OTD February 28th. 1941 Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso was born on May 17th. 1886 at Royal Palace of Madrid.
He was the posthumous son of Alfonso XII of Spain, who
had died in November 1885, and became King upon his birth.
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He was the posthumous son of Alfonso XII of Spain, who
had died in November 1885, and became King upon his birth.
Five days later he was carried in a solemn court procession
with a Golden Fleece round his neck and was baptised with
water specially brought from the River Jordan in Palestine.
with a Golden Fleece round his neck and was baptised with
water specially brought from the River Jordan in Palestine.
His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, served as his regent
until his sixteenth birthday. During the regency, in 1898, Spain lost
its colonial rule over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines
to the United States as a result of the Spanish–American War.
until his sixteenth birthday. During the regency, in 1898, Spain lost
its colonial rule over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines
to the United States as a result of the Spanish–American War.
Alfonso became seriously ill during the 1889–1890 pandemic.
His health deteriorated around 10 January 1890 and doctors
reported his condition as the flu attacked his nervous system
leaving the young king in a state of indolence. He eventually recovered.
His health deteriorated around 10 January 1890 and doctors
reported his condition as the flu attacked his nervous system
leaving the young king in a state of indolence. He eventually recovered.
When Alfonso came of age in May 1902, the week of his majority
was marked by festivities, bullfights, balls and receptions throughout
Spain. He took his oath to the constitution before members of the
Cortes on 17 May.
was marked by festivities, bullfights, balls and receptions throughout
Spain. He took his oath to the constitution before members of the
Cortes on 17 May.
Alfonso received, to a large extent, a military education that
imbued him with "a Spanish nationalism strengthened by his
military vocation".
imbued him with "a Spanish nationalism strengthened by his
military vocation".
Besides the clique of military tutors, Alfonso also received
political teachings from a liberal—Vicente Santa María de Paredes [es]—
and moral precepts from an integrist, José Fernández de la Montaña.
political teachings from a liberal—Vicente Santa María de Paredes [es]—
and moral precepts from an integrist, José Fernández de la Montaña.
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Source picture: Wikipedia
Love and Marriage
By 1905, Alfonso was looking for a suitable consort. On a state visit
to the United Kingdom, he stayed in London at Buckingham Palace with
King Edward VII. There he met Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg,
the daughter of Edward's youngest sister Princess Beatrice, and a
granddaughter of Queen Victoria. He found her attractive, and she
returned his interest. There were obstacles to the marriage.
to the United Kingdom, he stayed in London at Buckingham Palace with
King Edward VII. There he met Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg,
the daughter of Edward's youngest sister Princess Beatrice, and a
granddaughter of Queen Victoria. He found her attractive, and she
returned his interest. There were obstacles to the marriage.
Victoria was a Protestant, and would have to become a Catholic.
Victoria's brother Leopold was a haemophiliac, so there was a 50
percent chance that Victoria was a carrier of the trait. Finally, Alfonso's
mother Maria Christina wanted him to marry a member of her
family, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, or some other Catholic
princess, as she considered the Battenbergs to be non-dynastic.
Victoria's brother Leopold was a haemophiliac, so there was a 50
percent chance that Victoria was a carrier of the trait. Finally, Alfonso's
mother Maria Christina wanted him to marry a member of her
family, the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, or some other Catholic
princess, as she considered the Battenbergs to be non-dynastic.
Victoria was willing to change her religion, and her being
a haemophilia carrier was only a possibility. Maria Christina was
eventually persuaded to drop her opposition. In January 1906
she wrote an official letter to Princess Beatrice proposing the match.
a haemophilia carrier was only a possibility. Maria Christina was
eventually persuaded to drop her opposition. In January 1906
she wrote an official letter to Princess Beatrice proposing the match.
Victoria met Maria Christina and Alfonso in Biarritz, France, later
that month, and converted to Catholicism in San Sebastián in March.
that month, and converted to Catholicism in San Sebastián in March.
In May, diplomats of both kingdoms officially executed the
agreement of marriage. Alfonso and Victoria were married at the
Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid on 31 May 1906, with
British royalty in attendance, including Victoria's cousins the
Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary).
agreement of marriage. Alfonso and Victoria were married at the
Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid on 31 May 1906, with
British royalty in attendance, including Victoria's cousins the
Prince and Princess of Wales (later King George V and Queen Mary).
