Carlism and Crisis in Spain, 1931-1939

410 Pages·2008·20.666 MB·English

by  Martin Blinkhorn

Carlism and crisis in Spain
FOR MY PARENTS
Carlism and crisis in Spain
1931-1939
MARTIN BLINKHORN
Lecturer in History, University of Lancaster
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE
LONDON • NEW YORK • MELBOURNE
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
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© Cambridge University Press 1975
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 1975
This digitally printed version 2008
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 75-2727
ISBN 978-0-521-20729-4 hardback
ISBN 978-0-521-08634-9 paperback
Contents
Preface ix Glossary of Spanish terms etc. xi
I A classic form of counter-revolution i
2 The Vaticanist Gibraltar 4i
3 The national arena 68
4 Rivals on the right 94
5 A young man to lead the young 119
6 Traditionalism and the contemporary crisis 141
7 Carlism and fascism !63
8 The politics of counter-revolution 183
9 Preparation for rebellion 207
IO Adveniat Regnum Tuum 228
II The Fourth Carlist War 251
12 The New State 271
Epilogue: Carlism in the Spain of Franco 296
Appendix: The Carlist succession 308
Notes 3*3
Bibliography 362
Index 387

Preface
The book which follows is a study of political extremism in the Spain
of the Second Republic and the Civil War: to be precise, of that
traditionalist subspecies of right-wing extremism which in Spain
was — and is — represented by one of the curiosities of contemporary
European history, namely Carlism. In the narrow context of the
1930s, Carlism's most obvious importance resides in its role as a
vital element within Nationalist Spain, one without which, indeed,
the rebels of 1936 might never have established the military position
from which they were able to win the Civil War. Even before the
outbreak of hostilities, however, Carlism had played a significant
part as one of the political forces most antagonistic towards the
Second Republic. As such, it not only contributed its own share in
the undermining of that regime, but also by virtue of its existence
helped to tug other, less automatically reactionary forces away from
the path of constitutionalism.
Yet there is more to Carlism than this. The 1930s marked the
centenary of a movement which had throughout that time exercised
a powerful influence upon Spanish history, either directly or as a
point of reference for other parties, interests and ideologies. In a
broader, European setting, Carlism represents the outstanding
example of a popular movement of the ultra-conservative, as distinct
from the fascist right. Fascism has been intensively studied in recent
years, ultra-conservatism or traditionalism less so; study of a tradi-
tionalist movement of so classic a type as Carlism may therefore
enhance appreciably our understanding of the extreme right in all
its forms. The Carlist movement thus merits scholarly attention not
only on account of its role in the affairs of Spain, but also by virtue
of its place in the wider spectrum of European right-wing politics
and ideas.
I should like to thank all those persons and institutions who have
contributed in their various ways towards the accomplishment of this
study. The staffs of the following archives and libraries deserve
vn
viii Preface
special gratitude for their competence and tolerance: in Madrid,
the Hemeroteca Municipal, the Biblioteca Nacional, the Archivo
Histo'rico Nacional and the Hemeroteca Nacional; in Barcelona,
the Archivo de la Ciudad; in Pamplona, the Archivo de la Diputacion
de Navarra; in London, the British Museum Reading Room, the
British Museum Newspaper Library at Colindale, and the London
Library; and in Oxford, the Bodleian Library.
Particular appreciation is due to two distinguished scholars whose
inspiration underlies this book. Raymond Carr, Warden of
St Antony's College, Oxford, first awoke my interest in the history
of Spain through his undergraduate lectures, and subsequently super-
vised the doctoral thesis of which this study is a development;
Professor Gordon Wright, of Stanford University, aroused a parallel
interest in the history and politics of the European right through his
wise teaching of French history during my year as an M.A. student.
Several friends and colleagues in the field of Spanish history have
read all or part, either of the original doctoral thesis or of the present
manuscript, and my thanks are offered to them for their helpful and
critical comments: Dr Richard Robinson of the University of
Birmingham; Professor Stanley Payne of the University of Wiscon-
sin; Professor Alistair Hennessy of the University of Warwick;
Professor Robert Whealey of Ohio University; Mr Paul Preston of
the University of Reading; Don Joaquin Romero Maura; and my
own research students, Raymond Steele and Stephen Lynam. Valu-
able help and encouragement has also come from Professor Gabriel
Jackson of the University of California, San Diego; Professor Hugh
Thomas of the University of Reading; Mr Herbert South worth;
Don Julio Caro Baroja; and Don Jaime del Burgo. The respon-
sibility for all the interpretations, judgements and errors contained
in the book is, of course, entirely my own.
Finally, I wish to thank the William Waldorf Astor Foundation
for granting me the financial assistance which made it possible to
visit Spain in 1971 in order to supplement the original research
carried out between 1965 and 1968; the University of Lancaster
for allowing me periods of sabbatical leave in 1971 and 1973—4,
during the latter of which the greater part of this book was written;
and my wife, Irene, for her constant encouragement and her tolerance
towards my many absences in Spain.
Lancaster
March