Podcast Summary: “Consejo de guerra al ‘cuñao’ de Isabel II por matar al otro ‘cuñao’”

Podcast: Todo Concostrina — Acontece que no es poco
Host: Nieves Concostrina (SER Podcast)
Date: April 12, 2023

Episode Overview

This episode, delivered in Nieves Concostrina's signature sharp and irreverent style, dives into a lesser-known but highly dramatic event from Spanish history: the duel between Antonio de Orleans (Duke of Montpensier) and Enrique de Borbón y Borbón. The duel, which resulted in Enrique's death, symbolized not only the ferocious in-fighting among the Spanish Bourbon dynasty but also exposed the impunity and hypocrisy enjoyed by the aristocracy. Drawing parallels to “Game of Thrones” and using biting humor, Concostrina examines the farcical and tragic elements surrounding this “family affair” of the Spanish royals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: A “Game of Thrones” à la Española

• The episode opens by likening this Bourbon family drama to the popular series “Game of Thrones,” with a suggested title of “Duelo por un trono” (Duel for a Throne). [00:27–01:14]
• Concostrina: “Digamos, mejor que lo de hoy es la historia de dos aristócratas, un Orleans y un Borbón, que se liaron a tiros para evitar que uno de ellos pillara la dirección general de esta empresa llamada España.” [01:26]

The Borbón Family Feud

• Explains the mutual animosity between Antonio de Orleans, brother-in-law to Queen Isabel II, and Enrique de Borbón, both of whom were also cousins and rivals (both “cuñados” of Isabel II).
• Antonio participated in ousting Isabel II from the throne, adding layers to family tension.
• Quote: “Es que a veces no se aguantaban... Eran típicos primos que se odiaban.” [04:02]

The Duel: Prelude & Insults

• After Isabel II’s exile, Spain was searching for a new king, and Antonio de Orleans was among the candidates; however, being a Borbón was a significant political handicap.
• Enrique, despite being ineligible himself, actively sought to sabotage Antonio’s candidacy.
• The feud escalated publicly via mutual insults in the press, with Enrique calling Antonio “truán, calumniador, enemigo, político, traidor, corrupto”—but what offended Antonio most was being called “hinchado pastelero francés.” [07:00]

The Duel of Carabanchel: The Fatal Morning

• Duel took place on March 12, 1870, in the countryside of Carabanchel (now a Madrid neighborhood). [08:02]
• Traditional efforts were made to dissuade the duel, but both men persisted out of pride.
• The duel consisted of three shots each:
  • First two rounds missed
  • On the third, Antonio fatally shot Enrique in the head
• Quote (Concostrina, on Enrique’s mentality): “Se estaba cumpliendo la previsión que hizo el día antes del duelo Enrique de Borbón, que si yo lo mato, Antonio no será rey de España y si él me mata a mí tampoco será rey, luego muero contento.” [10:23]

Aftermath: Justice for the Elite

• The event was an open secret among elites but barely reached the common people.
• Antonio, as a high-ranking military man, was tried before a military council, not a civil court.
• Result: One month “exile” from Madrid (to his lavish palace in Seville), and a compensation payment which Enrique’s son refused.
• Quote: “Un mes de destierro de Madrid... o sea que se podía ir a su casoplón de Sevilla... era un destierro de chiste.” [11:47]

Broader Implications: Borbón Family Legacy

• The duel irreparably damaged the already toxic royal family dynamics.
• Enrique, due to Masonic ties, was denied a royal burial and instead interred humbly in San Isidro Cemetery in Madrid. [13:00]
• The church, usually quick to excommunicate duelists and masons, “looked the other way” because of Enrique’s aristocratic rank.
• Antonio’s bid for the throne was definitively ruined.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:26] Nieves Concostrina (on Borbón family dysfunction):
  “Esta historia es una prueba más de esa familia desestructurada que son los Borbones. Están todos mal avenidos, siempre enfrentados, siempre a la greña.”

• [03:10] On Spanish justice:
  “La ley... está pensada para el robagallinas, no para el gran defraudador. Y la ley tampoco está pensada para los Borbones ni para los Orleans.”

• [07:00] On insults that led to the duel:
  “Lo que más le molestó al duque de Montpensier es que su primo lo llamara hinchado pastelero francés. Eso lo rebajó de mucho.”

• [10:23] On Enrique’s fatalist prophecy:
  “Si yo lo mato, Antonio no será rey de España y si él me mata a mí tampoco será rey, luego muero contento...”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:27–01:14] Introduction & “Game of Thrones” comparison
• [01:26–02:38] Setting up the historical context, Borbón family dynamics
• [03:54–06:05] The origins of the duel, family relationships and political intrigue
• [07:00–08:21] Build-up of the rivalry and insult escalation
• [08:30–10:37] The duel itself—description and outcome
• [10:37–12:25] Judicial and social aftermath
• [12:25–13:50] Family estrangement and funeral details

Tone and Language

Nieves Concostrina maintains a humorous, sardonic, and colloquial tone throughout, leveraging wit to highlight the absurdities of royal drama and Spanish history's penchant for sweeping scandals among the elite under the rug. The episode is rich in sharp asides (“esto es España... la justicia es la que es”), vivid storytelling, and memorable refrains about Bourbon family dysfunction.

For Listeners:

This episode is a perfect showcase of how Spanish history can be as wild and tangled as any modern TV saga—a tale of pride, scandal, and impunity among the aristocracy, told with equal parts irreverence and authority by Concostrina. Expect a blend of informative narrative and biting critique, without the need for royalist sentiment.