The reign of Queen Isabella, from 1843 till her expulsion in 1868, was no more than a prolongation of her mother's regency. It was a confused conflict between the attempts of the court to rule despotically, with a mere pretence of a cortes, and the growing wish Of the Spaniards for a parliamentary Govern ment, or at least the honest and capable Government which they hoped that a parliament would give them. During this period a series of political changes, revolutions and amendments to the constitution took place, a detailed account of which is unnecessary. The party leaders were almost always generals : Espartero, Nar vaez (leader of the Moderates, who were conservatives of almost absolutist ideas), O'Donnell and Prim. The only event which diverted public interest from questions of domestic politics was the war in Morocco in 1859, in which the armies of Spain were victorious, but which led to but meagre results in North Africa owing to the intrigues of other European Powers whose interests were involved. Another event of international importance was the queen's marriage in 1846. Louis Philippe, perceiving a chance of reviving the family alliance between Bourbon France and Bour bon Spain, with the aid of the queen-mother succeeded in forcing Isabella to accept the hand of Don Francisco d'Assisi, her cousin, who was notoriously incapable of having heirs ; and on the same day the younger sister was married to the duke of Montpensier, son of Louis Philippe. Palmerston had agreed to this union—but not until an heir to the Spanish Crown should have obviated the possibility of the French prince again inheriting the throne of Spain. The affair broke the entente between France and England, and was a contributory cause of the downfall of Louis Philippe. In Sept. 1868 the squadron at Cadiz under the command of Admiral Topete mutinied, and its action was the signal for a general secession. One gallant fight was made for the queen at the bridge of Alcolea in Andalusia by General Pavia, but it was an exception. Gonzales Brabo deserted her in a panic. She went into exile, and her reign ended. The revolution of 1868 was the first openly and avowedly directed against the dynasty. It became a familiar saying that the "spurious race of Bourbon" had disap peared forever, and the country was called upon to make a new and a better Government.
The mass Of the Spaniards, however, were not prepared for a republic. There were also the various monarchical parties : the Alfonsins who wished for the restoration of the queen's son with a regency; the partisans of the widower king consort of Portugal ; those of the duke of Montpensier ; the Carlists; and a few purely fantastic dreamers who would have given the crown to the aged Espartero. The real power was in the hands of the military politicians, Francisco Serrano (q.v.) and Juan Prim (q.v.), who kept order by means of the army. A con stituent cortes was assembled in 1869, and decided in favour of a monarchy. The constitution of 1869 was the first in the consti
tutional history of Spain since 1812, which clearly set forth the entire programme Of the liberalism of the period. Serrano was declared regent until a king could be found.
At last, in Aug. 187o, Prince Amadeo of Savoy, second son of Victor Emmanuel II., consented to become candidate. He was elected on Nov. 3. On Dec. 27, 187o, the day on which the new king reached Carthagena, Prim was murdered by assassins who were never discovered. The nominal reign of Amadeo lasted till Feb. 1873. It was a pitiful episode. He had put himself into a false position. Intriguing politicians sought to use him as a tool, and every man of honest principles, royalist or republican, looked upon him as an intruder. The Carlists began to collect in the mountains. Republican agitation went on in the towns. At last a dispute in regard to the officering of the artillery gave the king an honourable excuse for resigning the throne.
The Republicans entered the place he left vacant simply because there was nobody to oppose them. Until Jan. 1874 the country was given up to anarchy. The Carlists increased rapidly, and were joined by many Royalists, who looked upon them as the last resource. A new cortes was collected and a new constitution discussed. Three presidents succeeded one another within a year, Pi y Margall, Salmeron and Castelar : min istries changed every few days. As the republic was to be federal when finally organized, many parts of Spain proceeded to act in dependently. One party went beyond federalism and proposed to split Spain into cantons. The Cantonalists seized the important harbour of Carthagena and the ships in it. The ships were taken out of their hands by the British and German squadrons. The spectacle of anarchy, and the stoppage in payment of taxes fright ened the Republican deputies into some approach to sanity. Salmeron allowed General Pavia to restore order in Andalusia. When he gave place to Castelar, the eloquent Republican deputy threw all his most eagerly avowed principles to the wind, raised a great conscription, and provided the means of reducing Cartha gena and pushing the war against the Carlists with vigour. When the cortes met again in Jan. 1874, the extreme parties voted against Castelar on the 3rd of the month. Hereupon General Pavia, the governor of Madrid, turned the cortes into the streets. Serrano was appointed as head of the executive, and was mainly employed during the year in efforts to save Bilbao from falling into the hands of the Carlists. It had now become clear that the restoration of the Bourbons in the person of Don Alphonso, Isabella's son, was the only way of securing a final settlement. On Dec. 29,
General Martinez Campos caused him to be proclaimed king at Murviedro (Sagunto) by a brigade of troops, and the example there set was followed everywhere. Don Alphonso XII. landed in Barcelona on Jan. 1o, 1875.