Renovación Española
Encyclopedia
Renovación Española was a Spanish
monarchist political party active during the Second Spanish Republic
, advocating the restoration of Alfonso XIII of Spain
as opposed to Carlism
. Led by Antonio Goicoechea
and José Calvo Sotelo
, the group was to become associated with Francisco Franco
during the Spanish Civil War
.
The group was formed in January 1933 after Goicoechea and some followers split from the Carlist Acción Popular
and were given Alfonso's approval to form a new party, although from the outset RE maintained good relations with the Carlists and sought to bring them into various anti-Republican conspiracies. Even before the Civil War RE was linked to the Falange
, paying it a 10,000 peseta monthly subsidy.
The group was one of the first amongst those involved in conspiracy against the Popular Front
government to endorse Franco as overall leader. RE was also closely linked to the military group Unión Militar Española
which played an important role in bringing about civil war. During the opening stages of the civil war RE was close to General Emilio Mola
, who consulted regularly with the group's leadership.
The assassination of Calvo Sotelo, who was much more personally popular and a better orator than the generally ineffectual Goicoechea, in July 1936 had weakened RE somewhat and before long they became wholly subservient to Franco in an attempt to retain influence for a group that had little popular support. Along with a variety of other far right
groups RE disappeared in April 1937 with the formation of the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista. Recognising that his power base was flimsy at best Goicoechea immediately accepted the decree and dissolved RE.
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...
monarchist political party active during the Second Spanish Republic
Second 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....
, advocating the restoration of Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...
as opposed to Carlism
Carlism
Carlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
. Led by Antonio Goicoechea
Antonio Goicoechea
Antonio Goicoechea was an Alfonsine monarchist in Spain during the period of the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. He led the Renovación Española political party...
and José Calvo Sotelo
José Calvo Sotelo
José Calvo Sotelo, 1st Duke of Calvo Sotelo was a Spanish politician prior to and during the Second Spanish Republic...
, the group was to become associated with Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
during 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...
.
The group was formed in January 1933 after Goicoechea and some followers split from the Carlist Acción Popular
Popular Action (Spain)
Popular Action was a Spanish Roman Catholic political party active during the Second Spanish Republic.The group was formed after the fall of the monarchy in order to defend the interests of Roman Catholics in the new Spanish Republic...
and were given Alfonso's approval to form a new party, although from the outset RE maintained good relations with the Carlists and sought to bring them into various anti-Republican conspiracies. Even before the Civil War RE was linked to the Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
, paying it a 10,000 peseta monthly subsidy.
The group was one of the first amongst those involved in conspiracy against 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....
government to endorse Franco as overall leader. RE was also closely linked to the military group Unión Militar Española
Unión Militar Española
Unión Militar Española was a secret society of Spanish Army officers involved in a conspiracy to bring about the restoration of the monarchy during the 1930s...
which played an important role in bringing about civil war. During the opening stages of the civil war RE was close to General Emilio Mola
Emilio Mola
Emilio Mola y Vidal, 1st Duke of Mola, Grandee of Spain was a Spanish Nationalist commander during the Spanish Civil War. He is best-known for having coined the term "fifth column".-Early life:...
, who consulted regularly with the group's leadership.
The assassination of Calvo Sotelo, who was much more personally popular and a better orator than the generally ineffectual Goicoechea, in July 1936 had weakened RE somewhat and before long they became wholly subservient to Franco in an attempt to retain influence for a group that had little popular support. Along with a variety of other far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
groups RE disappeared in April 1937 with the formation of the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista. Recognising that his power base was flimsy at best Goicoechea immediately accepted the decree and dissolved RE.