Alfonso XIII
The Royal Palace of Madrid held a newborn on the 17th of May 1886. Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, the prime minister, received the infant king naked and placed upon a silver tray. This unusual presentation marked the start of Alfonso XIII's reign before he had even drawn his first breath. His father, Alfonso XII, had died in November 1885, leaving the throne to a child who would never know his parent. Five days after birth, a solemn court procession carried him with a Golden Fleece around his neck. Water from the River Jordan in Palestine baptized the young monarch. The French newspaper described him as "the happiest and best-loved of all the rulers of the earth" in 1889. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, served as regent until he turned sixteen. During her rule, Spain lost Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States in 1898. The young king fell seriously ill during the 1889, 1890 pandemic. Doctors reported his condition worsened by the 10th of January 1890. The flu attacked his nervous system, leaving him in a state of indolence. He eventually recovered.
Alfonso married Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg on the 31st of May 1906 at the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid. British royalty attended, including the Prince and Princess of Wales. The ceremony was marred when Catalan anarchist Mateu Morral threw a bomb from a window. Thirty bystanders died while one hundred others were wounded. The royal couple survived because their carriage was lined with bulletproof material developed by Polish inventor Jan Szczepanik. Their first child, Alfonso, Prince of Asturias, arrived on the 10th of May 1907. Victoria was a carrier of haemophilia, and her son inherited the condition. Another son, Gonzalo, born in 1914, also had the disease. Two daughters were not carriers. From 1914 onward, the King distanced himself from his wife. He fathered five illegitimate children after that year. A sixth illegitimate child existed before his marriage. The tragedy of haemophilia haunted the royal household for decades.
Spain remained neutral during World War I despite deep divisions between pro-German and pro-Entente sympathizers. Alfonso XIII used his family connections to preserve this stance. His mother was Austrian, and his wife was British. The King established an office inside the Royal Palace to assist prisoners of war. This office transmitted letters and provided services to thousands of POWs on all sides. He attempted to save Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family from the Bolsheviks. Two telegrams offered refuge in Spain, but the Romanov family was executed. The King mistakenly believed only the Tsar and Alexei died, continuing to push for the Tsarina's arrival. Alfonso became gravely ill during the 1918 flu pandemic. Spain faced no wartime censorship restrictions. His illness and recovery were reported globally while outbreaks in belligerent countries were concealed. This created a misleading impression that Spain suffered most heavily. The pandemic became known as "the Spanish Flu" because of these reports. He earned a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917 for his efforts with the European War Office.
Spanish soldiers fought in the Rif War from 1920 to 1926 to preserve colonial rule over northern Morocco. Critics nicknamed Alfonso el Africano or "the African" due to his support for military conquest. He supported generals who wanted to conquer Africa to compensate for lost American colonies. Manuel Fernández Silvestre was one of his favored generals. In 1921, Silvestre advanced into the Rif mountains. Alfonso sent a telegram reading "Hurrah for real men!" urging him not to retreat. Silvestre led his men into the Battle of Annual, one of Spain's worst defeats. The King was playing golf in southern France when he learned of the disaster. He reportedly shrugged and said "Chicken meat is cheap" before resuming his game. He remained in France instead of returning to comfort grieving families. Cortes investigators found evidence that the King had been a main supporter of Silvestre's advance. The war went from bad to worse after Annual. Support for abandoning Morocco grew among the public. Spanish flags burned while crowds waved the flag of the Rif Republic during anti-war protests in Barcelona.
Miguel Primo de Rivera staged a military coup on the 13th of September 1923 with collaboration from four Africanist generals. José Cavalcanti, Federico Berenguer, Leopoldo Saro, and Antonio Dabán formed this innermost clique. They wanted to prevent investigations about Annual from tarnishing the monarch. Primo de Rivera ruled as dictator until January 1930 with the king's support. The period following his resignation became known as dictablanda. Alfonso appointed General Dámaso Berenguer as prime minister after Primo de Rivera resigned. Berenguer had previously served as Chief of Staff of the Military House of the King since 1926. The King was so closely associated with the dictatorship that distancing himself proved difficult. Economic problems and general unpopularity forced Primo de Rivera out. He died weeks later from diabetes complications combined with flu effects. An assassination plot by Catalan separatists occurred in 1925 while Alfonso visited Barcelona. The attempt failed but helped solidify Primo de Rivera's rule. The enforced changes relied on the incorrect assumption that Spaniards would accept nothing had happened after 1923.
