Julián Besteiro
Encyclopedia
Julián Besteiro Fernández (September 21, 1870 – September 27, 1940) was a Spanish
socialist
politician and university professor.
, he was educated in the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, and studied in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Madrid
, as well as at the Sorbonne
in 1896, the Universities of Munich, Berlin and Leipzig
in 1909-1910. In 1908, he joined the Partido Radical (Radical Party) established by Alejandro Lerroux
.
He became a member of the Agrupación Socialista Madrileña (the socialist circle in Madrid) in 1912 and in that same year he was offered the Chair of Fundamental Logic in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. Soon after, Besteiro became a member of Unión General de Trabajadores
(UGT) trade union
, and of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
(PSOE). In 1913 he married Dolores Cebrián, a professor of physics and natural science at the teachers' training college in Toledo
.
In 1917, after the general strike
of that year he was tried as a member of the strike committee and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was elected as a member of the town council of Madrid in the amnesty campaign. In the following year, he was elected to the Cortes Generales
(Spanish Parliament) as deputy for Madrid.
he was in favor of collaboration with the Dictator - who had offered the participation of UGT in governing the country. To a certain extent, it appeared to be a success in the mid-1920s. However, opinion within the PSOE turned against him as the Primo de Rivera regime became even more unpopular in the economic downturn. In mid-1930s Besteiro became isolated in his opinions on collaboration in opposition to the front established by the Pact of San Sebastián
. Bestiero also opposed the participation of UGT in the December 15, 1930 general strike. At a joint meeting of the PSOE and UGT he resigned as President of both the party and the union in February 1931. In the same year he was elected a councillor of the Madrid town council.
, Besteiro was elected Speaker of the Constituent Cortes
. During his period as President of the Cortes, he seemed to become more conservative
in his political views. He resigned as President of the UGT in January 1934. Opposing the growing radicalization of the Socialist movement, he disapproved the participation of various socialists in the armed uprising of October 1934. In February 1936, he won the highest number of votes of any candidate in Madrid in the Popular Front
elections.
When the Spanish Civil War
broke out Besteiro continued to work in the university as a Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and carry out his duties as a parliamentary deputy and councillor of the town council in Madrid. Against the persuasions of his friends he refused to leave Madrid and seek exile.
Manuel Azaña
, the Spanish Republican President, chose Besteiro as the representative to the coronation of the new British King George VI
in London on May 12, 1937. Besteiro believed it was to be a peace mission. There he met with Sir Anthony Eden
but no significant results followed. After the failure of his mission in London he returned to work in the town council of Madrid and withdraw from official public life. He stopped attending the Agrupación Socialista Madrileña and the parliamentary group meetings.
With the news of the fall of Barcelona
on January 26, 1939, and Azaña's resignation as President of the Republic
, Besteiro decided to find ways to achieve peace and stop the resistance. He contacted Colonel Segismundo Casado
and, on March 5, announced the creation
of a Junta de Defensa Nacional. As a result, about 2,000 people were killed in the uprising against the government of Juan Negrín
and its Communist Party of Spain allies (Chapter 34, passim, The Battle for Spain, Antony Beevor
, Penguin
, ISBN 014303765X).
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...
socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politician and university professor.
Early life
Born in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, he was educated in the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, and studied in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Madrid
University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a public university in Madrid, Spain, and one of the oldest universities in the world.The University of Madrid may also refer to:* The Autonomous University of Madrid, a public university founded in 1968...
, as well as at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in 1896, the Universities of Munich, Berlin and Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
in 1909-1910. In 1908, he joined the Partido Radical (Radical Party) established by Alejandro Lerroux
Alejandro Lerroux
Alejandro Lerroux y García was a Spanish politician who was the leader of the Radical Republican Party during the Second Spanish Republic...
.
He became a member of the Agrupación Socialista Madrileña (the socialist circle in Madrid) in 1912 and in that same year he was offered the Chair of Fundamental Logic in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters. Soon after, Besteiro became a member of Unión General de Trabajadores
Unión General de Trabajadores
The Unión General de Trabajadores is a major Spanish trade union, historically affiliated with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party .-History:...
(UGT) trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, and of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
(PSOE). In 1913 he married Dolores Cebrián, a professor of physics and natural science at the teachers' training college in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
.
