Ominous Decade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingdom of Spain
Reino de España
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| 1823–1833 | |||||||||
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Motto: Plus ultra (Latin)
(English: "Further Beyond") |
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Anthem: Marcha Real
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| Capital | Madrid | ||||||||
| Common languages | Spanish | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic Church (official) | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Spanish | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
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• 1823-1833
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Ferdinand VII | ||||||||
| Legislature | Cortes Generales | ||||||||
| Historical era | 19th century | ||||||||
| 1823 | |||||||||
| 1833 | |||||||||
| Currency | Escudo, Real | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | ES | ||||||||
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The Ominous Decade (which means Década Ominosa in Spanish) was a period in Spain's history. It lasted for ten years, from 1823 to 1833. This time was the final part of King Ferdinand VII of Spain's rule.
It began when the King got rid of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 on October 1, 1823. It ended when he died on September 29, 1833. This decade was known for being a tough time for people who wanted more freedom and a different kind of government.
Contents
Spain Before the Ominous Decade
King Ferdinand VII became king after Spain won the Peninsular War against France. He returned to Spain in 1814. One of his first actions was to cancel the 1812 constitution, which had given people more rights. He also closed the Spanish Parliament.
These actions led to many military uprisings. In 1820, General Rafael del Riego led one such revolt. The King was then forced to bring back the constitution. This period, from 1820 to 1823, was called the Trienio Liberal (meaning "Liberal Three Years"). During this time, the King had to accept many changes that reduced his power.
How the King Regained Power
King Ferdinand did not like these changes. He asked for help from other powerful kings in Europe. These kings had formed an alliance called the Holy Alliance. They had agreed to help each other if a democratic revolution happened in their countries.
In 1823, France sent an army to Spain. This army was known as the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis. They were led by Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême. The French army entered Madrid, and the people who supported the constitution left the city. They took the King with them to Cádiz, a city by the sea.
In Cádiz, the democratic Parliament declared that the King was no longer in charge. However, the French troops surrounded the city. On August 31, the Battle of Trocadero happened, and the supporters of the constitution were defeated. The city surrendered, and King Ferdinand was free.
The Ominous Decade Begins
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After getting his power back, King Ferdinand VII started the "Ominous Decade." This period was marked by his strong efforts to stop anyone who disagreed with him. Many members of the Liberal Party had to leave Spain. They went to places like London, Paris, or even new countries in South America.
Others who stayed were punished severely. For example, General Del Riego, who had led the revolution, was put to death in Madrid in 1823.
Changes in Spain
The King brought back strict rules about what could be published or said. He also changed universities to be under the control of the government. Francisco Tadeo Calomarde, the Minister of Justice, was in charge of stopping opposition. He also brought back old groups like the Jesuits, who had been banned before.
The French army stayed in Spain for a while. Their presence was costly and further damaged Spain's money problems. Spain's money was already low because of wars and revolutions in its South American colonies.
The King also created a special group called the Voluntarios Realistas (Royalist Volunteers). This group was made up of people loyal to the King. Their job was to help the King stop anyone who supported the liberal ideas. By 1826, this group had about 200,000 volunteers.
Challenges and Changes in the Decade
Political Problems and Revolts
The Ominous Decade saw many small revolts and attempts at revolution. One famous attempt was by Torrijos in 1831, supported by English liberals.
However, King Ferdinand's policies also made some conservatives unhappy. In 1827, a revolt started in Catalonia and spread to other regions like Valencia and the Basque Country. These ultra-conservatives felt that Ferdinand had not been strict enough. They wanted him to bring back the Spanish Inquisition, a powerful religious court.
This revolt was called the War of the Agraviados. About 30,000 men took control of much of Catalonia. King Ferdinand went to Tarragona himself to stop the revolt. He promised to forgive the rebels if they surrendered. But once they gave up, he had their leaders executed and sent others away to France.
A New Rule for the Throne
More problems arose in 1830 when Ferdinand made a new rule called the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830. This rule had actually been approved by his father, Charles IV, back in 1789. But it was only made public now.
This new rule allowed daughters to inherit the Spanish throne if there were no sons. King Ferdinand only had two daughters. His oldest daughter, Isabella II, was born in October 1830. This rule meant that Ferdinand's brother, Carlos, Count of Molina, could not become king.
King Ferdinand's Final Years
In his last years, King Ferdinand became very sick. He could no longer manage the country's affairs. His young wife, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, took over as the ruler.
Since Don Carlos, the King's brother, was known for supporting strict rule, Maria Christina decided to get help from the liberal side. This made Carlos's supporters even angrier. When Ferdinand died in 1833, his daughter Isabella II was declared Queen. But Carlos disagreed and said he was the rightful heir. This disagreement led to the start of the First Carlist War.
See also
In Spanish: Década Ominosa para niños
