LECTURE: The Glorious Revolution and the Sexennium (1868–1874): Spain’s First Democratic Experience

Hello everyone, We continue with our monthly lectures at Café La Ópera. **THIS WILL BE THE LAST LECTURE UNTIL FEBRUARY, AS I WILL BE AWAY IN JANUARY** This time, I will personally deliver the lecture. For those who do not know me, I hold a Ph.D. in Contemporary History from the University of Barcelona (UB) and am the founder of this Meetup group. On this occasion, we will explore the **Democratic Sexennium (1868–1874)**, a fascinating yet little-known period during which Spain attempted— for the first time—to build a genuine democracy. With the Glorious Revolution of 1868—sparked by widespread frustration over corruption and Queen Isabel II’s private business dealings—the monarchy in Spain collapsed. The country then implemented unprecedented reforms: an advanced constitution, universal male suffrage, and a pluralistic party system. Yet the project would soon falter: In this lecture, we will investigate the mysterious assassination of **General Prim**, architect of the new regime, seeking to determine who—or who among many—killed him, and above all, why; We will analyze the brief and difficult reign of **Amadeo of Savoy**, Spain’s first democratic monarch, whose abdication led Spain— for the first time—to proclaim the **First Spanish Republic**, an audacious and turbulent attempt to modernize the country, far less known than the Second Republic. A narrative of **revolution, ambition, ideals, and conspiracies**, guiding us into how Spain’s first democratic experiment was born—and why it ultimately crashed. SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM: TITLE: THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION AND THE DEMOCRATIC SEXENNIUM (1868–1874): SPAIN’S FIRST DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE Speaker: Miguel Garau (Ph.D. in Contemporary History; organizer of this Meetup group) Lecture duration: 60–75 minutes Followed by Q&A and open discussion LOCATION: First floor of the legendary Café La Ópera (Las Ramblas). A room reserved exclusively for us, where you can enjoy a drink while listening. Limited capacity. Please confirm your attendance; if you cannot attend, kindly unregister in advance. Fee: €12 (drinks not included) Thank you all very much in advance, Looking forward to seeing you! Miguel