Podcast Summary

Podcast: Todo Concostrina
Episode: Acontece que no es poco | 3 de octubre de 1873: Los independentistas murcianos atacan Almería
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: October 3, 2024
Platform: SER Podcast

Main Theme

This episode delves into a fascinating, often-overlooked chapter of Spanish history: the 1873 cantonalist movement, focusing in particular on the independentistas (independentists) of Cartagena ("los murcianos") and their attack on Almería during the First Spanish Republic. With her trademark sharp humor and critical slant, Nieves Concostrina uses the story of the 3rd of October's assault on Garrucha, Almería, by Cartagena's cantonalists to explore the broader phenomenon of Spain's historic struggle with territorial models, internal pluralism, and republican federalism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spain's Ongoing Territorial Struggles

• Introduction:
  • The hosts place the cantonal episode within Spain’s enduring territorial debates, comparing it humorously and critically to contemporary issues like the Catalan "procés".
  • “El problema histórico más grave que tiene España es su modelo territorial… lo que estalló en 1873 podríamos decir que fue el 'multiprocés'.” (B, 00:21)

2. Who Were the 'Murcianos' and What Happened in Almería?

• Although commonly referred to as "murcianos", the independentists were actually from Cartagena. Concostrina explains the joke and jabs at geographical confusion in Spanish politics.
  • "Si lo que vamos a contar de Cartagena lo escuchara el líder del PP... lo mismo acaba creyéndose que Cartagena es una comarca ahí entre Girona y Palamós." (A, 01:26)
• On October 3, 1873, Cartagenan rebels landed on Almería's coastline, looted local towns like Garrucha, then returned with their spoils to Cartagena.

3. The Cantonal Movement: Origins and Nature

• The cantonalist uprising was an explosion of local republics (“cantones”) pushing for a federal Spain, inspired by other models like Switzerland.
  • “Suiza, que es una cagarruta de país... pero tiene 26 cantones.” (A, 04:39)
• The episode underscores that Spain has never been as unitary as some claim:
  • "Este país jamás ha sido un país uniforme. Nunca." (A, 03:54)

4. Federal Spain? The 17 Planned States

• Concostrina details the draft for 17 internal “states” (including Cuba and Puerto Rico) under the planned federal constitution, which never materialized due to internal impatience and fragmentation among republicans.
  • "El movimiento cantonal fue desordenado, fue precipitado... dando una imagen nefasta dentro y fuera del país." (A, 06:55)

5. Contagion and Chaos: A Fever of Independence

• Cartagena was the epicenter, but the fever spread: over 30 municipalities across Spain briefly declared themselves independent, including humorous or dramatic cases like Jumilla's mock diplomatic warnings to “la nación murciana”.
  • “Jumilla le dijo... la nación de Jumilla desea la paz con todas las naciones extranjeras y sobre todo con la nación murciana…” (A, 07:57)
• Even provinces in Andalucía, and briefly Barcelona, declared themselves autonomous.

6. The Republic of Cartagena: Organization and Resistance

• Cartagena's canton lasted the longest—six months (July 1873 to January 1874)—and was the best organized, controlling the local navy and arsenal.
  • “Fueron seis meses de resistencia numantina.” (A, 09:57)
• With naval power, they raided nearby towns for supplies, a point used as the episode's hook.

7. The Looting of Garrucha – What Really Happened?

• While the official local newspaper depicted the raid as being greeted with enthusiasm, the reality was large-scale looting: money, soap, grains, and even horses were seized, though apparently nobody was killed.
  • “No hubo muertos, pero les birlaron todo lo que pudieron.” (A, 11:18)
• The hosts highlight how versions of events differ, and how this history is often misremembered or forgotten.

8. Achievements and Progressivism in the Cartagena Canton

• Despite its brief lifespan, the canton of Cartagena introduced progressive measures:
  • Creation of their own currency
  • 8-hour workday
  • Legalization of divorce and abolition of the death penalty
  • Secular education and Church property expropriation
  • "Se abolió la educación religiosa y se expropiaron los bienes de la Iglesia." (A, 12:49)

9. Collapse and Restoration of Monarchy

• The cantonal movement’s chaos paved the way for the Bourbon restoration.
  • Nieves quotes Cánovas del Castillo’s letter to Isabel II:
    • "Los principios democráticos están heridos de muerte. Sólo es cuestión de calma, serenidad y paciencia restaurar la monarquía." (A, 12:57)
  • She underscores: “La monarquía está en las antípodas de los principios democráticos.” (A, 13:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “El último gran conflicto, aún no resuelto, en este terreno ha sido el 'procés'... lo que estalló en 1873 fue el multiprocés.” (B, 00:21)
• Sobre Suiza: “Suiza, que es una cagarruta de país... pero tiene 26 cantones.” (A, 04:39)
• “Este país jamás ha sido un país uniforme. Nunca.” (A, 03:54)
• "Lo que yo decía, en tu pueblo, Carla, en lo que a movimientos independentistas se refiere, comparado con los murcianos y andaluces, un poquito flojos sí que son." (A, 08:41)
• "Jumilla le dijo al cantón de Murcia... no dejará en Murcia piedra sobre piedra." (A, 07:57)
• “Fueron seis meses de resistencia numantina.” (A, 09:57)
• “Se abolió la educación religiosa y se expropiaron los bienes de la Iglesia.” (A, 12:49)
• “Los principios democráticos están heridos de muerte... restaurar la monarquía.” (A, 12:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Framing Spain’s territorial problem; comparison to modern issues
• 01:26 — Who were the “murcianos” and the anecdote about PP's Feijóo
• 03:22 — Lack of historical attention to the cantonal movement; brief mention in media
• 04:31 — Explanation: what is a cantón? Parallels to Switzerland
• 05:45 — The 17 planned federal states and why it failed
• 07:57 — The fever of independent cantons; Jumilla’s mock diplomacy
• 09:57 — The Republic of Cartagena: duration and naval strategy
• 11:18 — The raid on Garrucha: loot, realities, and myths
• 12:22 — Cartagenan social reforms: currency, education, divorce, and more
• 12:57 — Cánovas del Castillo and the end of the movement
• 13:00–End — Final reflections; epilogue

Overall Tone & Style

Nieves Concostrina maintains her sharp, irreverent, and humorous style throughout, using anecdotes, irony, and historical insight to challenge narratives of Spanish uniformity and to highlight forgotten or underexplored episodes in national history.

Summary

This episode shines a light on the tumultuous and quirky period of Spanish history when independentist fever swept across many towns—most dramatically, Cartagena, which for six months in 1873-74 ran its own progressive mini-republic, even launching seaborne raids like the one on Garrucha. The conversation exposes how the myth of a “uniform Spain” runs counter to its cantonalist and federalist past, and how memory (and amnesia) shape political debate to this day. Essential listening for anyone interested in Spain’s ongoing debate over its identity, autonomy, and the rich layers of its republican history.