When
King Fernando VII died in 1833, after 25 years on and off the Spanish
throne, he left behind a confused situation. According to his will and
current law, his daughter Isabel was to become Queen. According to the
Salic law traditionally acknowledged by the house of Bourbon, the
legitimate claim was possessed by his brother, Carlos. As events
proved, Isabel would gain the throne, but the supporters of Carlos and
his heirs would continue to dispute the succession for over a hundred
years and several civil wars. The strength of this claim, twice
bringing Carlist armies within striking distance of Madrid, was
bolstered by widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling governments,
both republican and monarchist, as well as the Spanish commitment to "God,
Country, and King".
Holt does a serviceable job relating the nineteenth century
history of Carlism. Early on, there is an unfortunate concentration on
the British Legion, volunteers recruited in Britain to fight for
Isabel. I suspect he may have wanted to write a history of this group
and the English politics that shaped it, but found the topic too sparse
to warrant an entire book. The result is a focus on Britain precisely
at the time Carlism was at its height. Likewise, there is a general
Whiggish bias, though this is never too intrusive. Overall, a decent
account of Spain between Napoleon and Franco.
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