Todo Concostrina – "Acontece que no es poco | Primavera de 1699: El motín de los gatos"

Host: Nieves Concostrina
Episode Date: October 11, 2023
Podcast: SER Podcast
Episode Context: "Acontece que no es poco" is a history podcast where Nieves Concostrina offers a personal, witty, and informal look at historical events. In this episode, she analyzes the "Motín de los Gatos" (Riot of the Cats) of 1699 in Madrid—a crisis that blended social unrest, political intrigue, and propaganda during the final years of King Carlos II’s reign.

Overview of the Episode's Main Theme

Nieves Concostrina unpacks the "Motín de los Gatos," an uprising in Madrid in the spring of 1699. She explores how this crisis of subsistence—sparked by hunger and rising food prices—was cleverly leveraged as a political weapon amid the fierce succession struggle between supporters of the Austrian Habsburgs and the Bourbon dynasty. The episode investigates the confluence of popular anger, noble scheming, and ruthless propaganda that ultimately removed a key political figure (the Count of Oropesa) and paved the way for Bourbon ascendancy in Spain.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The "Migas de pan" Backstory and Episode Context

• [00:44] The "migas de pan" concept: Sometimes a topic from a previous episode is so rich in connections it deserves a dedicated discussion—like breadcrumb trails in a narrative series.
• [01:17] Recent episodes discussed the Austrias vs. Borbones succession tussle, specifically the manipulations around Carlos II’s heir.

2. Origins of "Gatos" and Madrid’s Identity

• [03:02] Listeners learn why Madrileños are called "gatos."
  • Concostrina recounts the legendary origin: A man scaled the city walls with a dagger during the "conquest," supposedly moving so nimbly he earned the nickname "gato" ("cat"), which over generations extended to all born in Madrid.
  • [03:17] Nieves: “Siempre que dices algo dos veces, además suena más auténtico… Pues esto es lo de gato, gato…”
  • Madrid’s population—“la plebe”—inherited the moniker, regardless of its true merit.

3. Context and Mechanisms of Subsistence Crises

• [04:30] The Motín de los Gatos was sparked by a classic subsistence crisis:
  • Scarcity of food (bread, oil) led to high prices and hunger for the poor.
  • Often, these crises weren’t just from poor harvests; the nobility exacerbated them by hoarding supplies to drive prices up for profit.
• [05:53] A parallel is drawn to modern speculation:
  • [05:55] Nieves: “¿Cómo nos suena esto del aceite?”—a wry nod to ongoing issues with speculation in present-day Spain.

4. The Political Figure Behind the Crisis: The Count of Oropesa

• [06:28] Introduction of Manuel Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo y Portugal, the Count of Oropesa (“Manolo”)
  • Called the “presidente del Consejo de Castilla,” akin to today’s prime minister.
  • Seen as a wise and influential advisor to Charles II; previously instrumental in selecting his heir.
• [07:42] The Count’s wife, the Countess, allegedly engaged in grain and oil hoarding.
  • This personal wrongdoing was weaponized by the Bourbon faction to undermine the Count with the king.

5. The Machinations of the Bourbon Propaganda Machine

• [08:20] Spring 1699: Acute food shortages; rumors circulate blaming the Oropesas for hoarding, driven by word-of-mouth gossip and anonymous leaflets (“pasquines”).
• [09:05] Purpose: Discredit not only Oropesa but also other Austria-aligned nobles.
  • “Gritad contra el gobierno y a favor del rey”—directing popular anger at the government rather than the monarch.
  • [09:24] Nieves: “Era un grito muy común, que esto es muy propio también de la plebe ignorante. Disculpas al rey, que es el verdadero parásito, y culpas a los que en realidad curran.”
• [09:46] The Borbones were “maestros de la propaganda”—masters of manipulating public opinion.

6. The Unfolding and Aftermath of the Uprising

• [10:09] The uprising grows: street protests, shouts for bread outside the royal palace.
  • Carlos II, isolated from daily life, emerges to calm the crowd with a classic royal platitude:
  • [10:55] Nieves (imagining the king): “Hombre, calmaros, hombre. De haber sabido yo que había tanta necesidad... Aquí en palacio, como tía mesa puesta, pues no me entero que falta pan. Esto no sé si lo dijo, pero me lo imagino.”
• [11:08] Political consequences:
  • The king removes Oropesa, thinking this will quell the unrest.
  • The Count, now powerless and discredited, flees—opening the path for the Borbon candidate.
  • [11:22] The real winner: Cardinal Portocarrero—a Borbon loyalist—takes his place, fortifying the Borbon claim to the throne.

7. Reflection on Propaganda, Manipulable Masses, and Power

• Propaganda and manipulation of "la plebe" are persistent historical realities—then and now, says Nieves, with only the media evolving (“con propagandistas antes y periodistas ahora”).
  • [12:57] Nieves: “Tú dale a la plebe un bulo que se lo come fijo ahora. Y da igual en el siglo XVII también fundamental que contaran con propagandistas antes y con periodistas ahora, que ponen los medios para que la plebe se lo trague un poquito mejor.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• [03:17] Nieves on the “gato” nickname:

  “Siempre que dices algo dos veces, además suena más auténtico… Pues esto es lo de gato, gato…”

• [05:55] Nieves draws a contemporary parallel:

  “¿Cómo nos suena esto del aceite?”
  (Reminding listeners that speculation on staple commodities is timeless.)

• [09:24] Social critique:

  “Disculpas al rey, que es el verdadero parásito, y culpas a los que en realidad curran.”
  (On the people's misplaced blame.)

• [10:55] Satirical reenactment of Carlos II’s out-of-touch response:

  “Aquí en palacio, como tía mesa puesta, pues no me entero que falta pan. Esto no sé si lo dijo, pero me lo imagino. Y lo que también diría, pues lo siento mucho, me he equivocado y no volverá a ocurrir.”

• [12:57] Enduring lessons of mass manipulation:

  “Tú dale a la plebe un bulo que se lo come fijo ahora. Y da igual en el siglo XVII también fundamental que contaran con propagandistas antes y con periodistas ahora, que ponen los medios para que la plebe se lo trague un poquito mejor.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:44] – Explanation of "migas de pan" storytelling method
• [03:02 – 03:17] – Origin and meaning of “gatos” for Madrileños
• [04:30] – How subsistence crises triggered unrest (background to the riot)
• [06:28] – Introduction of the Count of Oropesa (political context)
• [08:20] – The spring 1699 crisis and rise of conspiratorial rumors
• [09:46] – Mastery of Bourbon propaganda in steering public anger
• [10:09] – The riot’s escalation and royal intervention
• [11:08 – 11:22] – Dismissal and flight of the Count of Oropesa; key shift of power
• [12:57] – Modern parallels in propaganda and mass manipulation

Conclusion: Lessons and Contemporary Resonances

Through wit and historical anecdotes, Nieves Concostrina exposes how a crisis of hunger in 1699 was amplified and exploited to shift the political direction of Spain—using strategies and patterns of manipulation recognizable even today. The intersection of popular unrest, rumor-mongering, and court intrigue led to the downfall of Oropesa, clearing the way for the Bourbon dynasty, with lasting impact. The episode closes on the enduring truth that, regardless of era, manipulating masses through rumor and media remains a critical tool for those seeking power.