The anti-clericalism of the match and gasoline: The burning of convents in May 1931 in Madrid

Abstract

This article analyzes and reconstructs through newspaper and archivists sources some violent episodes known as “The Burning of Convents” that took place in Madrid on the 10th and 11th of May 1931, within a month after the proclamation of the Republic and which is the first serious conflict than it has to face the new government. In order to accomplish such task, it will examine the interpretations of such events in a critical way. This paper will also try to establish an innovative analysis framework for such historical facts, as well as the importance of (political) figures such as cardinal Segura, cardinal Vidal y Baraquer, bishops Múgica and Eijo, Maura, Alcalá Zamora, Azaña, Ramón Franco, Pablo Rada, etc., were in the facts.