Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/456

* SPAIN. 392 SPAIN. to the United States. Charles IV. (1799-1808) was incapable of continuing liis father's vigorous policy. He was under the euntrol of the notori- ous Godoy (q.v. ), the Queen's favorite, who played into the hands of Xapoleou for his own profit. In March, 1808, the King abdicated in favor of his son, Ferdinand, and the latter was compelled to renounce his claims to the crown in favor of his father, who then handed his right over to Napoleon. The latter then conferred the Spanish crown upon his brother Joseph Bona- parte. Deserted by their rulers, the Spanish peo- ple organized resistance, declared for Ferdinand VII., and refused to recognize the Bonapartes. A supreme junta of leading Spaniards was estab- lished at Seville and subordinate juntas were formed in each of the provinces. It was the obstinate resistance of Spain and the eflicient work of the supporting English armies in the Peninsular War that first checked Napoleon and showed Europe that he was not invincible. (See Peninsular War.) Meanwhile the Spanish colonies in America revolted, and after a fierce warfare of sixteen years the Span- ish dominion on the American mainland was completely extinguished (1826). After the expulsion of the French King, Ferdinand VII. returned to Spain and entered Madrid May 14, 1814. The liberal Constitution of 1812 enacted by the Cortes was at once abrogated, the religious Orders were restored to their earlier predominance, the Cortes were abolished, and the Inquisition was reestablished. A popular reac- tion aided the King and his Ministers in this course. A liberal revolution in 1820 restored the Constitution of 1812 and instituted a Cortes which was notable for its extreme liberalism. The Inquisition was abolished and the privileges and exemptions of the Church were invaded. The clergy and the peasants opposed the revolution, but it was received with favor by the army and the educated classes. In 1822 the Holy Alliance (q.v.) took note of the Spanish situation, and France was commissioned to suppress the liberal movement. A French army of nearly 100.000 men invaded the peninsula and the Spanish forces were entirely unable to meet the attack. On May 24, 1823, the French entered Madrid, estab- lished a regency, drove the Cortes from Seville to Cadiz and out of the country, and restored Ferdi- nand, who had been declared of imsouml mind by the Cortes. The King at once revoked all of tiie liberal measures, except the abolition of the Inquisition. Repression and wholesale punish- ment followed. The French army remained in occupation until 1827. Bermudez, the Prime Minister, adopted finally a moderate policy, but this satisfied neither absolutists nor liberals. The clerical party guided by the Apostolic .Tunta ral- lied around Ferdinand's brother, Don Carlos, as the representative of extreme absolutism and clericalism, and a number of insurrections were started by the Junta in his interest. In 1831 Ferdinand, having no iiiale heir, decreed the re- vival, on behalf of his daughter Isabella, of the old law admitting female succession. Ferdinand died in 1833 and Queen Maria Christina became Regent for her daughter Isabella II. The Carlists proclaimed their candidate as Charles V.. and there was an immediate division of parties in the kingdom into Carlists and Cristinos. The Queen Regent was compelled to turn to the liberals for support. A royal charter, in lieu of a constitu- tion, was promulgated in 1834, but it did not give real pojuilar government, and the Ministry and the Chaniliers were both under the control of the Crown. Civil war broke out and the Carlists were at first successful. An alliance was con- chuled by the Regent with England, France, and Portugal, for the purpose of maintaining the crowns of Spain and Portugal against the pre- tenders, Carlos and Jliguel (qq.v. ). The deatli of Zumala-Ci'irreguy ( q.v. ), the only Carlist leader of ability, and the accession to the comiuand of the Goverimient forces of General Espartero(q.v.) turned the tide. Maroto. the Carlist commander, concluded the convention of Vergara with the Government in 1839 and returned to his al- legiance with his army. By this treaty Navarre and the Basque Provinces, which had been the strongliolds of Carlism, were confirmed in their ancient privileges. Espartero defeated the rem- nants of the Carlists in Catalonia, and Don Carlos went into exile, handing over his preten- sions to his son. In the meanwhile the struggle for a liberal constitution was being waged in the kingdom, and a revolutionary movement at the palace of La Granja in 18.36 forced Maria Christina to swear to the Constitution of 1812. In 1840 Espartero. tlic liberal leader, was made the head of the Ministry on his own terms. Maria Chris- tina resigned the regency October 12, 1840, and the Cortes made Espartero Regent and guardian of Isabella and her sister. The Regent's firm government made eneniies, and in 1843 a revo- lutionary movement, headed by Narvaez and Prim (qq.v. 1, drove him from power. In No- vember, 184.3, Isabella was declared of age and assumed the crown, with Narvaez. the leader of the Moderates (Moderados), as Prime Min- ister. Maria Christina was recalled and the Constitution modified on reactionary lines. Narvaez exercised practically dictatorial pow- ers until 1851. Parties gradually read- justed themselves, the old Absolutists, with whom the Moderates tended to assimilate, group- ing themselves about Queen Isabella and her mother, and the liberal elements joining the Pro- gressists. In IMarch, 18.51. a concordat was ar- ranged with the Pope by which all ecclesiastical affairs were to be canonically regulated and all religions but Catholicism were forbidden in the kingdom, the Church in return yielding its sec- ular jurisdiction and recognizing the sale of church lands. A Cabinet of personal supporters was made up by the Queen mother. They at- tempted in 18.52 a modification of the Constitu- tion in the direction of absolutism. This led in 1854 to a new outbreak. A coalition of the more liberal IModerates under Narvaez and Pro.gressists under O'Donnell was formed and was joined by Es- partero, now again recognized as one of the Pro- gressist leaders. Maria Christina left the country and a Government was formed with Espartero as President of the Council and O'Donnell as Minis- ter of War. The latter was now at the head of a new partv, the Liberal Union, which favored a liberal constitutional monarchy. In the coalition Government the Progressists were at first the dominant factor, but before the new Constitution of 1855 was promulgated they lost control. There were republican risings in the northeast and Carlist risings in the northwest, and the suspen-