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| 1868 Spanish Revolution | |
|---|---|
| Name | 1868 Spanish Revolution |
| Native name | La Gloriosa |
| Date | 1868 |
| Place | Iberian Peninsula, Spain |
| Result | Deposition of Isabella II of Spain; establishment of a provisional Spanish Provisional Government; exile of the Bourbon monarchy; move toward the Sexenio Democrático |
1868 Spanish Revolution The 1868 Spanish Revolution, commonly known as La Gloriosa, was a military-led uprising that removed Isabella II of Spain from the throne and initiated the Sexenio Democrático. It involved a coalition of liberal, progressive, and republican factions, and culminated in the formation of a provisional leadership that sought a new constitutional order. The upheaval reshaped Spanish politics, influenced European monarchical debates, and precipitated the later reign of Amadeo I of Spain.
Long-term tensions included conflicts among supporters of the Bourbon Restoration and opponents such as the Progressives, the Democrats, and the Unión Liberal. Key crises before 1868 involved the Carlist Wars, the Cuban Ten Years' War, and the unrest over the Spanish colonial empire in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Economic discontent linked to agricultural crises in Andalusia, industrial disputes in Catalonia, and fiscal issues in Madrid intersected with scandals surrounding the queen and royal favorites like Beltrán de Lis, fueling public outrage. International currents such as the influence of 1848 Revolutions and the diplomatic environment shaped by Napoleon III and Otto von Bismarck also affected Spanish elites and military officers.
The uprising began with conspiracies among naval and army officers including figures tied to Juan Prim and Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre. Key events unfolded in ports such as Cádiz and cities including Santander and Seville, where insurgent squadrons and battalions declared against the monarchy. The rebellion escalated after proclamations by leaders linked to the Progressive Biennium (1854–1856) tradition and mobilizations by civic groups from Barcelona and Valencia. Political clubs and press organs like those associated with La Iberia and other periodicals spread manifestos that connected military action to demands for a new constitutional settlement and the removal of royal favorites such as Marqués de Salamanca.
The principal engagements featured confrontations between loyalist units and insurgent forces led by commanders who coordinated movements from bases in Cádiz and Bayonne. Naval uprisings in the Spanish Navy played a decisive role, with mutinies among crews disrupting royalist projections. Land actions included skirmishes around Alcolea and movements toward Madrid culminating in political collapse rather than protracted pitched battles. Operations involved figures who previously saw action in the First Carlist War and the Carlist Wars, and veterans from campaigns in North Africa and Morocco contributed tactical experience. The relative paucity of major sieges reflected the political nature of the revolt and defections among provincial governors and garrisons.
Leadership blended military chiefs and civilian politicians. Prominent military leaders included Juan Prim, Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre, and other officers with ties to the Moderates and Progressive factions. Civilian figures such as members of the Progressives, the Democrats, and liberal intellectuals influenced programmatic aims. International observers noted involvement or sympathy from exiled Spanish liberals in Paris and contacts with diplomats from United Kingdom and France. Rivalries emerged between proponents of a constitutional monarchy, supporters of a liberal republic connected to republican circles, and monarchist moderates who later promoted candidates like Amadeo of Savoy.
Following the queen's exile, a provisional governing junta emerged featuring leading conspirators and prominent politicians, shaping policy in Madrid and provincial capitals. The provisional authority negotiated recognition with foreign powers and managed the transition toward a constituent process. Debates in the provisional councils involved proposals from Progressives favoring expansive suffrage and Democrats advocating republican forms, as well as moderates pressing for a limited franchise and restoration under a new dynasty. Diplomatic channels in London and Paris and missions to Rome influenced search-for-king efforts that ultimately led to an invitation to Amadeo I of Spain from the House of Savoy.
The post-revolutionary period saw efforts to craft a new fundamental law, influenced by constitutional models from the Constitution of 1812, the French Second Republic, and contemporary liberal constitutions. Proposals included expanded civil liberties, municipal reforms affecting bodies in Barcelona and Seville, and electoral law revisions debated in constituent assemblies and Cortes convoked by the provisional government. Reforms targeted institutions such as the Spanish Cortes and attempted to recalibrate relationships between the central state and regional authorities in places like Catalonia and Basque Country. Conflicts over church-state relations referenced the roles of the Catholic Church in Spain and proposed measures reminiscent of earlier disentailment laws.
Short-term outcomes included the exile of Isabella II of Spain, the accession of Amadeo I of Spain, and the onset of the Sexenio Democrático, a six-year experiment that encompassed the Spanish Constitution of 1869 and eventual proclamation of the First Spanish Republic (1873–1874). The revolution accelerated debates on universal male suffrage, municipal autonomy in Barcelona and Valencia, and colonial policy toward Cuba and Puerto Rico. Long-term effects shaped the trajectory of the Bourbon Restoration and the later political careers of figures such as Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. The 1868 events influenced Spanish military politics, parliamentary practice in the Spanish Cortes, and the pattern of dynastic negotiation across Europe involving houses such as the House of Bourbon and the House of Savoy.
Category:19th century in Spain Category:Political history of Spain Category:Revolutions of the 19th century