Convention of Vergara

Spanish history

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June 17, 2026

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The Convention of Vergara was an agreement signed in August 1839 that effectively ended the First Carlist War in Spain. This conflict arose after King Ferdinand VII revoked the Salic Law of Succession, allowing his daughter Isabella II to inherit the throne, which was contested by his brother, Don Carlos (Carlos María Isidro de Borbón). Don Carlos, supported by conservatives and clericals, claimed he was the rightful heir, while liberals backed Isabella.

The convention was negotiated by Carlist general Rafael Maroto and liberal general Baldomero Espartero, who was later granted the title Prince of Vergara. It recognized Basque legal privileges, leading to the cessation of most fighting. Don Carlos eventually went into exile and later abdicated his claim in 1845.12

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Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, conde de Molina
…general Rafael Maroto signed the Convention of Vergara, by which the liberals recognized Basque legal privileges, most of the fighting ceased and Don Carlos went into exile. He abdicated his pretensions in 1845, taking the title conde de Molina, in the vain hope that his son Carlos Luis de Borbón…
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…general Rafael Maroto signed the Convention of Vergara, by which the liberals recognized Basque legal privileges, most of the fighting ceased and Don Carlos went into exile. He abdicated his pretensions in 1845, taking the title conde de Molina, in the vain hope that his son Carlos Luis de Borbón…
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Ramón Cabrera
Cabrera refused to recognize the Convention of Vergara (1839), which ended the war in the Basque provinces, but in 1840 he retreated with 10,000 soldiers over the French border. In exile, first in France and later in England, he objected to the “abdication” (1845) of Carlos in favour of his…
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Cabrera refused to recognize the Convention of Vergara (1839), which ended the war in the Basque provinces, but in 1840 he retreated with 10,000 soldiers over the French border. In exile, first in France and later in England, he objected to the “abdication” (1845) of Carlos in favour of his…
Read More