The historical context
On this day in 1823, 201 years ago, an event took place that marked the history of Spain. The army known as “the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis” crossed the Spanish-French border and penetrated into the interior of Spain. This army was made up of soldiers from the French absolutist regime of Louis XVIII, Spanish reactionary volunteers and foreign mercenaries. The aim of this army was to overthrow the liberal Spanish regime and destabilize the country.
The invasion and the resistance
The invading army found little resistance in the north and center of Spain, since the generals responsible for the defense went over to the absolutist side. However, in Catalonia there were different positions. While General Espoz y Mina put up a tough resistance, General Milans del Bosch collaborated with the invaders. After half a year, the invaders had occupied the entire Spanish kingdom and King Ferdinand VII ended the liberal government.
The comparison with other historical events
It is interesting to compare this invasion with other historical events such as the entry of the French imperial army in 1808 and the coronation of Joseph I. While these events have been presented as invasions and betrayals, the absolutist invasion and overthrow of the liberal government in Spain are attributed exclusively to King Ferdinand VII and the absolutist forces.
The historical importance
This invasion and the overthrow of the liberal government had a significant impact on the history of Spain. It ended the period known as the Liberal Triennium and restored the absolutist regime. This event marked the beginning of an era of repression and retrogression in political and civil liberties in Spain.