Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal
Encyclopedia
The Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizabal, more often referred to simply as La Desamortización, encompasses a set of decrees from 1835-1837 that resulted in the expropriation, and privatization, of monastic properties in Spain
.
The legislation was promulgated by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
, who was briefly prime minister under Queen Isabel II of Spain. The aims of the legislation were varied. Some of the impulses were fostered by anticlerical liberalism
that was engaged in a civil war with Carlist
and other reactionary forces. The government wished to use the land to encourage the enterprises of small-land owning bourgeoisie
, since much of the land was underused by languishing monastic orders. The government, which did not compensate the church for the properties, saw this as a source of income. Finally, wealthy noble and other families took advantage of the legislation to increase their holdings.
Ultimately, the desamortización led to vacating most of the ancient monasteries in Spain, which had been in occupation for centuries. Only a few of the expropriations were reversed in subsequent decades.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The legislation was promulgated by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
Juan Álvarez Mendizábal
Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, born Juan Álvarez Méndez , was a Spanish economist and politician....
, who was briefly prime minister under Queen Isabel II of Spain. The aims of the legislation were varied. Some of the impulses were fostered by anticlerical liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
that was engaged in a civil war with Carlist
Carlist Wars
The Carlist Wars in Spain were the last major European civil wars in which contenders fought to establish their claim to a throne. Several times during the period from 1833 to 1876 the Carlists — followers of Infante Carlos and his descendants — rallied to the cry of "God, Country, and King" and...
and other reactionary forces. The government wished to use the land to encourage the enterprises of small-land owning bourgeoisie
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
, since much of the land was underused by languishing monastic orders. The government, which did not compensate the church for the properties, saw this as a source of income. Finally, wealthy noble and other families took advantage of the legislation to increase their holdings.
Ultimately, the desamortización led to vacating most of the ancient monasteries in Spain, which had been in occupation for centuries. Only a few of the expropriations were reversed in subsequent decades.