Title

Barricades against Baldomero Espartero’s regency.

Description

Barcelona was the capital of revolutionary activity during the Regency of General Baldomero Espartero, a period better known as the Progressive Triennium (1840-1843). In the summer of 1840, the city led demonstrations of discontent against Queen Regent Maria Cristina, who was forced into exile to France. Subsequently, Baldomero Espartero, victorious general of the First Carlist War (1833-1840), was appointed regent and he promoted the formation of governments with liberal-progressive majorities. Even so, a further revolution broke out in mid-November 1842. The revolt was carried out by the workers, organised in the trade union organisation of weavers, and the republicans. The moderate-liberal group of the city supported the revolt in order to destabilise the government, while the progressives were against it and sought a solution through negotiation between the parties. This failed revolution of workers and republicans gained admiration among European revolutionaries, such as Etienne Cabet, and confirmed the worst fears of the governmental elites and the moderate groups of the city.

Less than a year later there was a new revolt that joined together progressives, republicans, and workers confronting the government. The revolt lasted for six months but its progressive radicalisation served to fracture the broad anti-government front. The revolutionaries were finally defeated and the repression was much more extensive than it had been following previous revolts.

This picture shows the barricade erected by the revolutionaries of 1842 in Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución), where the headquarters of the revolutionary government of the city were located, in order to defend themselves against the arrival of the army. In the picture the presence of workers, militiamen, and the support of some bourgeois who represented the elites of the city can be seen.

Contributor

Jordi Roca Vernet

Temporal Coverage

15 November 1842

Date

1842-11-15

Bibliographic Citation

Escenas de la revolución y bombardeo de Barcelona en el año 1842, Barcelona: Impresor y Litografía de J. Roger, 1843
http://www.atlesdebarcelona.cat/gravats/472/?lang=ca&tax=series&taxId=82

Spatial Coverage

Barcelona, Spain

Subject

Espartero

groups

people

popular protest

practices

workers