Podcast Summary: "Acontece que no es poco | 28 de noviembre de 1885: María Cristina jura la Constitución… que luego se saltó su hijo"

Host: Nieves Concostrina (with Carla)
Podcast: Todo Concostrina, SER Podcast
Date: November 28, 2024

Overview of the Episode

This episode explores a notable event in Spanish history: the day María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena (María Cristina de Austria), widow of Alfonso XII, swore to uphold the Constitution of 1876 and assumed the regency. Nieves Concostrina uses her trademark wit and critical eye to dissect María Cristina’s role, the quirks of Spanish royal succession, and the Borbón dynasty's recurring issues with constitutional fidelity—all while drawing colorful parallels with modern royal scandals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background on María Cristina de Austria

• Carla introduces the confusion between two María Cristinas, clarifying the protagonist is the less controversial Austro-Hungarian one, not the infamous consort of Ferdinand VII. (00:21)
• Nieves sets the scene: November was a fateful month for María Cristina, who married a problematic king (Alfonso XII) and was widowed six years later, leading her to the unwanted role of regent. (00:49)
  • “Having become a widow might have been a blessing because she got rid of the Borbón in every sense.” (01:22)

2. Royal Succession and the “Borbón Curse”

• Nieves criticizes the dynasty: “Having given birth to a Borbón, well, corruption came embedded, genes are genes, what can you do?” (03:28)
• María Cristina was seen as discreet and proper; even her selection for marriage was a move to temper Alfonso XII’s unruly character.
• Upon Alfonso XIII’s ascent, previous corrupt practices returned, highlighting the cyclical nature of misrule in this dynasty.

3. The Oath of 1876 and Its Ironies

• Carla asks which Constitution was sworn—Nieves explains: “The one of 1876. The same one her son Alfonso XIII later swore and then abolished for a coup with Primo de Rivera.” (05:17)
• Notable Detail: Alfonso XII never formally swore the Constitution—he only sanctioned (signed) it. Same with Juan Carlos: “He only swore the fascist principles of Franco’s movement.” (06:35)
  • “Every time there’s been a coup in this country there’s been a Borbón directly involved; the evidence is there, it’s not made up.” (06:04)

4. How Maria Cristina Swore the Oath

• The swearing was unusual: she had to pledge loyalty to an unborn heir (“just a fetus, to be born five months later”)—and with a thick German accent. (08:15)
  • She swore “by God and the Holy Gospels to be faithful to the heir and uphold the Constitution… On this novella where it’s said God made the world in six days, etc.—and people swear on this to keep the law.” (08:59)
• María Cristina had to perform the ceremony twice: first in private (November) and then in Congress (December 30th, immortalized in a giant Senate painting finished by three artists, with some dying during the process). (09:50)

5. The Heir Situation

• Had María Cristina given birth to another girl, the already existing Princess of Asturias, María de las Mercedes, would have been queen (she remained heir until her early death at 24). María Cristina outlived both her daughters—“I’m not surprised: they gave birth like rabbits. Four times in less than four years; at the fourth she died.” (11:50)

6. Illegitimate Children and Royal Scandal

• Alfonso XII officially had three children (including posthumous Alfonso XIII), and two illegitimate sons with his mistress, Elena Sanz.
• Quote: “And thank goodness he died at 28—otherwise Spain’s budget wouldn’t have managed!” (12:18)
• All government and ecclesiastical authorities denied knowledge of Elena Sanz’s pregnancies—swearing so "by God and the Holy Gospels… When you need to lie, just swear. Nothing happens.” (13:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Borbón Genetics:
  "Al parir a un Borbón... la corrupción venía encastrada, porque los genes son los genes."
  (Nieves, 03:32)

• On Alfonso XII’s Oath:
  “Lo que hizo Alfonso XII fue sancionar la Constitución de 1876, pero no jurarla. Exactamente lo mismo que ocurrió con el emérito delincuente Juan Carlos…”
  (Nieves, 06:44)

• On the Absurdity of Swearing on a Bible:
  “Sobre este rosario de fantasías disparatadas la gente jura cumplir la ley, guardar la Constitución y decir la verdad... A mí no me extraña que los que más juran sean los que más mienten.”
  (Nieves, 09:01)

• On Illegitimate Children Payment:
  “A los españoles les pagamos también el mantenimiento de las amantes, los hijos, las casas, Bárbara Rey y Corinna nos han sacado los hígadillos.”
  (Nieves, 12:21)

• On Swearing Promises:
  “No jures. Prométemelo.”
  (Nieves to Carla, 14:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:21: Carla describes the confusion between the two Marías Cristinas; sets up the focus on María Cristina de Austria.
• 00:49–02:42: Nieves recounts key events of María Cristina’s marriage, widowhood, and regency.
• 03:28–04:50: Discussion of the nature of the Borbón dynasty and how international marriage selection worked.
• 05:17: Explanation of which Constitution was involved in the oath.
• 06:04–06:44: Detailed critique of Borbón kings and their aversion to actually swearing the Constitution.
• 08:15–09:40: How the oath-taking unfolded, the “fetus” issue, and the strange circumstances of the ceremony.
• 10:46–11:52: Succession: what if another girl had been born; deaths of María Cristina’s daughters.
• 12:16–13:48: Alfonso XII’s official and unofficial children, the cost to the state, and societal hypocrisy.
• 14:10: Playful close: Nieves tells Carla “Don't swear. Promise it.”

Conclusion

With her distinct humor and critical punch, Nieves Concostrina shines a light on a period of Spanish history echoing with ironies and bold personalities. The episode highlights the farce and drama involved in royal oaths, the persistent scandals of Spain’s royal houses, and the often overlooked strength and adaptability of María Cristina de Austria: “At least she didn’t mess it all up, which is something,” as Carla aptly puts it.
This is an episode both irreverent and enlightening, perfect for those who love history skewered with a sharp tongue and an eye for inconvenient truths.