Alfonso,
the posthumous son of Alfonso XII and Maria Christina of Austria,
was born in
Madrid, Spain, on 17th May 1886. His mother
acted as regent until 1902 when he assumed full power.
In 1906 Alfonso XIII married
Princess Ena of Battenberg, granddaughter of Queen
Victoria. An attempt was made to kill the couple on their wedding
day. This was the first of several attempts to kill Alfonso.
Alfonso XIII became increasingly
autocratic and in 1909 was condemned for ordering the execution of
the radical leader, Ferrer Guardia, in Barcelona. He also prevented
liberal reforms being introduced before the First
World War.
Blamed for the Spanish
defeat in the Moroccan War (1921) Alfonso XIII was in constant conflict
with Spanish politicians. His anti-democratic views encouraged Miguel
Primo de Rivera to lead a military coup in 1923. Alfonso gave
his support to Rivera's military dictatorship but Rivera lost power
in 1930 and the following year he agreed to democratic elections.
When the Spanish people
voted overwhelmingly for a republic, Alfonso was advised that the
only way to avoid large-scale violence was to go into exile. Alfonso
agreed and left the country on 14th April, 1931.
When the Spanish
Civil War broke out Alfonso made it clear he favoured the military
uprising against the Popular Front government.
However, in September 1936 General Francisco
Franco announced
that the Nationalists would never accept Alfonso as king. Alfonso
XIII died in Rome, Italy, on 28th February,
1941.
(1)
Miguel
Primo de Rivera, speech
(September 1923)
We have reason on our side and, therefore,
force, though so far we have used force with moderation. If an attempt
is made to trick us into a compromise which our conscience considers
dishonourable, we shall demand greater penalties, and impose them
with greater severity. Neither I, nor the garrisons of Aragon, from
whom I have just received a telegram in support, will agree to anything
but a military dictatorship. If the politicians make an attempt to
defend themselves, we shall do the same, relying on the help of the
people, whose reserves of energy are great. Today we are resolved
on moderation, but, on the other hand, we shall not shrink from bloodshed.
(2)
King Alfonso XIII, statement (14th April 1931)
Sunday's elections have shown me
that I no longer enjoy the love of my people. I could very easily
find means to support my royal powers against all comers, but I am
determined to have nothing to do with setting one of my countrymen
against another in a fratricidal civil war. Thus, until the nation
speaks, I shall deliberately suspend the use of my royal prerogative.
(3)
Dorothy
Parker, broadcast,
Madrid Radio (October
1937)
Six years ago, when the
Royal romp, Alfonso, left his racing cars and his racing stables and
also left, by popular request, his country, there remained 28 million
people. Of them, 12 million were completely illiterate. It is said
that Alfonso himself had been taught to read and write, but he had
not bothered to bend the accomplishments to the reading of statistics
nor the signing of appropriations for schools.
Six years ago, almost
half the population of this country was illiterate. The first thing
that the Republican government did was to recognise this hunger, the
starvation of the people for education. Now there are schools even
in the tiniest, poorest, villages; more schools in a year than ever
were in all the years of the reigning kings. And still more are established
every day. I have seen a city bombed by night, and the next morning
the people rose and went on with the
completion of their schools. Here in Madrid, as well as in Valencia,
a workers' institute is open. It is a college, but not a college where
rich young men go to make friends with other rich young men who may
be valuable to them in business with them later. It is a college where
workers, forced to start as children in fields and factories, may
study to be teachers or doctors or lawyers or scientists, according
to their gifts. Their intensive university course takes two years.
And while they are studying, the government pays their families the
money they would have been earning.
In the schools for young
children, there is none of the dread thing you have heard so much
about - depersonalisation. Each child has, at the government's expense,
an education as modern and personal as a privileged American school
child has at an accredited progressive school. What the Spanish government
has done for education would be a magnificent achievement, even in
days of peace, when money is easy and supplies are endless. But these
people are doing it under fire.
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