Royal Expedition facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Expedition |
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| Part of First Carlist War | |
Contemporary map showing the path of the Expedition
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| Operational scope | Strategical |
| Commanded by | Don Carlos, Infante Sebastian, Vicente González Moreno |
| Objective | Control of Madrid and land south of the Ebro river |
| Date | 15 May 1837 – 4 October 1837 |
| Outcome | See Aftermath |
The Royal Expedition (Spanish: Expedición Real), also known as Don Carlos' Expedition, was a major military event in 1837. It happened during the First Carlist War in Spain. This war was fought between two groups: the Carlists, who supported Don Carlos as king, and the Cristinos, who supported Queen Isabella II.
The Royal Expedition was a big attempt by the Carlists to take control of Madrid, the capital city. It was their strongest moment in the war. However, it ended in a big defeat for them. This failure helped lead to the end of the war in 1839.
Contents
Why the Expedition Started
The Royal Expedition began on May 15, 1837. The Carlists started from their main city, Estella-Lizarra. They planned a huge attack on Madrid. There were several reasons why they decided to do this.
Financial Troubles
Years of war had made it hard for the Carlists to get supplies and money. Their soldiers were not always paid, and some even mutinied (rebelled) in March. Advisors told Don Carlos that his army could only keep fighting for about two more weeks. They needed a big change to survive.
International Support
Other countries were watching the war in Spain. Some leaders, like Klemens von Metternich from Austria, said they would stop helping the Carlists with money if they didn't expand their control past the Ebro River. France suggested they would help if the Carlists took over the border with France. Also, some European powers said they would recognize Don Carlos as king if he sent an official message from Madrid.
Hope for Peace
There were also rumors that Queen Maria Cristina might agree to a peace deal. This deal might involve her leaving Spain and her daughter marrying a Carlist prince. This would mean Don Carlos would give up his claim to the throne for his son.
Carlist Confidence
Carlist officers felt confident after a recent victory in the Battle of Aguirre. Many Carlist soldiers also wanted a big attack on Madrid. They believed it was the best way to win the war.
The Expedition Journey
When the expedition started, the Carlists didn't have any large cannons (artillery). They had to wait a few days to get these weapons when they met up with other Carlist groups. Many priests and government officials also joined the army. They hoped to get important jobs in Madrid once the city was captured. This made it harder for the army to find enough food and places to stay.
Cristino Weakness
The Cristino army was also having a tough time. They had faced many mutinies over the past year. Also, many churches in Cristino areas had closed. This made Carlist soldiers feel even more strongly that they were fighting for their religion. This gave them high morale.
Early Victories
On May 25, the Carlists met a large Cristino army at the Second Battle of Huesca. The Carlists won, capturing or killing over a thousand Cristino soldiers. They then took over the city of Huesca. Three days later, they captured Barbastro without a fight.
On June 2, the Cristinos attacked Barbastro. The Carlists won again, even though they had far fewer cannons. Their strong knowledge of the local land helped them greatly.
Crossing the Ebro
On June 29, the Carlists crossed the Ebro River. They joined forces with another Carlist leader, Cabrera. This stopped the Cristinos from fighting back in Catalonia. The Carlists now controlled many areas, but they couldn't take big cities or coastal towns.
However, the Carlist army was getting tired from all the marching. It was also becoming harder to get supplies to them.
First Defeat
On July 15, the Carlists faced their first defeat of the expedition at the Battle of Chiva. A smaller Cristino force almost completely defeated the main Carlist army. This forced the Carlists to retreat north. As they moved, both sides took supplies from the villages they passed through.
On August 24, while still retreating, the Carlists won a battle at Battle of Villar de los Navarros. They defeated a Cristino army of similar size. They took prisoners and much-needed supplies.
Closing in on Madrid
At the same time, another Carlist group, led by Juan Antonio de Zaratiegui, launched an attack from Navarre. This group moved very quickly through Cristino areas that were not well-defended. They captured Segovia in early August.
Both Carlist groups were now getting close to Madrid at the same time. People in the capital city became very worried. On August 6, the Cristino government declared Madrid to be under a state of siege. This meant strict rules were put in place to stop anyone from helping the Carlists.
