Matías Barrio y Mier

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In this
Spanish name, the first or paternal surname
is Barrio and the second or maternal family name is Mier.
Matías Barrio y Mier
Matías Barrio y Mier.png
Born
Matías Barrio y Mier

1844
Spanish
Occupationpolitician
Known foracademic, politician
Political partyCarlism

Matías Barrio y Mier (1844–1909) was a Spanish law academic and a Carlist politician. He served as a scholar of

Carlist political leader (1899-1909). As a Traditionalist he served 9 terms in the Cortes, initially during the rule of Amadeo I (1871-1872) and then during the Restoration
period (1891-1903, 1905-1909).

Family and youth

Palentine
mountains near Verdeña

Matías Barrio y Mier was born in a mountainous village of

cum laude).[8] As a teenager Matías intended to join the military, but dissuaded by his father, he eventually agreed to pursue a career in law.[9]

Barrio as a young catedrático, around 1870

In 1859 Barrio moved to

sanscrit, perfected in Madrid in the late 1870s.[15] When the Spanish revolution of 1868 broke out Barrio was already a formidable prospective scholar, with one PhD, four licenciaturas and six carreras completed.[16]

In 1871 Matías Barrio married an

Asturiana from Llanes, Maximina Marcos Sánchez.[17] Nothing is known about her or her family, except that it was "one of the most distinguished ones" in the city[18] and that she outlived her husband at least by 14 years.[19] The couple had 4 children, José,[20] Carlos, Jaime and Blanca;[21] the family moved across Spain, following the professional lot of Barrio and his subsequent academic assignments.[22] The oldest son, José Barrio Marcos, died as a student in 1900,[23] Blanca perished at 26 years of age in 1910.[24] Carlos grew to head of fiscal administration in Valladolid in the mid-1930s;[25] he was dismissed by the Francoist administration in late 1936; the dismissal was related to the decree which envisioned release from state service officials who demonstrated antipatriotic behavior.[26]
There is nothing known about one more son, Jaime; there is neither any information available on any of Barrio's grandchildren.

Academic

Matías Barrio commenced his teaching career as an interim assistant professor in Valladolid in 1864-65,

Universidad de Zaragoza.[31]

former University of Oñate

Expulsed to

university of Oñate he became dean of the Jurisprudence Faculty, working also as catedratico and a librarian.[32] Following the Carlist defeat he migrated to France but returned thanks to the 1877 amnesty, unsuccessfully requesting re-installment at his Zaragoza post.[33] In 1880 he was nominated (beating 9 counter-candidates) catedratico numerario at Universidad de Valencia and commenced teaching Prolegómenos de Derecho e Historia and Elementos de Derecho Romano.[34]
Following a brief spell in Zaragoza (teaching Historia Universal) he had his rights fully reinstated and acknowledged by the ministry in 1881.

In 1881 Barrio commenced his 11-year-spell at

Universidad de Oviedo, where he initially assumed Historia y elementos de Derecho civil español, in 1883 elected dean of the Faculty of Law and 1884 starting lectures in Derecho civil español, común y foral.[35] He is remembered for having reformed the library of the Law Faculty, granting access to the public.[36] In 1892 Barrio left Asturias for Madrid, as he won the competition to chair Derecho civil español, común y foral at Universidad Central;[37] in 1902 he assumed Derecho común de España comparado con el foral there.[38] Elected unanimously dean of the Faculty of Law in 1905.[39]

University of Oviedo

His fundamental work is the monumental Historia general del derecho español,

Liebana and La Pernía.[45]

Public servant

During his university years of early 1860s Barrio was active in the

socialist leader Julián Besteiro, Barrio voted for the latter.[52]

Cervera de Pisuerga

Some sources claim that he unsuccessfully ran for the

conservative candidate.[56]

As a deputy he is recorded for calm logic rather than hyperbolic rhetoric;[57] he is not noted as an impressive speaker,[58] though remembered as a respectful, non-aggressive and conciliatory MP, even towards the Republican deputies.[59] During 15 years of service his interventions ranged from local Palentine issues (road construction and maintenance, subsidies to local institutions, relief for victims of natural disasters, pension rights, railway lines, also defense of peasants accused of rural property crimes) [60] to national and international matters. As an expert in law, he chaired the Comisión de Codificación and was counselor to Ministry of Education.[61] As a Carlist deputy he spoke in defense of the Church[62] and is noted for condoning atrocities committed by the Catholic missionaries in the Spanish Guinea Equatorial.[63] In June 1898 as leader of Carlist minority he abstained from giving advice when the prime minister Sagasta consulted the parties on continuation or termination of the war with the United States,[64] though 3 months later he voiced against accepting the Washington Protocol and along few deputies signed a manifesto to the nation, denouncing the treaty.[65]

Carlist

Carlist cavalry charging
Carlist cavalry charging

It was his parents, both fundamentally Carlist,

Carlos VII.[71] At this role, together with his position at the Orduña university, Barrio became the heart and soul of the judicial and cultural organisation in the insurgent Carlist state,[72] though the actual Minister of Justice was Romualdo de Viñaret.[73]

