The first Carlist War began in 1833 when King Ferdinand VII of Spain died and bequeathed the throne to his daughter, Isabel, under the regency of his widow, Maria Cristina of Naples. Don Carlos, the late King's brother felt he had been deprived of his right to the throne under the Salic- Law, and led a revolt.

The legitimacy of both claimants to the throne each has value: The governments of Britain, France and Portugal immediately recognised Isabel's claim, due to their desire to see a liberal constitutional monarchy in Spain. Austria, Prussia, and Russia refused to recognise Isabel's claim, and while never officially acknowledging Don Carlos' claim either, supported his conservative views and sent him discreet gifts of money.

The majority of the army was in favour of Isabel and the regency, providing loyal if somewhat untried support. The Carlists, whose many leaders had enjoyed some power in the 1820's, relied upon the Royal Volunteers, a reactionary regional militia, for the basis of their army.

The Legion

Into this political vortex was thrust the Legion. The Paris government was determined not to allow French diplomacy to be eroded by London, and responded by offering to "cede" the Legion to the constitutionalist cause; it seemed a convenient way to support the Constitutionalists, or Cristinos, without becoming embroiled in a long drawn out war. That an official document describes their arrival as a "delivery," like goods from the grocer, foretold a trying time for the Legion.

This decision did not go down well with the Legion itself, many feeling that they had enlisted to fight for France and not Spain. The French minister in charge told them that they would be fighting for France's interests - in Spanish pay. Many officers resigned. Those who remained with the Legion were promoted, but subsequently, the War Ministry would not acknowledge any promotions gained in Spanish service.

The Legion arrived in Spain at Tarragona on 17 August, 1835; six battalions and 4000 men strong. An officer remarked that the crowds of spectators would shout "Long Live the Legion" and "Long Live France" but only rarely were heard to cry "Long Live Queen Isabelle."

This caused commander Bernelle to question the wisdom of supporting what might prove to be a less than popular movement, and he wrote to Paris for instructions on how to act, should a political crisis occur. The French government remained silent to all calls for political guidance, and to all calls for help as well.

Action

The next five months saw nine actions for the Legion. In the most important of these, the Legion had held the Catalonian village of Senahuga against a Carlist siege that lasted four days. The Madrid government's policy of dispersing units to fight in penny packets the Carlists had allowed the rebels to carve out a de-facto kingdom in eastern Navarre, parts of Catalonia, and the Basque provinces.

Service in Spain was a nightmare. The only thing regular about the legionnaire's pay was that it was constantly in arrears. The men were forced to forage for food, and during the winter the medical staff reported officers seeking admission into the hospital in order to eat!

In January of 1836, the Legion marched nine days over mountainous terrain to Vitoria, in the heart of the Carlist country. There they were met by General Sir George de Lacy Evans, commander in chief of the British Auxiliary Legion. Perhaps bearing in mind the Anglo-Spanish alliance of the Peninsular War, Madrid gave Lacy Evans the rank of Lieutenant General while Bernelle was made a mere brigadier in Spanish service. To add insult to injury, the more affluent British officer corps had snapped up the best lodgings.

The majority of the town's male population was already away, fighting for Don Carlos. Their great general, Tomas Zumalacarregui, who had repeatedly defeated any army sent against him, had died - due to the incompetence of his Spanish doctors - of a minor leg wound. His successor, General Moreno, had already lost the battle of Mendigorria.

Therefore, if Carlist morale had not yet begun to ebb, their force was contained. Yet with an army of 30,000, compiled of tough peasant soldiers who excelled at mountain warfare, and who enjoyed the support of the country folk, the Carlist stronghold in the mountains was nearly unassailable.

The Madrid govemment adopted a policy of containment. The Legion was dispatched up the Arga valley to garrison the towns of Larrasoana and Zubiri. The countryside teemed with Carlists, and on 6 March a company of the legion was ambushed at the village of Leranoz near Zubiri.

What had started out as the simple mission of escorting a platoon of Spanish infantry on wood cutting detail became a three hour siege when the Legion advanced on Leranoz and found it occupied by rebels. They cleared out the town with a bayonet charge and found themselves surrounded by four companies of enemy soldiers.

An elite company from Zubiri cut their way into Leranoz to rescue their comrades only to find themselves besieged as well. A defensive perimeter was established and the Legion was forced to fight off repeated attacks until after dark, when the Carlists raised the siege and dispersed. Legion losses were one sergeant and eight troops, while Bernelle estimated Carlist losses at around twenty.

Zubiri

Three weeks later another, more substantial fighting took place on the heights overlooking Zubiri. At 0500 on 24 March the 4th Battalion of the Legion occupied the heights to provide security for troop movements between Zubiri and Larrasoana. Hail and snow blinded the advance parties as they struggled up the rocky slopes.

Suddenly, to the ragged detonation of a volley, the leading company, isolated by the weather, was attacked by a troop of Carlist cavalry. Sergeant Berset, an ex-Swiss Guardsman, rallied his section while the Carlists howled all around them. Despite receiving twenty wounds, Berset fought off his attackers long enough for Bernelle to send the 5th Legion battalion at the double to turn the Carlist left. The appearance of the Legion on the Carlist flank caused a panic amongst the enemy. Many surrendered, while the remains routed down a ravine in complete disorder.

Hostilities were to escalate: in April, outside of Larrasoana, a minor skirmish between a company of the Legion and some Carlist snipers who occupied a pine forest resulted in the Legion withdrawing. The next day, the 26th, found the heights overlooking Larrasoana, crowned by an estimated 3,500 Carlists. Bernelle sent out a screen of three companies of the Legion, who impetuously disobeyed his orders and attacked.

Bernelle was forced to come to their aid with five hundred men and four cannon in a battle that lasted six hours. Legion losses from what came to be known as the battle of Tirapegui, were twenty dead and seventy wounded, despite the Carlist practice of massacring prisoners. Carlist losses were estimated at eighty dead and two hundred wounded.

Last Action

The Legion's last action in service to the Spanish Crown came in 1839 in the olive groves of Barbastro. Moving into a clearing, the legionaries were surprised to encounter a Carlist Foreign Legion: made up predominantly of deserters from the former. Greetings were exchanged, followed by the most furious hand to hand fighting imaginable.

The Carlist legion was destroyed, reduced to a mere 25% of its original number: the French Legion, already wracked by desertion, starvation and internal divisions, was reduced to one hundred men. Neither would take the field in Spain again.

Figure Availability:

No doubts that this is probably one of the most obscure - yet fascinating - periods in 19th century military history. As a result, the miniatures gamer entering into it will be forced to use some ingenuity to obtain figures.

French Foreign Legion: Frontier makes a 25mm Crimean War soldier in Great coat which would do for a Legionnaire, although purists will want to mold a leather "belly box" out of putty for that "Spanish" look.

Carlist Infantry: The real challenge is the boina, the Spanish beret. Again using the Frontier Crimean War range, I suspect that Russian Infantry in forage caps could be converted, but I will need to get a few samples before being sure.

Carlist Cavalry: The Carlists did not have a large number of cavalry and will be dealt with in a future article.

Spanish Infantry: Spanish National Militia can be converted from 1848 pattern Mexican Infantry. Old Glory's Mexican-American line lends itself well to conversion, but purists will want the mold a "belly box" and epaulette fringes if you want to represent Regular Elite Companies (the figures are wearing infantry swords as well as having bayonets.)

Finally, Bernelle organised a squadron of Lancers of the Legion. I know very little about their uniform at this time, perhaps some noble reader can help?

-Finis-