in Madrid.
Amadeo’s Reign
Amadeo had serious difficulties due to the political instability of Spain. There were six ministries in the two years of his reign, and an attempt was made to assassinate him on July 19, 1872. The poor king was overwhelmed by the political complications of Spain. Completely disillusioned, rather than abdicate, he resigned on his own initiative on the midday of February 11, 1873, and left Madrid without waiting a minute. The reason for this resignation was triggered by a combination of reasons, problems, and excuses, and his final decision was not to continue leading a country that didn’t want him.
The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
Following the resignation of Amadeus of Savoy, the Cortes agreed by majority to proclaim the Republic as the new system of government in February 1873, although most of the deputies were monarchists (elected out of the government crisis earlier). The proclamation of the republic was received with great enthusiasm by the masses, who hoped that it would improve their situation by eliminating the draft (due to the Third Carlist War and the war in Cuba) and taxes on basic foodstuffs.
The Cortes named Estanislao Figueras as President and convened new constituent elections to draft a new constitution. These elections were won by the Republicans.
Problems of the Republic
- The government launched a constitutional project based on a Federal Republic (state powers exercised by three institutions: the nation, regions, municipalities). The territory was divided into 15 federal states plus one for Cuba and Puerto Rico. This idea was rejected by liberals and monarchists, and even by the unitary republicans, so it was never approved.
- In the republican strongholds such as Catalonia, Valencia, Levante, and Andalusia, their followers, supported by anarchist groups, proclaimed independent cantons (Cartagena, Alcoy, Valencia, Torrevieja, Granada, Seville, etc.). This created a situation of conflict and anarchy, discussed in the Cortes, and the president himself admitted that the government had misinterpreted his idea of federalism and resigned in June 1873. He was replaced by F. Pi i Maragall, who refused to send the army to repress the cantonalists. He resigned the following month. He was replaced by Nicolás Salmerón, who authorized the army but refused to sign death sentences against the cantonalists. He also resigned.
End of the Republic
The unitary republican Emilio Castelar replaced Salmerón and applied federal law harshly. But he lacked majority support in Parliament, which started a government without him. This led to a motion of censure (to vote and discuss the continuity of the government). The vote: 120 members present, 100 in favor of removing Castelar. Emilio Castelar resigned. Then, General Manuel Pavía decided to enter the Cortes with a group of civil guards and dissolved the Parliament. The unionist General Serrano was appointed president of the government until December, when General Martínez Campos launched another military coup in Sagunto (Valencia), restoring the Bourbon monarchy with Alfonso XII in December 1874.
The Constitution of 1869
- A broad statement of rights, including some not recognized then, such as the inviolability of correspondence and the freedom to work for foreigners.
- National sovereignty.
- The power of the king was conceived as that of a constitutional monarch.
- Judicial power resided in the courts, assigned to the management of councils and deputations.
- The question of religious freedom received advanced treatment, recognizing freedom of worship.