Glorious Revolution (Spain)

Quick Facts: Who was Glorious Revolution (Spain)?

Subject:

Glorious Revolution (Spain)

Known for:

The 1868 uprising that deposed Queen Isabella II, initiating the Sexenio Democrático.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Glorious Revolution (Spanish: la Gloriosa or la Septembrina) took place in Spain in 1868, resulting in the deposition of Queen Isabella II. The success of the revolution marked the beginning of the Sexenio Democrático with the installation of a provisional government. Isabella II’s reign had become deeply unpopular by the 1860s. Her government was plagued by corruption, economic crises, and political repression. She had alienated liberals and progressives while becoming increasingly dependent on conservative and clerical factions.

Career & Major Achievements

The queen’s personal life—including her troubled marriage and various scandals—further eroded public confidence. Leading up to the Glorious Revolution, there had been numerous failed attempts to overthrow the unpopular Queen Isabella, most notably in 1854 and 1861. An 1866 rebellion led by General Juan Prim and a revolt of the sergeants at San Gil barracks, in Madrid, sent a signal to Spanish liberals and republicans that there was serious unrest that could be harnessed if it were properly led. Liberals and republican exiles abroad made agreements at Ostend in 1866 and Brussels in 1867. These agreements laid the framework for a major uprising, this time not merely to replace the Prime Minister with a Liberal, but to overthrow Queen Isabella, whom Spanish liberals and republicans began to see as the source of Spain's difficulties.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Her continual vacillation between liberal and conservative quarters had, by 1868, outraged the moderates, the progressives, and the members of the Unión Liberal. An opposition to her government had developed that crossed party lines. Leopoldo O'Donnell's death in 1867 caused the Unión Liberal to unravel; many of its supporters, who had crossed party lines to create the party initially, joined the growing movement to overthrow Isabella in favor of a more effective regime. In September 1868, naval forces under admiral Juan Bautista Topete mutinied in Cádiz. This was the same city where a half-century before, Rafael del Riego had launched his coup against Isabella's father, Ferdinand VII.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1854: 1854 Milestone — Leading up to the Glorious Revolution, there had been numerous failed attempts to overthrow the unpopular Queen Isabella, most notably in 1854 and 1861.
2. 1866: 1866 Milestone — An 1866 rebellion led by General Juan Prim and a revolt of the sergeants at San Gil barracks, in Madrid, sent a signal to Spanish liberals and republicans that there was serious unrest that could be harnessed if it were properly led.
3. 1867: 1867 Milestone — Leopoldo O'Donnell's death in 1867 caused the Unión Liberal to unravel; many of its supporters, who had crossed party lines to create the party initially, joined the growing movement to overthrow Isabella in favor of a more effective regime.
4. 1868: 1868 Milestone — The Glorious Revolution (Spanish: la Gloriosa or la Septembrina) took place in Spain in 1868, resulting in the deposition of Queen Isabella II.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Glorious Revolution (Spain)

True or False: “Did the Glorious Revolution immediately establish a stable constitutional monarchy in Spain?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): No, the initial period was marked by instability; after deposing Isabella II, the coalition struggled to agree on a form of government, leading through various regimes before Alfonso XII's accession.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdülmecid II — Historical peer (Born in 1868) (1868): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Adah Isaacs Menken — Historical peer (Died in 1868) (1868): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.
• Albion Woodbury Small — Historical peer (Born in 1854) (1854): Pioneering American sociologist who established the first independent department of sociology in the US.
• Aletta Jacobs — Historical peer (Born in 1854) (1854): Pioneering Dutch physician and feminist, advocating for women's rights and reproductive health.
• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• Abraham Flexner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Alfred Werner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Albert Bassermann — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Esteemed German stage and screen actor, celebrated for his dramatic versatility.
• Amy Beach — Historical peer (Born in 1867) (1867): Pioneering American composer and pianist, celebrated for her large-scale art music.

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