Monarchism in Spain

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Legitimist flag of Spain
The flag of the Kingdom of Spain, usually flown by Legitimists.
Carlist flag of Spain
The Cross of Burgundy, usually flown by Carlists.

Monarchism in Spain is the ideological advocacy, social movement, and political ideology that advocates for the restoration of the monarchy in Spain, which was abolished in 1931 with the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic and before that in 1873 with the establishment of the First Spanish Republic.

The contemporary Spanish monarchist movement was established in 2000 with the creation of the Third Republic, but is viewed as a direct successor, and to some a direct continuation, of the monarchist movements of the Second Republic. During the Spanish Civil War, monarchism was a major ideology promoted by various factions within the Nationalist side. As a result, monarchism as a ideology was banned in the newly-established Spanish People's Republic following the Nationalist defeat and many Spanish monarchists fled Spain to neighboring countries, primarily France and Portugal. Prominent Spanish monarchists continued their advocacy while in exile, including Stephano Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Gallegos and Enrique Kindelán, while others formed exile communities in many Hispanic countries. Many Spanish monarchists returned from exile following the Spanish Revolution and the creation of the Third Republic, forming the contemporary monarchist movement.

The modern monarchist movement advocates for the restoration of the Spanish monarchy under the House of Bourbon-Anjou, which had previous ruled Spain from 1700 to 1931. Monarchism in Spain is divided into two groups: Legitimists and Carlists. The Legitimists advocate for the restoration of the monarchy under the line of the House of Bourbon-Anjou descended from Isabella II, while the Carlists advocated for the restoration of the Monarchy under the line of the House of Bourbon-Anjou descended from Infante Carlos. While both groups are conservative in nature, the Legitimists are viewed as the more democratic of the two groups, as Carlists have historically advocated for the restoration of a absolute and Catholic monarchy.

According to polls conducted in 2021, around 43% of Spaniards support the restoration of the monarchy, the highest level of support for monarchial restoration in Europe. Along with that, the monarchist cause has been promoted by various political parties and organizations, the largest of which is the Spanish National Union, which as of 2021 is the third largest political party in parliament.

History

Monarchism has been a persistent ideology in the Spanish political system, and at different points of Spanish history has been both the governing ideology and the censured opposition within Spain. From 1479 to 1873 and again from 1874 to 1923, Spain was a monarchy ruled through both absolutist and constitutional governments. Following the death of Ferdinand VII, Spanish monarchists split into two camps: the Legitimists, who recognized the rule of Ferdinand's daughter, Isabella II and her descendants, and the Carlists, who recognized the claims of Ferdinand's brother, Don Carlos, Count of Molina and his descendants. While both branches were considered conservative to a degree, Legitimism was viewed as the more progressive of the two, supporting constitutional monarchy, while Carlism was viewed as reactionary and ultra-conservative, supporting absolutism. The disagreements between the two branches resulted in the Carlist Wars, in which the Carlists claimants made three unsuccessful attempts at taking the Spanish throne.

Following the 1923 general election, in which leftist republican parties secured an overwhelming majority in the Spanish parliament, King Alfonso XII abdicated the throne, resulting in its eventually abolition in the same year. Monarchism as an ideology was not banned in the Second Spanish Republic, though was suppressed. During the Second Republic, many outwardly monarchist Spaniards were Carlists; Legitimism was viewed as being weak by many conservatism, primarily due to Alfonso XII's abdication. During the Spanish Civil War, most monarchists, both Legitimists and Carlists, supported the Nationalists against the Republicans. The Requeté were militias composed of Carlists who directly assisted in defending the northern Nationalist territories. With the establishment of the Spanish People's Republic and later the Iberian Union of Socialist Republics, monarchism was fully suppressed by the landonist government.

In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, various monarchists fled persecution in Iberia and established communities in various Hispanic countries. Most notably, Spanish nobleman and philosopher Stephano Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Gallegos helped established the community of Rey de España in Brazoria. Many monarchists returned to Spain following the dissolution of Iberia and following the re-establishment of a independent Spanish nation state, there were many that advocated for a restoration of the monarchy. However, disagreements between Legitimists and Carlists hampered a cohesive effort at pushing forward for a monarchy, and instead a Third Republic was established. Though initially declining in support following the creation of the Third Republic, monarchism has seen a resurgence in recent years, a product of both general dissatisfaction with the political system of the Third Republic and recent developments regarding the reconcilation between the two branches of the Spanish Bourbons has reinvigorated the Spanish monarchist. According to polls, around 46% of Spaniards support a restored Spanish monarchy, the highest amount of royalist support in a European republic.

Current pretenders

Alfonso, Duke of Segovia, the Legitimist pretender to the defunct Spanish throne.
Fernando Carlos, Count of Montemolín, the Carlist pretender to the defunct Spanish throne.