The wedding was marked by an assassination attempt on Alfonso
and Victoria by Catalan anarchist Mateu Morral. As the wedding
procession returned to the palace, he threw a bomb from a
window which killed 30 bystanders and members of the procession,
while 100 others were wounded.
and Victoria by Catalan anarchist Mateu Morral. As the wedding
procession returned to the palace, he threw a bomb from a
window which killed 30 bystanders and members of the procession,
while 100 others were wounded.
On 10 May 1907, the couple's first child, Alfonso, Prince of Asturias,
was born. Victoria was in fact a haemophilia carrier, and Alfonso
inherited the condition.
was born. Victoria was in fact a haemophilia carrier, and Alfonso
inherited the condition.
Neither of the two daughters born to the King and Queen were
haemophilia carriers, but another of their sons, Gonzalo (1914–1934),
had the condition. Alfonso distanced himself from his wife for
transmitting the condition to their sons.
haemophilia carriers, but another of their sons, Gonzalo (1914–1934),
had the condition. Alfonso distanced himself from his wife for
transmitting the condition to their sons.
From 1914 on, he had several mistresses, and fathered five illegitimate
children. A sixth illegitimate child had been born before his marriage.
children. A sixth illegitimate child had been born before his marriage.
Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg
Source picture: Wikipedia
World War I
During World War I, because of his family connections with both
sides and the division of popular opinion, Spain remained neutral.
The King established an office for assistance to prisoners of war
on all sides. This office used the Spanish diplomatic and military
network abroad to intercede for thousands of POWs – transmitting
and receiving letters for them, and other services.
The office was located in the Royal Palace.
sides and the division of popular opinion, Spain remained neutral.
The King established an office for assistance to prisoners of war
on all sides. This office used the Spanish diplomatic and military
network abroad to intercede for thousands of POWs – transmitting
and receiving letters for them, and other services.
The office was located in the Royal Palace.
Alfonso attempted to save the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family
from the Bolsheviks who captured them, sending two telegrams offering
the Russian royal family refuge in Spain. He later learned of the
execution of the Romanov family, but was mistaken in believing
that only Nicholas II and his son Alexi had been killed. As such, he
continued to push for the Tsaress Alexandra and her four daughters
to be brought to Spain, not having realized that they had also been murdered.
from the Bolsheviks who captured them, sending two telegrams offering
the Russian royal family refuge in Spain. He later learned of the
execution of the Romanov family, but was mistaken in believing
that only Nicholas II and his son Alexi had been killed. As such, he
continued to push for the Tsaress Alexandra and her four daughters
to be brought to Spain, not having realized that they had also been murdered.
Alfonso became gravely ill during the 1918 flu pandemic. Spain
was neutral and thus under no wartime censorship restrictions, so his
illness and subsequent recovery were reported to the world, while flu
outbreaks in the belligerent countries were concealed. This gave the
misleading impression that Spain was the most affected area and led to
the pandemic being dubbed "the Spanish Flu".
was neutral and thus under no wartime censorship restrictions, so his
illness and subsequent recovery were reported to the world, while flu
outbreaks in the belligerent countries were concealed. This gave the
misleading impression that Spain was the most affected area and led to
the pandemic being dubbed "the Spanish Flu".
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Rif War
Following World War I, Spain entered the lengthy yet victorious
Rif War (1920–1926) to preserve its colonial rule over northern
Morocco. Critics of the monarchy thought the war was an unforgivable
loss of money and lives, and nicknamed Alfonso el Africano
("the African").
Rif War (1920–1926) to preserve its colonial rule over northern
Morocco. Critics of the monarchy thought the war was an unforgivable
loss of money and lives, and nicknamed Alfonso el Africano
("the African").
Alfonso had not acted as a strict constitutional monarch, and
supported the Africanists who wanted to conquer for Spain a new
empire in Africa to compensate for the lost empire in the Americas
and elsewhere.
supported the Africanists who wanted to conquer for Spain a new
empire in Africa to compensate for the lost empire in the Americas
and elsewhere.
The Rif War had starkly polarized Spanish society between the
Africanists who wanted to conquer an empire in Africa vs. the
abandonistas who wanted to abandon Morocco as not worth the
blood and treasure.
