National Militia (Spain)
Encyclopedia
The National Militia in Spain was a citizen-organized quasi-military force comparable to the National Guard
that arose in France
during the French Revolution
.
The National Militia has its origin in the civic military defense groups formed in the War of the Spanish Succession
(1701–1714), but came to full fruition during the Peninsular War
(1808–1814), which is viewed in Spain as a war of independence against Napoleonic France. The Spanish army had been destroyed, but new forces were established at the municipal
and provincial
level, who fought against both France and against certain remnants of feudalism
that remained in Spain.
The Spanish Constitution of 1812
, adopted at Cádiz
while much of the country was still under French control, recognized these groups under the name of milicias nacionales as part of the country's military forces, together with the regular troops. At the same time, this legal recognition implied at least the formal end of their status as voluntary organizations armed by distinct local or provincial government entities, merging them officially into a single body. In 1814 a regulation was put into effect specifying the duty of all citizens to serve if called upon, and regulating the militia. In summary, the National Militia was distinct from the regular army
and was divided into infantry
and cavalry
. Officers were elected by their own troops. The militia was composed of citizens between the ages of 30 and 50; 30 citizens were obliged to serve out of every 1,300 in population. They performed tasks related to security, order, and peace within the borders of Spain.
The militia supported and was supported by the patriotic, but also liberal
movement unleashed by the Peninsular War. Consequently, when the restoration brought the absolutist
Ferdinand VII to power in 1814, the Cádiz constitution was abrogated and the militia was dissolved. Much to the displeasure of the king, the Liberal Triennium of 1820–1823 reconstituted the National Militia, which fought against the absolutist uprisings within the peninsula. The end of the Triennium was, once again, the end of the Militia. It was replaced by a different militia known as the Royalist Volunteers (.
The regency
of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
created a new force in 1834, the "Urban Militia", . After the Mutiny of La Granja in 1836 obliged the regent to restore the Constitution of 1812, the National Militia was once again established.
The new officers of Maria Christina's army, especially Leopoldo O'Donnell and Baldomero Espartero, who, in 1833, had supported the cause of the three-year-old Queen Isabella II
against the claims of the Infante Carlos, Count of Molina
, took a strong ascendency over the National Militia, so that with their collaboration the Militia fought in the First Carlist War
on the side of Isabella II and received their first standards as recognition of actions performed during this conflict. Nonetheless, the forces that supported Isabella II were plagued by conflicts with one another. On one side were the forces of conservative liberalism
known as the doceañistas, arrayed around the Moderate Party
and Maria Christina; on the other the radical liberalism
of the exaltados or veinteañistas arrayed around the Progressive Party
and the National Militia.
The militia participated in the Mutiny of La Granja, the fall of Maria Christina and the rise of
Baldomero Espartero
, against the uprisings of the Moderates (especially the Revolution of 1841 promoted by Maria Christina) and against the establishment of the Década moderada
in 1843, which brought Ramón María Narváez and the Moderates to power. Narváez dissolved the Militia, and shortly thereafter assigned their duties to a newly created Civil Guard
, which survives to this day. The National Militia was briefly reestablished during the Bienio Progresista
in the 1850s, under Espartero. However, when O'Donnell and the Liberal Union
dispatched Espartero two years later, the Militia was again dissolved.
The National Militia as such was formally reestablished by a presidential decree of Emilio Castelar during the First Spanish Republic
, but once again, and definitively, dissolved by Cánovas del Castillo in 1876.
National Guard (France)
The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
that arose in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
The National Militia has its origin in the civic military defense groups formed in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
(1701–1714), but came to full fruition during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
(1808–1814), which is viewed in Spain as a war of independence against Napoleonic France. The Spanish army had been destroyed, but new forces were established at the municipal
Municipalities of Spain
The municipalities of Spain In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. municipi.*Galician or , sing. municipio/bisbarra.*Basque , sing. udalerria. are the basic level of Spanish local government...
and provincial
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
level, who fought against both France and against certain remnants of feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
that remained in Spain.
The Spanish Constitution of 1812
Spanish Constitution of 1812
The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated 19 March 1812 by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly of Spain, while in refuge from the Peninsular War...
, adopted at Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
while much of the country was still under French control, recognized these groups under the name of milicias nacionales as part of the country's military forces, together with the regular troops. At the same time, this legal recognition implied at least the formal end of their status as voluntary organizations armed by distinct local or provincial government entities, merging them officially into a single body. In 1814 a regulation was put into effect specifying the duty of all citizens to serve if called upon, and regulating the militia. In summary, the National Militia was distinct from the regular army
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
and was divided into infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. Officers were elected by their own troops. The militia was composed of citizens between the ages of 30 and 50; 30 citizens were obliged to serve out of every 1,300 in population. They performed tasks related to security, order, and peace within the borders of Spain.
