La nobleza española y la política: del ocaso de la monarquía a la transición democrática (1931-1978)

Abstract

La nobleza tradicional, de origen medieval en casi todos los países, supo adaptarse a la cambiante realidad que le tocó vivir. En España, todavía a finales del siglo XIX conservaba un importante papel, no tanto político, pero sí económico y social, manteniéndose en general al margen de la política. La irrupción de nuevas ideologías partidarias del igualitarismo social (republicanismo, socialismo) a lo largo del siglo XIX no hicieron mella en ellas, siendo aún importante durante el reinado de Alfonso XIII (1902-1931). Con la proclamación de la Segunda República en 1931 adoptaron, junto a los monárquicos, un papel muy activo por cuanto la legislación republicana tendía a acabar con su estatus y, por ello, la nobleza participó de manera destacada financiando campañas y conspiraciones para acabar con la República, entre ellas la Sanjurjada y el golpe militar del 18 de julio de 1936. Instaurado el franquismo fueron impulsores de revitalizar la monarquía en la figura de don Juan de Borbón y su papel dentro de ella, a lo que se resistía Franco, quien tuvo que transigir ante el aislamiento internacional reconociendo en 1947 que España era un reino. En 1948 quedó restablecida la nobleza, momento que aprovechó Franco para otorgar títulos a las personalidades más caracterizadas de su régimen así como para reconocer los antiguos títulos carlistas, dado el papel que el carlismo había tenido en su victoria de 1939.

The traditional nobility, of medieval origin in almost all countries, was able to adapt to the changing reality in which it lived. In Spain, it still retained an important role at the end of the 19th century, not so much political, but economic and social, and in general remained on the fringes of politics. The emergence of new ideologies in favour of social egalitarianism (republicanism, socialism) throughout the 19th century did not make a dent in them, and they were still important during the reign of Alfonso XIII (1902-1931). With the proclamation of the Second Republic in 1931, they adopted, together with the monarchists, a very active role, as the republican legislation tended to do away with their status, and hence the nobility played an important part in financing campaigns and conspiracies to overthrow the Republic, including the Sanjurjada and the military coup of 18thJuly 1936. After Franco's regime was established, they were the driving force behind the revitalisation of the monarchy in the figure of Don Juan de Borbón and his role within it, which Franco was opposed to. He had to compromise in the face of international isolation by recognising in 1947 that Spain was a kingdom. In 1948 the nobility was re-established, a moment that Franco took advantage of to grant titles to the most prominent personalities of his regime, as well as to recognise the old Carlist titles, given the role that Carlism had played in his victory in 1939.