Convention of Vergara

The Convention of Vergara (Spanish: Convenio de Vergara) was a treaty successfully ending the major fighting in Spain's First Carlist War. The treaty—also known by many other names including the Embrace of Vergara (Spanish: Abrazo de Vergara) was signed by Baldomero Espartero for the Isabelines (or "Constitutionalists") and Rafael Maroto for the Carlists.

The two generals met at the hermitage of San Antolín de Abadiano near Durango, Biscay. The British commissioner Colonel Wylde attended as an observer, because of England's recent role as mediator in the conflict; also present was brigadier Francisco Linage, secretary to Espartero.

Initially, negotiations were stymied by the matter of fueros, the special rights of certain regions of Spain, notably the Basque Country and Navarre: Maroto had promised to defend the fueros and Espartero held that they were unconstitutional.

As negotiations took place, both armies remained positioned and prepared, although they did not battle. Two less senior Carlist officers—La Torre and Urbiztondo—formalized the treaty with Espartero; the first written version still lacked Maroto's signature, although everything that it expounded was in his name. Later, Espartero sent a copy to Maroto with a request to sign it formally.

Text of the Vergara Agreement (1839).

The first article of the treaty was related to fueros, and declared that "Captain General Don Baldomero Espartero will recommend with interest to the government compliance with its offer to compromise formally to propose to the Court the concession or modification of the fueros."^[1]

Geography

Despite the treaty having been signed by these high-ranking officers, the Navarrese battalions, above all, felt a certain repugnance, distrust and discontent, including having officials who still intended military revolt. However, on August 31, 1839, in Vergara, Guipúzcoa, General Espartero, his troops at the ready, gave a speech to the assembled troops of all sides, in which he gave them the option of continuing in the Queen's service or returning to their homes. History recounts that all of them decided to adhere to the treaty.

Alterwards, Rafael Maroto gave a stirring speech:

Volunteers and Basque countrymen, no one was more devoted than I to restoring the right to the Spanish throne to Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, but none is more convinced by the experience of a multitude of events, that never could this prince bring my country happiness, which is the sole motive of my heart.^[2]

With the conflict at an end, Maroto resumed the rank of lieutenant general and was named Minister of the Supreme Tribunal of War and Marine.

Notes

1. ^ «El capitán general don Baldomero Espartero recomendará con interés al gobierno el cumplimiento de su oferta de comprometerse formalmente a proponer a las cortes la concesión o modificación de los fueros.»
2. ^ «Voluntarios y pueblos vascongados, nadie más entusiasta que yo para sostener los derechos al trono de las Españas a favor del señor don Carlos María Isidro de Borbón cuando me pronuncié, pero ninguno más convencido por la experiencia de multitud de acontecimientos, de que jamás podría este príncipe hacer la felicidad de mi patria, único estímulo de mi corazón. […]»