Legitimation discourses concerning the 19th century Spanish monarchy

Isabel II and Alfonso XII, constitutional and Catholic monarchs

Abstract

The 19th century Spanish monarchy had to adapt to the liberal revolution in order to survive the historical rupture that led to the new constitutional era. This complex process contained elements of rupture, but also of continuity. The sources of legitimation of the monarchy diversified, and the historical legitimation based on dynasty and political and cultural tradition (authority, Catholicism, etc.) was supplemented by another substantial discourse derived from constitutional legality and the moderating role of the monarchy in the political sphere and in social arbitration. The new constitutional monarchy became the core of the liberal political system, and in the process of accommodation to the liberal model, the monarchy played a leading role via its symbolic and representational function in the construction of the liberal State and national identity. This paper presents a comparative analysis in the European context of the main legitimation discourses and strategies concerning Isabel II and her son Alfonso XII of Bourbon, paying particular attention to their characterisation as constitutional and Catholic monarchs.