'The education of the modern king, the constitutional king' : raising heirs to the throne in nineteenth century Spain

Abstract

This thesis analyses royal education in nineteenth-century, constitutional Spain. The main subjects of this investigations are Isabel II (1830-1904), Alfonso XII (1857-1885) and Alfonso XIII (1886-1941) during their time as monarchs-in-waiting. It will be argued that their upbringing was considered an opportunity to shape the future of Spain, reflected the political struggles that emerged in the course of the construction of a liberal state, and allowed for the modernisation of the monarchy. The upbringing of royal heirs was a subject taken seriously by contemporaries and at various points in time assumed a wider political, social and cultural significance. The thesis is structured around the three powerful groups that showed an active interest, influenced, and significantly shaped the education of heirs to the throne: the court, the military, and the public. The study aims to throw new light on the position of the Spanish monarchy in the constitutional state, its ability to adapt to social, political, and cultural change and its varied sources of legitimacy, power, and attraction. One of the central aims of the thesis is to contribute to scholars’ growing interest in nineteenth-century Spain and the re-establishment of the Peninsula’s history as an integral part of European historiography.