Carlism was a conservative political movement in Spain, purporting to establish an alternative branch of the Bourbons in the Spanish throne.

Table of contents
1 Origin
2 Carlist Wars
3 Carlist symbols
4 Pretenders to the throne

Origin

During the reign (1808–1833) of Ferdinand VII of Spain — in the aftermath of the Spanish War of Independence — the political situation oscillated between the supporters of the Ancien régime and the Liberals influenced by the French Revolution of 1789, though many of them have fought the Napoleonic occupation.

During Ferdinand's last days, the question of sucession wasn't clear. According to the Bourbon custom (the Salic law), the throne was reserved for males, but Ferdinand had no sons. The King was said to sign a Pragmática Sanción, restoring the right of women to the throne (with precedence given to their brothers), as it was the custom of Castile since the Fuero Juzgo of Alfonso X of Castile. Hence, his daughter Isabella II of Spain was proclaimed queen.

After the king's death, followers of the Conservative Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, king's brother and Isabella's uncle, impugned the Sanción.

What began as a family spat got out of hand, dividing for many years the country between Conservatives and Liberals.

Carlist Wars

Carlist military leaders

Isabelline, Alfonsine or Cristine military leaders

  • Baldomero Espartero

Carlist symbols

Motto: Dios, Patria, Fueros, Rey. Flag: the red sotuer of Burgundy on white. Uniform: red beret. In Basque, they were called txapelgorri.

The following are random phrases waiting for you to flesh them and integrate them in the article

The Carlists have traditionally been strong in Navarre, Basque Country and Valencia region.

The Carlists wanted the Spanish Inquisition back and region decentralization (Fueros).

Basque nationalism and Catholic integrism emanated from Carlism,

Requeté, Brigadas de Navarra, detente bala, trágala; ojalateros were courtmen saying Ojalá nos ataquen y ganemos, Bergara/Vergara was the royal Court and place of the Abrazo de Bergara.

Karl Marx and Mariano José de Larra wrote on it.

Pretenders to the throne

After coming to power in 1939, Franco united the Carlists with the Falange party. By the 1970s, they were again divided in Carlos-Hugo's extreme right, Tito-style autogestionary Socialists in the pro-democracy Platajunta and supporters of Juan Carlos of Spain. At Montejurra/Jurramendi, 1977, the rightists shot on the pro-democracy ones.

After the first democratic elections (1978?), they remained extra-parliamentary. Only in some towns they got council members.