Africanists who wanted to conquer an empire in Africa vs. the
abandonistas who wanted to abandon Morocco as not worth the
blood and treasure.
Alfonso liked to play favourites with his generals, and one of his
most favoured generals was Manuel Fernández Silvestre.
In 1921, when Silvestre advanced up into the Rif mountains
of Morocco, Alfonso sent him a telegram whose first line read
"Hurrah for real men!", urging Silvestre not to retreat at a time
when Silvestre was experiencing major difficulties.
most favoured generals was Manuel Fernández Silvestre.
In 1921, when Silvestre advanced up into the Rif mountains
of Morocco, Alfonso sent him a telegram whose first line read
"Hurrah for real men!", urging Silvestre not to retreat at a time
when Silvestre was experiencing major difficulties.
Silvestre stayed the course, leading his men into the Battle of Annual,
one of Spain's worst defeats. Alfonso, who was on holiday in the
south of France at the time, was informed of the "Disaster of the
Annual" while he was playing golf. Reportedly, Alfonso's response
to the news was to shrug his shoulders and say "Chicken meat is
cheap", before resuming his game.
one of Spain's worst defeats. Alfonso, who was on holiday in the
south of France at the time, was informed of the "Disaster of the
Annual" while he was playing golf. Reportedly, Alfonso's response
to the news was to shrug his shoulders and say "Chicken meat is
cheap", before resuming his game.
Alfonso remained in France and did not return to Spain to
comfort the families of the soldiers lost in the battle, which
many people at the time saw as a callous and cold act, a sign
that the King was indifferent over the lives of his soldiers.
comfort the families of the soldiers lost in the battle, which
many people at the time saw as a callous and cold act, a sign
that the King was indifferent over the lives of his soldiers.
In 1922, the Cortes started an investigation into the responsibility
for the Annual disaster and soon discovered evidence that the King
had been one of the main supporters of Silvestre's advance
into the Rif mountains.
for the Annual disaster and soon discovered evidence that the King
had been one of the main supporters of Silvestre's advance
into the Rif mountains.
A coup
On 13 September 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera, Captain General
of Catalonia, staged a military coup with the collaboration from a
quad of Africanist generals based in Madrid who were associated
to the innermost military clique of Alfonso XIII and who wanted
to prevent investigations about Annual from tarnishing the
monarch (José Cavalcanti, Federico Berenguer, Leopoldo
Saro and Antonio Dabán), even if Primo de Rivera had
embraced Abandonista positions prior to that point.
Primo de Rivera ruled as a dictator with the king's support
until January 1930.
of Catalonia, staged a military coup with the collaboration from a
quad of Africanist generals based in Madrid who were associated
to the innermost military clique of Alfonso XIII and who wanted
to prevent investigations about Annual from tarnishing the
monarch (José Cavalcanti, Federico Berenguer, Leopoldo
Saro and Antonio Dabán), even if Primo de Rivera had
embraced Abandonista positions prior to that point.
Primo de Rivera ruled as a dictator with the king's support
until January 1930.
On 28 January 1930, amid economic problems, general
unpopularity and a putschist plot led by General Manuel
Goded in motion, of which Alfonso XIII was most probably aware,
Miguel Primo de Rivera was forced to resign, exiling to Paris,
only to die a few weeks later of the complications from diabetes
in combination with the effects of a flu.
unpopularity and a putschist plot led by General Manuel
Goded in motion, of which Alfonso XIII was most probably aware,
Miguel Primo de Rivera was forced to resign, exiling to Paris,
only to die a few weeks later of the complications from diabetes
in combination with the effects of a flu.
Alfonso XIII appointed General Dámaso Berenguer as the new
prime minister. Back in 1926, Alfonso XIII had appointed Berenguer
as Chief of Staff of the Military House of the King, a post
conventionally fit for burned-out generals in order to move them
away from the spotlight for a time in a show of affection.
prime minister. Back in 1926, Alfonso XIII had appointed Berenguer
as Chief of Staff of the Military House of the King, a post
conventionally fit for burned-out generals in order to move them
away from the spotlight for a time in a show of affection.
