Legitimists Wars (Reign of Three Kingdoms)

The Legitimists Wars, also known as the French Civil War, the War of French Succession or Liberal Wars, was a war between liberal constitutionalists and conservative absolutists in France over royal succession that lasted from 1821 to 1834.It was fought between two factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the French monarchy: the conservative supporters of the late king's uncle Charles Phillippe, Count of Artois, became known as Legitimists, while the progressive supporters of the regent, Maria-Ludovica, acting for Jeanne IV of France, were called Liberals.

Aside from being a war of succession about the question who the rightful successor to king Louis XVII of France was, the Legitimists’ goal was the return to an absolute monarchy, while the Liberals sought to defend the constitutional monarchy. Spain, Austria, Prussia, and the United Kingdom supported the regency, and sent volunteer and even regular forces to confront the Legitimists Army.

Bourbon Restoration
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The political background in France
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A new constitution
In the French Constitutional Charter, Louis attempted to reconcile absolutists and liberals by allowing both factions a role in the government. Unlike the Constitution of 1791, this new document established four branches of government. The Legislature was divided into two chambers. The upper chamber, the Chamber of Peers, was composed of life and hereditary peers and clergy appointed by the king. The lower chamber, the Chamber of Deputies, was composed of deputies elected to four-year terms by the indirect vote of local assemblies, which in turn were elected by universal male suffrage. Judicial power was exercised by the courts; executive power by the ministers of the government; and moderative power by the king, who held an suspensive veto over all legislation.

The Constitutional Charter of 1814 allowed the monarch to appoint cabinet ministers, but had stripped him of the power to dismiss them without approval from the Legislature. The Ultra-Royalist party of the landowners and the Church, however, were not satisfied with this compromise.Towards the end of his life, Louis XVII had the constitution abolish Salic Law. And promulgated the Pragmatic Sanction of 1818 giving hopes for a liberal rule. Without the above Pragmatic Sanction Charles Philippe, Count of Artois, the king's uncle, would have normally become king. He and his followers, pressed Louis to change his mind. But the agonizing Louis kept his decision. He was succeeded by his daughter, Jeanne VI, born six days earlier, in the care of her mother, Maria-Ludovica.

A strong absolutist party did not want to lose its position. Its members knew that regent Maria-Ludovica would make liberal reforms, so they looked for another candidate for the throne; and their natural choice, with the background of the Salic Law, was Louis's uncle Charles. The differing views on the influence of the army and the Church in governance, as well as the forthcoming administrative reforms paved the way for the expulsion of the Ultra-Royalists from the higher governmental circles, not that it opened the doors to the most progressives.

Basque reasons for Legitimists uprising
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Corsican reasons for Legitimists uprising
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The contenders
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The combatants
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