The government has officially designated nine historical sites as Places of Democratic Memory from the liberal period, honoring notable figures such as Rafael de Riego, Mariana Pineda, and José Torrijos, as well as the palace of Baldomero Espartero. This recognition also includes significant locations associated with the Cortes and the Cádiz Constitution of 1812, as well as the Liberal Triennium from 1820 to 1823.
The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory aims to celebrate the liberal values championed by 19th-century figures who fought against absolutism and defended the Cádiz Constitution. According to the department led by Ángel Víctor Torres, these declarations serve as a tribute to that struggle.
The nine recognized sites include Espartero’s palace in Logroño, the birthplace and bust of General Rafael de Riego, and the town of Tuña in Asturias. Additionally, there are the Plaza de los Mártires del Pueblo and Riego’s monument in the town of Cabezas de San Juan in Seville, as well as the former convent of San Hermenegildo in Seville. The monument to Mariana Pineda in Granada and the monument dedicated to the Constitution of 1812 in Cádiz are also included, along with the Royal Theater of the Cortes in San Fernando and two additional memorials: the cross of Torrijos and the monument to him in Málaga, commemorating his participation in the 1808 independence war.
The government asserts that these Places of Memory reflect the Spanish liberal tradition of the 19th century and signify the ongoing fight for rights, freedoms, and democracy that began with the Cádiz Cortes and the 1812 Constitution. Furthermore, as specified in the Law of Democratic Memory, these sites honor many Spaniards who fought and sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democratic governance in Spain.
One of the prominent figures celebrated is Baldomero Espartero (1793-1879), whose palace is highlighted for being central to liberalism in the 19th century. He was a military leader and regent who earned the title “Peacemaker of Spain” for ending the First Carlism War.
Two sites are dedicated to Rafael de Riego (1784-1823): his birthplace and bust in Tuña, alongside the monument in his honor at the Plaza de los Mártires del Pueblo in Cabezas de San Juan. De Riego initiated the military uprising in 1820 that reinstated the 1812 Constitution, which had been abolished by King Ferdinand VII. He served as the President of the Cortes and was executed in 1823 with the arrival of the French army, known as “the hundred thousand sons of Saint Louis,” which saw the reinstatement of absolutism.
José Torrijos (1791-1831) also played a vital role in advocating for the reinstatement of the 1812 Constitution and opposing King Ferdinand VII’s absolutism. After the Liberal Triennium ended, he went into exile but continued to strategize for the return of the Constitution and liberty to Spain. Unfortunately, he was executed on the beach of San Andrés in Málaga.
Mariana Pineda (1804-1831) is commemorated with a memorial in Granada. The government recognizes her as a defender of constitutional values, known for sheltering liberal fugitives from Ferdinand VII’s repressive regime. She was ultimately captured and executed by garrote.
Lastly, the official journal has listed two additional Places of Memory related to the Cádiz Cortes: the monument to the 1812 Constitution in Cádiz and the Royal Theater of the Cortes in San Fernando, which hosted over three hundred sessions in 1811. Also included is the former convent of San Hermenegildo in Seville, where the Cortes convened in 1823 after fleeing Madrid due to the invasion by the hundred thousand sons of Saint Louis.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/23/el-gobierno-declara-nueve-lugares-de-memoria-de-liberalismo-espanol-del-siglo-xix/
