Eduardo Dato’s first political steps, the 1884 elections. Power and political influence in canoviste Spain

Abstract

19th century last decade encloses great transcendence to Spain’s contemporary history. Parallel to the great events taken place throughout these years, we may observe the rising of a new political generation who, once Canovas, Silvela, Sagasta, and Castelar among others, were disappeared, would be the responsible of nourishing the elite ranks leading the country. We speak here of Maura, Canalejas, Romanones, and amongst them, Eduardo Dato. To the characteristic democratic shortfalls from the political system, we shall sum up a wide range of particularities in the electoral battle. With this article we have determined ourselves to deepen into the beginning of Dato’s political career, who in the end was an essential and one of the most prolific statesman in Spain’s contemporary history.