Disquiet and political commitment. The military at the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence (Peninsular War)
Emilio La Parra López
Faculty of Philosophy and Arts
University of Alicante
ORCID: 0000-0001-5722-5786
Published: 21/12/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31338/ahi.2024.3.8
ABSTRACT: This text focuses on two factors that conditioned the political position of Spanish military commanders in the fi rst months of the war against Napoleon: the experience before 1808 and the transformation of the Spanish army once the war began. From this point of view, some observations are made on the military’s attitude towards three serious problems at that time: loyalty to the new authorities, recognition of the sovereignty of the patriotic juntas, and the formation of a unified power on the anti-Napoleonic side. The debate on how to constitute a general government for the nation that would overcome the particularism of the juntas was intense. The problem was solved by the Cortes of Cádiz, but the solution was revolutionary and did not convince those who participated in the absolutist culture, whether civilians or military men.
KEYWORDS: Spanish War of Independence (Peninsular War), juntas, national army, military commanders, sovereignty.