The new period was nicknamed as dictablanda. The King was so
closely associated with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera that
it was difficult for him to distance himself from the regime that
he had supported for almost seven years. The enforced changes
relied on the incorrect assumption that Spaniards would accept the
notion that nothing had happened after 1923 and that going
back to the prior state of things was possible.
closely associated with the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera that
it was difficult for him to distance himself from the regime that
he had supported for almost seven years. The enforced changes
relied on the incorrect assumption that Spaniards would accept the
notion that nothing had happened after 1923 and that going
back to the prior state of things was possible.
On 12 April, the Republican coalition, short of winning a majority
of councillors overall, won a sweeping majority in major cities
in the 1931 municipal elections, which were perceived as a
plebiscite on monarchy. The results shocked the government,
with foreign minister Romanones admitting to the press an
"absolute monarchist defeat" and Civil Guard honcho José
Sanjurjo reportedly telling government ministers that, given
circumstances, the Armed Forces could not be "absolutely"
relied upon for the sustainment of the monarchy.
of councillors overall, won a sweeping majority in major cities
in the 1931 municipal elections, which were perceived as a
plebiscite on monarchy. The results shocked the government,
with foreign minister Romanones admitting to the press an
"absolute monarchist defeat" and Civil Guard honcho José
Sanjurjo reportedly telling government ministers that, given
circumstances, the Armed Forces could not be "absolutely"
relied upon for the sustainment of the monarchy.
Exile
Alfonso XIII fled the country and the Second Spanish Republic
was peacefully proclaimed on 14 April 1931.
was peacefully proclaimed on 14 April 1931.
In November 1931, the Constituent Republican Cortes held an
impassionate debate about the political responsibilities of the
former monarch. Some of the grievances against the action of
Alfonso XIII as a king included interference in the institutions
to reinforce his personal power, bargaining personal support f
rom the military clique with rewards and merits, his abuse of
the power to dissolve the legislature, rendering the co-sovereingty
between the Nation and the Crown a total fiction; that he had
disproportionately fostered the Armed forces (often to contain
internal protest), had used the armed forces abroad with
imperialist aims alien to the interests of the nation but his
own, that he had personally devised the military operation of
Annual behind the back of the Council of Ministers, and that
following the massacre of Annual that "cost the lives of thousands
of Spanish lads".
impassionate debate about the political responsibilities of the
former monarch. Some of the grievances against the action of
Alfonso XIII as a king included interference in the institutions
to reinforce his personal power, bargaining personal support f
rom the military clique with rewards and merits, his abuse of
the power to dissolve the legislature, rendering the co-sovereingty
between the Nation and the Crown a total fiction; that he had
disproportionately fostered the Armed forces (often to contain
internal protest), had used the armed forces abroad with
imperialist aims alien to the interests of the nation but his
own, that he had personally devised the military operation of
Annual behind the back of the Council of Ministers, and that
following the massacre of Annual that "cost the lives of thousands
of Spanish lads".
In 1933, his two eldest sons, Alfonso and Jaime, renounced
their claims to the defunct throne on the same day, and in 1934 his
youngest son Gonzalo died. This left his third son Juan his only male heir.
their claims to the defunct throne on the same day, and in 1934 his
youngest son Gonzalo died. This left his third son Juan his only male heir.
After the July 1936 attempted coup d'état against the democratically
elected Republican government a war broke out in Spain. In September
1936, the general who had emerged as leader of the rebel faction,
Francisco Franco, declared that he would not restore Alfonso as king.
elected Republican government a war broke out in Spain. In September
1936, the general who had emerged as leader of the rebel faction,
Francisco Franco, declared that he would not restore Alfonso as king.
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Death
On 15 January 1941, Alfonso XIII renounced his rights to the
defunct Spanish throne in favour of Juan. He died of a heart attack in
Rome on 28 February that year.
defunct Spanish throne in favour of Juan. He died of a heart attack in
Rome on 28 February that year.
In Spain, dictator Francisco Franco ordered three days of national
mourning.The ex-king's funeral was held in Rome in the Church of
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. He was buried in the
Church of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli, the Spanish
national church in Rome, immediately below the tombs of Popes
Callixtus III and Alexander VI.
mourning.The ex-king's funeral was held in Rome in the Church of
Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. He was buried in the
Church of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnoli, the Spanish
national church in Rome, immediately below the tombs of Popes
Callixtus III and Alexander VI.
In January 1980 his remains were transferred to El Escorial in Spain.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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