From family to the people: Espartero as an archetype of progressive masculinity until the beginning of his regency (1793-1840)

Abstract

The image of Espartero became commonplace of many political cultures of 19th-century Spain, yet, it was the Progressivist who made more used of it due to his own personal affiliation. Among the uses of Espartero’s image, that of a role model is perhaps the most interesting and the least addressed. Thus, the present article seeks to explore how the different biographers of the Duke of la Victoria built the idea of Espartero as the ideal man, infusing him with an aura of charisma tailored for him. These biographies show how Progressivisim sought to legitimize, through Espartero, a flexible sense of masculinity, which could, at times, be excessively virile, setting it in contrast to the normative masculinity of posrevolutionary Europe.