In 1917, after the general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
of that year he was tried as a member of the strike committee and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was elected as a member of the town council of Madrid in the amnesty campaign. In the following year, he was elected to the Cortes Generales
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
(Spanish Parliament) as deputy for Madrid.
Primo de Rivera's dictatorship
During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de RiveraMiguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, Knight of Calatrava was a Spanish dictator, aristocrat, and a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by the King and who for seven years was a dictator, ending the turno system of alternating...
he was in favor of collaboration with the Dictator - who had offered the participation of UGT in governing the country. To a certain extent, it appeared to be a success in the mid-1920s. However, opinion within the PSOE turned against him as the Primo de Rivera regime became even more unpopular in the economic downturn. In mid-1930s Besteiro became isolated in his opinions on collaboration in opposition to the front established by the Pact of San Sebastián
Pact of San Sebastián
The Pact of San Sebastián was a meeting led by Niceto Alcalá Zamora and Miguel Maura, which took place in San Sebastián, Spain on August 17, 1930. Representatives from practically all republican political movements in Spain at the time attended the meeting. Presided over by Fernando Sasiaín , the...
. Bestiero also opposed the participation of UGT in the December 15, 1930 general strike. At a joint meeting of the PSOE and UGT he resigned as President of both the party and the union in February 1931. In the same year he was elected a councillor of the Madrid town council.
The Second Spanish Republic and the Civil War
After the establishment of the Second Spanish RepublicSecond Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
, Besteiro was elected Speaker of the Constituent Cortes
Constituent Cortes
Constituent Cortes is the description of Spain's parliament, the Cortes, when convened as a constituent assembly.In the 20th century, only one Constituent Cortes was officially opened , and that was the Republican Cortes in 1931.The Cortes in 1977 enacted the new Spanish constitution...
. During his period as President of the Cortes, he seemed to become more conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in his political views. He resigned as President of the UGT in January 1934. Opposing the growing radicalization of the Socialist movement, he disapproved the participation of various socialists in the armed uprising of October 1934. In February 1936, he won the highest number of votes of any candidate in Madrid in the Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
elections.
When the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
broke out Besteiro continued to work in the university as a Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and carry out his duties as a parliamentary deputy and councillor of the town council in Madrid. Against the persuasions of his friends he refused to leave Madrid and seek exile.
Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña Díaz was a Spanish politician. He was the first Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic , and later served again as Prime Minister , and then as the second and last President of the Republic . The Spanish Civil War broke out while he was President...
, the Spanish Republican President, chose Besteiro as the representative to the coronation of the new British King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in London on May 12, 1937. Besteiro believed it was to be a peace mission. There he met with Sir Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
but no significant results followed. After the failure of his mission in London he returned to work in the town council of Madrid and withdraw from official public life. He stopped attending the Agrupación Socialista Madrileña and the parliamentary group meetings.
With the news of the fall of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
on January 26, 1939, and Azaña's resignation as President of the Republic
President of Spain
Today, Spain is a constitutional monarchy. King Juan Carlos I, the current monarch, is Head of State. The Head of Government has the official title of President of the Government....
, Besteiro decided to find ways to achieve peace and stop the resistance. He contacted Colonel Segismundo Casado
Segismundo Casado
Segismundo Casado López was a Spanish Army officer in the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War.-Early life:...
and, on March 5, announced the creation
Final offensive of the Spanish Civil War
The Final offensive of the Spanish Civil War took place between the 26th of March and the 1st of April 1939, towards the end of the Spanish Civil War...
of a Junta de Defensa Nacional. As a result, about 2,000 people were killed in the uprising against the government of Juan Negrín
Juan Negrín
Juan Negrín y López was a Spanish politician and physician.-Early years:Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Negrín came from a religious middle-class family...
and its Communist Party of Spain allies (Chapter 34, passim, The Battle for Spain, Antony Beevor
Antony Beevor
Antony James Beevor, FRSL is a British historian, educated at Winchester College and Sandhurst. He studied under the famous military historian John Keegan. Beevor is a former officer with the 11th Hussars who served in England and Germany for five years before resigning his commission...
, Penguin
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, ISBN 014303765X).