Narváez, Ramón María

Narváez, Ramón María

(rämōn` märē`ä närvä`ĕth), 1800–1868, Spanish general and statesman. He distinguished himself fighting for Isabella IIIsabella II,
1830–1904, queen of Spain (1833–68), daughter of Ferdinand VII and of Maria Christina. Her uncle, Don Carlos, contested her succession under the Salic law, and thus the Carlist Wars began (see Carlists).
..... Click the link for more information.
 against the Carlists (1834–39). When EsparteroEspartero, Baldomero, duque de la Victoria, conde de Luchana
, 1793–1879, Spanish general and statesman. He fought against the French in the Peninsular War (1808–14) and later against the revolutionists in South America.
..... Click the link for more information.
 rose to power (1840), Narváez joined the partisans of Maria ChristinaMaria Christina
, 1806–78, queen of Spain, daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies. The fourth wife of Ferdinand VII, she persuaded him to confirm (1833) the original revocation (1789) of the Salic law to allow their daughter Isabella to succeed him.
..... Click the link for more information.
 in exile. He returned in 1843 to take part in Espartero's overthrow and was created duque de Valencia in 1845. As leader of the moderate conservatives, Narváez held the premiership, with only brief interruptions, from 1844 to 1851 and had several short ministries later (1856–57, 1864–65, and 1866–68). The "strong man" of Isabelline Spain, his authoritarian policies helped to provoke the uprising that soon after his death caused the downfall of Queen Isabella II.

Narváez, Ramon Maria

 

Born Aug. 5, 1800, in Loja; died Apr. 23, 1868, in Madrid. From 1844, duke of Valencia. Spanish politician and government leader.

An aristocrat by birth, Narváez entered the army at 15. During the 1830’s he took part in military operations against the Carlists and in 1836 became a general. In 1838 he was forced to retire. Siding with the “moderate” liberals, Narváez participated in the November 1838 uprising in Seville against the “progressive” B. Espartero. After the uprising’s failure, Narváez fled first to Gibraltar and then to Paris.

In 1843, Narváez returned to Spain and with support from some elements in the army, occupied Madrid on July 23. Thus he became virtual dictator of Spain until 1851. He led the Moderado Party and several times during 1844–4–5 and again from 1847 to 1851 headed the council of ministers. While Narváez was in power, the antigovernment uprisings of 1844 and 1848 were suppressed, the conservative constitution of 1845 was introduced to replace the constitution of 1837, and Spanish troops were sent to Rome in 1849 to restore the secular power of the pope. In 1851, Spain concluded a concordat with the papacy that strengthened the influence of the Catholic Church in Spain.

After the revolution of 1854–56, Narváez again served as premier in 1856–57, in 1864–65, and from 1866 to 1868. He cruelly suppressed agrarian disturbances in Andalusia during the summer of 1857 and a revolt in Madrid on June 22, 1866.