Republican coalitions won sweeping majorities in major cities during the municipal elections of the 12th of April 1931. Foreign minister Romanones admitted an "absolute monarchist defeat" to the press. Civil Guard leader José Sanjurjo told ministers that the Armed Forces could not be absolutely relied upon for sustaining the monarchy. Alfonso fled the country, and the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on the 14th of April 1931. Constituent Republican Cortes held impassionate debates about his political responsibilities in November 1931. Prime Minister Manuel Azaña delivered an eloquent speech condemning the monarch. The house passed an act labeling him guilty of high treason. In January 1932, he endorsed a manifesto launched by Carlist claimant Alfonso Carlos. His two eldest sons renounced their claims on the same day in 1933. Youngest son Gonzalo died in 1934, leaving Juan as the only male heir. On the 15th of January 1941, Alfonso XIII renounced his rights to the defunct throne in favor of Juan. He died in Rome on the 28th of February following weeks of agony after severe angina pectoris.
Alfonso is occasionally referred to as "the playboy king" due to his promotion and collection of Spanish pornographic films. He commissioned these movies through Barcelona production company Royal Films. Count of Romanones acted as an intermediary between him and the company. Between forty and seventy pornographic films were shot in total. Three have been preserved while most were destroyed during Franco's regime. They screened in Barcelona's Chinatown and during private viewings. These silent black-and-white films showed full nudity and explicit sex scenes. Content included relationships involving Catholic priests and women with enormous breasts. This was said to be Alfonso's passion. Some speculate he possessed a sexual addiction. He also had extramarital affairs resulting in five illegitimate children from 1914 onward. A sixth child existed before his marriage. The tradition of Ratoncito Pérez replacing lost milk teeth began with a tale written by Luis Coloma for King Alfonso XIII in 1894. The character appeared in further literary works and movies since then.
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Common questions
When was Alfonso XIII born and how did his reign begin?
Alfonso XIII was born on the 17th of May 1886. His reign began before he drew his first breath when Prime Minister Práxedes Mateo Sagasta received him naked on a silver tray.
What happened during the wedding of Alfonso XIII to Princess Victoria Eugenie in 1906?
Catalan anarchist Mateu Morral threw a bomb from a window at the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo on the 31st of May 1906. Thirty bystanders died while one hundred others were wounded, but the royal couple survived because their carriage was lined with bulletproof material developed by Polish inventor Jan Szczepanik.
Why is the 1918 flu pandemic known as the Spanish Flu?
Spain faced no wartime censorship restrictions so King Alfonso XIII's illness and recovery were reported globally while outbreaks in belligerent countries were concealed. This created a misleading impression that Spain suffered most heavily and caused the pandemic to be named after the country.
How did Alfonso XIII contribute to the Rif War and what was the result?
King Alfonso XIII supported generals like Manuel Fernández Silvestre who advanced into the Rif mountains during the war from 1920 to 1926. He sent a telegram urging them not to retreat before they led men into the Battle of Annual which became one of Spain's worst defeats.
When did Alfonso XIII leave power and why was he labeled guilty of high treason?
Republican coalitions won sweeping majorities in municipal elections on the 12th of April 1931 leading to his flight from the country and the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic on the 14th of April 1931. Constituent Republican Cortes held debates in November 1931 and passed an act labeling him guilty of high treason due to his political responsibilities.
What is known about the pornographic films commissioned by Alfonso XIII?
Alfonso XIII promoted and collected Spanish pornographic films through Barcelona production company Royal Films between forty and seventy times. Three have been preserved while most were destroyed during Franco's regime and they screened in Barcelona's Chinatown and during private viewings.