The Cristinos gave up towns around Madrid to gather their forces. In Valladolid, for example, the city changed hands peacefully. Pro-Carlist leaders took over as Cristino leaders left for Madrid. This peaceful change saved the city from being damaged. Later, Cristino forces attacked, and Zaratiegui had to leave Valladolid to join the Royal Expedition.
Retreat from Madrid
On September 10, the Carlists reached the walls of Madrid. There were rumors of a possible peace deal. Some people in Madrid prepared for a siege. However, these preparations were not needed.
The Cristino army, led by Espartero, marched to Madrid. This show of strength made Don Carlos fear the worst. The Carlists decided to retreat. They moved to Alcalá de Henares and then even further back. This removed any threat to Madrid. Many Carlist soldiers were very angry about this retreat.
The retreat greatly boosted the Cristino army's morale. The Carlists then suffered many defeats as they pulled back. They lost all the momentum they had gained. They also lost more weapons and soldiers due to desertions (soldiers leaving the army). The good reputation they had built in the villages they captured was gone.
Don Carlos tried to get Cabrera to take over as commander, but Cabrera refused. He was upset about the king's poor leadership. Other foreign helpers were also angry. They felt the Carlists had wasted many chances for big victories.
Harsh Retreat
The journey back to the Basque Country was very difficult. Carlist soldiers who fell behind from tiredness faced harsh punishment from their own army to stop others from leaving.
Espartero, the Cristino commander, was also very strict with the people in Castille. Many had helped the Carlists during the expedition. Now, they faced food shortages and harsh treatment from both armies. Espartero even threatened the death penalty for anyone found hoarding food. His own soldiers also struggled, with poor clothing and shoes.
On October 4, the Cristinos won a close battle at Battle of Retuerta. This pushed the Carlists back across the Ebro River. This battle marked the end of the Royal Expedition.
Villagers feared the Cristinos more than the retreating Carlists. So, they refused to make shoes or equipment for the Cristinos. This forced the Cristinos to take supplies by force.
Aftermath of the Royal Expedition
The Royal Expedition showed that the Carlists were not strong enough to win big battles deep inside Cristino territory. They were only effective in areas they already controlled. Their failure to capture Madrid led to much less support from other countries.
Changes in Carlist Leadership
After the expedition, Don Carlos said it was just a "promising dress rehearsal" for a future attack. This was a change from his earlier claims that the march on Madrid would end the war.
More extreme members of the Carlist court, called "apostolics," started to take over. They said the expedition's failure was caused by those who wanted peace. Moderate leaders were removed from their positions. New leaders like Teijeiro and Guergué took over. These new leaders often argued with the army, especially with Commander-in-chief Rafael Maroto. This caused deep disagreements within the Carlist ranks.
Cabrera's Growing Power
Most of the Carlist successes during the expedition came from Cabrera's efforts in the Maestrazgo region. Because of this, Cabrera became a very powerful leader in his area. He gained the power to say no to decisions about both politics and military matters. His local victories also led to more people joining the Carlist army in his region. As the fighting in the north slowed down, the Carlists focused more on the eastern regions led by Cabrera.
Cabrera's Control
Carlist territory under Cabrera reached its largest size in 1838. He became very harsh with prisoners. He captured Morella on January 25 and made it his main city. He started acting like a military dictator, making decisions over the Carlist government and even the Church. He melted down church bells to make weapons. He even demoted a bishop who complained about him.
In June, Cabrera sent people to Italy to get foreign support for a new plan in Catalonia. But British ships stopped them. In December, the British caught a Carlist arms dealer trying to buy 15,000 firearms. Because of this, the British worked harder to stop suspicious cargo on the Spanish coast. This reduced the Carlists' supply of weapons.
End of the War
On August 31, 1839, the Basque provinces agreed to surrender in the Convention of Vergara. This freed up Espartero's army to focus all its strength on Cabrera's territory. Cabrera's area faced a "reign of terror." He became very ill in February 1840. By the time he recovered in May, most of the east had been lost to the Cristinos. In June, he went into exile in France. This marked the end of the First Carlist War.
See also
In Spanish: Expedición Real para niños
