Sagunto pronunciamento restores the Bourbon monarchy in Spain

Background. The First Spanish Republic, established in February 1873, faced significant instability due to the Third Carlist War, the Ten Years' War in Cuba, and internal political divisions. General Manuel Pavía's January 1874 coup had already ousted the government, leading to a military dictatorship under General Francisco Serrano. Amidst this chaos, monarchist factions, particularly alfonsino supporters, sought to restore the Bourbon dynasty.

The Pronunciamento. General Arsenio Martínez Campos, who had long worked for the restoration, led battalions to Sagunto on 29 December 1874. He rallied troops sent against him and proclaimed Alfonso, son of Isabel II, as King. This act was supported by the government of Sagasta, which did not oppose the announcement. The move was part of a broader effort to end the republic and restore the monarchy, following the ideological basis set by the Sandhurst Manifesto.

Aftermath. Following the pronunciamento, the government of Sagasta permitted the restoration of the monarchy. Alfonso XII arrived in Madrid in 1875, passing through Barcelona and Valencia, where he was acclaimed. The restoration initiated the period known as the Bourbon Restoration, marking the end of the republican experiment and the beginning of a new political era.