The militia supported and was supported by the patriotic, but also liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
movement unleashed by the Peninsular War. Consequently, when the restoration brought the absolutist
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
Ferdinand VII to power in 1814, the Cádiz constitution was abrogated and the militia was dissolved. Much to the displeasure of the king, the Liberal Triennium of 1820–1823 reconstituted the National Militia, which fought against the absolutist uprisings within the peninsula. The end of the Triennium was, once again, the end of the Militia. It was replaced by a different militia known as the Royalist Volunteers (.
The regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...
created a new force in 1834, the "Urban Militia", . After the Mutiny of La Granja in 1836 obliged the regent to restore the Constitution of 1812, the National Militia was once again established.
The new officers of Maria Christina's army, especially Leopoldo O'Donnell and Baldomero Espartero, who, in 1833, had supported the cause of the three-year-old Queen Isabella II
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
against the claims of the Infante Carlos, Count of Molina
Infante Carlos, Count of Molina
The Infante Carlos of Spain was the second surviving son of King Charles IV of Spain and of his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma. As Carlos V he was the first of the Carlist claimants to the throne of Spain...
, took a strong ascendency over the National Militia, so that with their collaboration the Militia fought in the First Carlist War
First Carlist War
The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833-1839.-Historical background:At the beginning of the 18th century, Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, promulgated the Salic Law, which declared illegal the inheritance of the Spanish crown by women...
on the side of Isabella II and received their first standards as recognition of actions performed during this conflict. Nonetheless, the forces that supported Isabella II were plagued by conflicts with one another. On one side were the forces of conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
known as the doceañistas, arrayed around the Moderate Party
Moderate Party (Spain)
The Moderate Party or Moderate Liberal Party was one of the two Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II...
and Maria Christina; on the other the radical liberalism
Radicalism (historical)
The term Radical was used during the late 18th century for proponents of the Radical Movement. It later became a general pejorative term for those favoring or seeking political reforms which include dramatic changes to the social order...
of the exaltados or veinteañistas arrayed around the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Spain)
The Progressive Party was one of the two Spanish political parties that contended for power during the reign of Isabel II . They were to the left of the opposing Moderate Party , but also characterized themselves as liberal...
and the National Militia.
The militia participated in the Mutiny of La Granja, the fall of Maria Christina and the rise of
Baldomero Espartero
Baldomero Espartero, Prince of Vergara
Don Joaquín Baldomero Fernández-Espartero y Alvarez de Toro, 1st Prince of Vergara, 1st Duke of la Victoria, 1st Duke of Morella, 1st Count of Luchana, 1st Viscount of Banderas was a Spanish general and political figure...
, against the uprisings of the Moderates (especially the Revolution of 1841 promoted by Maria Christina) and against the establishment of the Década moderada
Década moderada
In the history of Spain, the década moderada was the period from May 1844 to July 1854, during which the Moderate Party continuously held power.-Rise to power:...
in 1843, which brought Ramón María Narváez and the Moderates to power. Narváez dissolved the Militia, and shortly thereafter assigned their duties to a newly created Civil Guard
Civil Guard (Spain)
The Civil Guard is the Spanish gendarmerie. It has foreign peace-keeping missions and maintains military status and is the equivalent of a federal military-status police force. As a police force, the Guardia Civil is comparable today to the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri and the...
, which survives to this day. The National Militia was briefly reestablished during the Bienio Progresista
Bienio progresista
In the history of Spain, the Bienio progresista was the two-year period from July 1854 to July 1856, during which the Progressive Party attempted to reform the political system of the reign of Isabella II, which had been dominated by the Moderate Party since 1843 in the so-called Década moderada...
in the 1850s, under Espartero. However, when O'Donnell and the Liberal Union
Liberal Union (Spain)
The Liberal Union was a political party in Spain in the third quarter of the 19th century. It was founded by Leopoldo O'Donnell in 1858 with the intent of forging a compromise and taking a centrist position between the two forces that had hitherto dominated Spanish politics during the reign of...
dispatched Espartero two years later, the Militia was again dissolved.
The National Militia as such was formally reestablished by a presidential decree of Emilio Castelar during the First Spanish Republic
First Spanish Republic
The First Spanish Republic was the political regime that existed in Spain between the parliamentary proclamation on 11 February 1873 and 29 December 1874 when General Arsenio Martínez-Campos's pronunciamento marked the beginning of the Bourbon Restoration in Spain...
, but once again, and definitively, dissolved by Cánovas del Castillo in 1876.