First Carlist War

Quick Facts: Who was First Carlist War?

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First Carlist War

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A devastating Spanish civil war (1833-1840) over royal succession and the nature of monarchy.

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Origins & Early Life

The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1840, the first of three Carlist Wars. It was fought between two factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the Spanish monarchy: the conservative and devolutionist supporters of the late king's brother, Carlos de Borbón (or Carlos V), became known as Carlists (carlistas), while the progressive and centralist supporters of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II of Spain, were called Liberals (liberales), cristinos or isabelinos. Aside from being a war of succession, on the question who was the rightful successor to King Ferdinand VII of Spain, the Carlists' goal was the return to an absolute monarchy, while the Liberals sought to defend the constitutional monarchy. It was the largest and most deadly civil war in nineteenth-century Europe and fought by more men than the Spanish War of Independence. It might have been the largest counter-revolutionary movement in 19th-century Europe depending on the figures.

Career & Major Achievements

Furthermore, it is considered the "last great European conflict of the pre-industrial age". The conflict was responsible for the deaths of 5% of the 1833 Spanish population—with military casualties alone amounting to half this number. It was mostly fought in the Southern Basque Country, Maestrazgo, and Catalonia and characterized by repeated raids and reprisals against both armies and civilians. Importantly, it was a precursor to the idea of the two Spains that would surface during the Spanish Civil War a century later. Before the start of the Carlist Wars, Spain was in a deep social, economic, and political crisis as a result of mismanagement by Charles IV and Ferdinand VII, and had stagnated since the reforms and successes of Charles III of Spain.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Spain had only slightly more than 20 inhabitants per square kilometer in the early 19th century, much less than other European countries. At the start of the Carlist War, the population was approximately 12.3 million people. While the Spanish American wars of independence began in 1808, more than two decades before the death of Ferdinand VII, the social, economic and political effects of the American conflicts still were of great significance in the peninsula. In fact, not until the start of the Carlist conflict did Spain abandon all plans of military reconquest. Between 1792 and 1827 the value in millions of reales of imports of goods, imports of money, and exports from the Americas had decreased by a factor of 3.80, 28.0, and 10.3 respectively.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1792: 1792 Milestone — Between 1792 and 1827 the value in millions of reales of imports of goods, imports of money, and exports from the Americas had decreased by a factor of 3.
2. 1808: 1808 Milestone — While the Spanish American wars of independence began in 1808, more than two decades before the death of Ferdinand VII, the social, economic and political effects of the American conflicts still were of great significance in the peninsula.
3. 1833: 1833 Milestone — The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1840, the first of three Carlist Wars.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: First Carlist War

True or False: “The First Carlist War was primarily fought between supporters of King Ferdinand VII and those supporting Isabella II.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The conflict was fundamentally about the succession to the throne between Carlos de Borbón (Carlists) and the centralist government supporting Maria Christina/Isabella II.

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