Battle of Alpens

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TOURISTIC TOUR BY COOLTUR TURISME CULTURAL

BATTLE OF ALPENS

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Carlism was a phenomenon that appeared during the first third of the nineteenth century, and caused three civil wars. Its origin is found in the absence of males in the line of succession Spanish monarch Fernando VII, which only had a daughter, Isabel II. Fernando VII, at the gates of death from illness, in 1830, abolished the Salic law, law that prevented women reign, by the Pragmatic Sanction. With this decision, the monarch ensured the line of succession for his daughter. This decision was strongly opposed by his brother, Carlos Maria Isidro (Carlos V) who aspired to the Spanish crown. These wars, however, went beyond a simple dynastic struggle. They assumed the struggle between two political conceptions, marking a before and after in the Spanish constitution. All attempts of Carlists to access the Spanish throne were unsuccessful. The three wars were won by the liberal side. Who were the Carlists? The Carlists were defenders of tradition, which used to legitimize their rights and values: God, Country, King and Jurisdictions. So, who was part of Carlist was most of noble class, different sectors of the Catholic Church, and some of the agricultural landowners. In the three wars fought for the legitimacy of the male branch to the Spanish throne, and against the liberal doctrine, which they considered an ominous modernity. So in the First Carlist War (1833 - 1840) Carlist leader was Carlos María Isidro, brother of Fernando VII and known as Carlos V. During the Second Carlist War (1846 - 1849), the wedding of Elizabeth with the son of Charles V, Carlos Luis de Borbón and Braganza (Carlos VI) was attempted, but the wedding could not be carried out and exploded the War in defence of the Carlist movement. Third Carlist War (1872-1876) was initiated by the rise of Carlos Maria de los Dolores de Borbón and Austria, known as Carlos VII, son of Carlos VI.

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Who were the Elizabethans (liberals)? Fernando VII left as heir to the throne his daughter Isabel II. The problem is that when the monarch died, Elizabeth was only 2 years old and his mother, Maria Cristina, held the throne as a regent. Both the nobility, like much of the Catholic Church and of the agrarian bourgeoisie was against this appointment. Watching this scene, Isabel defenders was to seek support from the liberal side, basically formed by industrial bourgeoisie and the working class. The strongly imbued with the new ideas arising from the French Revolution, liberal sectors saw that giving support to the Elizabethan side, were able to, gradually, introduce structural changes in the government, and thus do and have a more liberal government. This meant breaking with the idea of divine right to the preservation of rights, opening the possibility of access to rights which until then had been denied them. The Alpens Battle On 9 July 1873, the infant Alfonso Carlos of Borbón, brother of the Carlist pretender Carlos VII, with his wife and other leaders of the Carlist army, as Savalls, left Prats de Lluçanès towards Sant Quirze de Besora. As they passed Perafita, the contingent was learned that the brigade Cabrinetty, head of the liberal army, along with his men, were heading towards Puigcerdà with the intention of going through Alpens. Upon learning of the intentions of the Liberals, the Carlists leaders met to discuss whether to try to plant a battle to the liberal group or whether it was better to ignore the liberal army, and continue their way towards Sant Quirze. At this meeting, most Carlists wanted to go to find liberals and present them a battle, as some of them had strong resentment against Cabrinetty. Only Savalls was opposed to present a battle against the Liberal army. At the end, the Carlists decided to go to present a battle to the liberal faction. His intention was to present it in Alpens, but to have a good success they had to come in this population before the Liberals. Arriving first in Alpens, the Carlist army was positioning around the village to create an ambush to the liberal army. When the Liberals came in Alpens, the Chartists closed all exit points and attacked. To be ambushed, many liberals were strong in some of the village houses, fighting all night. www.cooltur.org © COOLTUR Turisme Cultural #unmondecultura

The outcome of the battle was the victory of the Carlist faction. The liberal Cabrinetty brigade was killed because of a shot in the neck, in the early hours of the battle. From COOLTUR we propose a tour in Alpens to discover and observe the passage of the Alpens Battle. Ramal Street Our first stop is at Ramal Street. We believe that this street was where the Carlist troops enter, from Perafita, in this town. From here, the Carlist army was spreading around the village to prepare an ambush to the liberal army. Go to south 109 m Turn to the left. 72 m Turn slightly to the left. 17 m Església Square, 2 In their deployment, we believe that the Carlists left some of his men in the steeple of the church, one of the strategic points of the town. They led some soldiers on the Church Tower, because this is a good control point. It’s quite possible that from this tower was shouted the bullet that kill the liberal brigade Cabrinetty. Go to Northwest 11m Turn slightly to the left. 13 m Turn slightly right. 131 m Turn slightly to the left. 4 m

Carrera Lluçanesa Street Once a few soldiers left in the position of snipers in the tower of the church, the Carlists should go to the Carrera Lluçanesa to close one of the possible outcomes of the liberal army.

Go to Northeast 4 m Turn slightly to the left. 562 m Baix Street, 3 As for the liberal army, this came in town for the south. Surely, this was the way they used to enter in this town. Probably, in this street started, also, the battle between the two armies. The liberal army tried to fight back but was caught by surprise, and while some liberals fought fiercely, others tried to hide and become strong in some houses of the village. Go to northeast The destination will be on your right 147 m Graell Street, 12 When the liberal army was attacked, the brigade Cabrinetty tried to encourage their men to fight the Carlist army. Their words were really effective, and the liberal army started to win, little by little, some ground. They reached the junction of the Graell street and the Rosers Street. At this point, in the middle of the battle, a bullet crosses the brigade Cabrinetty neck. There are many theories about who was the shooter even he said he was a victim of one of his own men. However, we believe that this shot was fired www.cooltur.org © COOLTUR Turisme Cultural #unmondecultura by Carlist soldiers from the Church Tower, which had a very good view of this point. Currently, there is a fountain to commemorate the figure of Cabrinetty, in the place where he fell killed by the Carlist army. The astonishment of the Liberals to see their commander, drop dead, was very large. Many died on the spot, with little fight. Those who had become strong in some of the village houses were still fighting. The Battle of Alpens ended August 10, when the Carlist army could reduce the liberals. This battle was a hard blow to the liberal army. As a result of the victory, the Carlist army conceded, to the general Savalls, the title of Marquess of Alpens, as a reward for his work in the victory of the battle. From COOLTUR we hope that you have enjoyed this tour, and you’ll have a nice day.