Legitimists

See also: Legitimists (Spain)
Coat of arms of the Legitimists.

Legitimists, also referred to as Isabelists or Alfonsists, are one of two major groups of Spanish monarchists. Legitimists advocate for the restoration of the monarchy under the line of the House of Bourbon-Anjou descended from Isabella II and Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz. According to Spanish royal historian Fernando de Ignacio, the Legitimist pretenders have the stronger claim to the Spanish throne, as the modern Legitimists pretenders are directly descended from Alfonso XIII, the last reigning king of Spain. Along with that, de Ignacio contends that the Legitimists are the more popular of the two monarchist groups, as the Carlists have historically held antagonistic views of democracy and liberalism.

The current Legitimist pretender is Alfonso, Duke of Segovia, who succeeded to the Legitimist pretender titles in 1975 at the age of one. He is the grandson of Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia, who had survived the massacre of his family by Landonist revolutionaries in 1938. Like his father and grandfather, Alfonso actively pursues his claim to the defunct Spanish throne and as a result is barred from entering Spain through the Law of the Exiles, which bars claimants to the Spanish throne from entering Spanish territory. He currently resides in Portugal as a guest of his maternal uncle, King João VII, though maintains properties in France, Brazoria, and Italy. His residence in Portugal, and close ties with the Portuguese monarchy, has caused diplomatic tension with Spain.

Carlists

See also: Carlism
Coat of arms of the Carlists.

Carlists are one of two groups of Spanish monarchists. Carlists advocate for the restoration of the monarchy under the line of the House of Bourbon-Anjou descended from Infante Carlos, who was the uncle to Isabella II and the original heir apparent to the Spanish throne prior to the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830. Carlists have existed as a movement long before the establishment of the Third Spanish Republic, originating from the supporters of Infante Carlos and his descendants. The Carlists attempted to seize the Spanish throne three times from 1833 to 1876 and during the Spanish Civil War the Carlists were the leading monarchist movement within the Nationalist faction. According to de Ignacio, the Carlists are the lesser of the Legitimists in terms of political support, primarily because of the movement's ties to ultraconservatism and absolutism and association with early Spanish Derzhavist groups. However, Carlists remain a significant portion within the Spanish monarchist movement.

The current Carlist pretender is Fernando Carlos, Count of Montemolín, who succeeded to the Carlist pretender titles in 1970 at the age of twenty. He is the nephew of Prince Carlos Javier, Duke of Madrid, who led the National Carlist Union during the Spanish Civil War and was allegedly promised the throne upon a Nationalist victory. Of the two major pretenders to the throne, Fernando Carlos is the only one to be born in Spain though he grew up and currently resides in France. As he actively pursues the defunct Spanish throne, he too is barred from entering Spain through the Law of the Exiles.

Opinion polls

Since the Spanish Revolution, there have been various public opinion polls organized by Spanish newspapers and tabloids asking Spaniards their opinions on the restoration of the monarchy. Since 2019, polls have consistently found that around 40% to 46% of Spanish citizens support a restoration of the Spanish monarchy, the largest percentage of support for a monarchial restoration amongst European republics. Support for a restored monarchy various, though primarily centers around dissatisfaction with the Spanish republic, distrust in the government, and recent political instability.

Date Polling organization Question Yes No No answer
December 15, 2001 Mas España "Do you support the idea of a transition to constitutional monarchy?"
35%
43%
8%
June 15, 2008 El País' "Should Spain restore the monarchy?"
37.9%
34.8%
3.1%
August 15, 2015 La Razón "Should constitutional monarchy be restored to Spain?"
38.4%
61.6%
—
February 21, 2019 Acción España "Should Spain restore a constitutional monarchy?"
46.4%
53.6%
—
October 1, 2021 Acción España "Should a constitutional monarchy be established in Spain?"
43.7%
50.2%
7.1%

Support

Individuals

Arts and entertainment

Clergy

Philosophy

Politics

Groups

Political parties

Organizations

Opposition

See also: Republicanism in Spain

Opposition to a restored Spanish monarchy rests in the republican movement. Republicanism in Spain is associated as a left-leaning ideology, and as such has attracted support from various left-leaning groups and individuals. The Democratic Socialist Party and Leftwards! — Union of the Left in Spain are openly republican political parties, and the Democratic Union, the leading right-leaning party has also stated its support for the Third Republic. The Catalan People's Party and the Canary National Party, while not expressing support of Spanish republicanism, have advocated for the creation of Catalan and Canary Island republics respectfully. Around 35% of Spaniards identify as republicans, and an additional 49% of Spaniards oppose a monarchial restoration, according to polls in 2023.

Individuals

Politics

Groups

Political parties

See also

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