Carlist standard

Little is known about Barrio's Carlist activity in the 1880s, though he was probably busy rebuilding the Traditionalist network in León. His position in the organization grew once he became a deputy and started speaking in defense of the Carlist cause in the Cortes.[74] With the number of Carlist deputies ranging from 5 to 10, Barrio, along Cesáreo Sanz Escartín, gradually became the most experienced MP and in the late 1890s[75] assumed the post of the Carlist Cortes minority speaker (though the parliamentarian leadership was reserved for the senator, marqués de Cerralbo); by the same time he emerged as the regional Leonese leader and the representative of León in the nationwide structures.[76] He also became one of the movement's pundits, regularly publishing in the semi-official Carlist daily, El Correo Español.[77] In case the Jefe Delegado, marqués de Cerralbo, was out of the country, it was usually Matías Barrio replacing him.[78]

Jefe Delegado

Barrio at a Carlist banquete, 1907
Barrio at a Carlist banquete, 1907

When de Cerralbo resigned as Jefe Delegado in 1899 there were many personalities counting as his potential successors, including

Joaquín Lloréns or Manuel Polo y Peyrolón.[79] Despite Olazábal having been rumored to get the post,[80] Carlos VII opted for Matías Barrio. As at that time the conservative and liberal press was widely speculating about another Carlist war approaching, the appointment of a “notorious legalist”[81] and “conciliator”[82] Barrio might have been interpreted as calming the waters, though actual intentions of the claimant remain rather unclear.[83]

Barrio did not manage to prevent isolated and probably spontaneous outbursts of Carlist insurgency, especially the 1900 Badalona uprising dubbed "La Octubrada".[84] As unlike many Carlist personalities Barrio was spared the resulting governmental repressive action, his primary task turned out to be reconstruction of the party, suffering from closures of circulos, suspension of periodicals and exile of its leaders.[85] The reopening of circulos produced their visible reformatting, with increased female presence and more focus on youth, including sport (especially football).[86] The resumption of press activities produced a conflict with de Mella, already averse towards Barrio,[87] as the claimant ordered his Jefe Delegado to purge El Correo Español of the Mellista influence.[88]

Barrio's funeral
Barrio's funeral

In the early 20th century Matías Barrio was already suffering from

Except Navarre, where thanks to Barrio's conciliatory strategy towards Integristas the Traditionalists gained almost a monopoly in political representation,[93] in other regions of Spain these efforts remained rather fruitless. Ready to take the blame Barrio submitted his resignation, which was rejected by Carlos VII.[94] His endeavours were finally crowned two years before death, in the 1907 elections, as the Traditionalists, mostly thanks to joining Solidaritat Catalana, recorded their largest electoral success so far and gained 16 mandates in the Cortes,[95] the result bettered only once, 26 years later.[96]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ISBN 9788417765880
    , p. 16
  2. ^ Vallejo García-Hevia 2020, p. 16
  3. ISSN 0210-7317
    , 78 (2007), p. 167
  4. ^ Hijos ilustres del Valle de Redondo, [in:] Origeness Blogspot available here. It is not clear why she appears in documents as "Susana de Mier", since her parents were Simon Morante and Tomasa de Mier, Vallejo García-Hevia 2020, p. 16. In line with standard customs, she would have appeared as "Susana Morante Mier"
  5. ^ Santiago Francia Lorenzo, Matías Barrio y Mier, [in:] La Pernía, montana palentina website, available here
  6. ^ Francia Lorenzo
  7. ^ Carlos Petit, Barrio y Mier, Matías (1844-1909) entry, [in:] Diccionario de Catedráticos Españoles de Derecho (1847-1943) at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid website, available here
  8. ^ Carlos Petit
  9. ^ Santiago Francia Lorenzo, Territorio Perniano. Un manuscript de Matías Barrio y Mier en el Archivio Capitular de Palencia, [in:] PITTM 71 (2000), p. 455
  10. ^ Carlos Petit
  11. ^ following the work on Teoría fundamental de las circunstancias atenuantes y agravantes de los delitos, Carlos Petit, see also Froilán de Lózar, p. 169
  12. ^ the thesis was on Idéa de las fuentes del conocimiento historico, Carlos Petit
  13. ^ Carlos Petit; Francia Lorenzo (2000), p. 455 gives the name as Escuela Superior Diplomática
  14. ^ According to Petit Barrio studied theology for 2 years; Francia Lorenzo claims Barrio graduated in theology p. 455, Froilán de Lózar, p. 169 says that the 1868 revolution interrupted Barrio's theology studies, but he later resumed them and obtained another PhD
  15. ^ Carlos Petit
  16. ISBN 8427712308
    , 9788427712300, p. 100
  17. ^ Francia Lorenzo
  18. ^ Vallejo García-Hevia 2020, p. 40
  19. ^ in 1923 she was entitled to a pension, El Adelanto 27.09.23, available here
  20. ^ named after his grandfather
  21. ^ Froilán de Lózar, p. 172; the choice of names reveals zealous Carlist penchant, as they were names of the then claimant and his children, Vallejo García-Hevia 2020, p. 40
  22. ISBN 8425911524
    , 9788425911521, pp. 186-187
  23. ^ Barrio's biographer claims he has never recovered from this blow, Vallejo García-Hevia 2020, p. 205
  24. ^ La Lectura Dominical 01.10.10, available here
  25. ^ in the 1910s served as mid-range finance official in Salamanca, Guia Oficial de Espana 1914, available here
  26. ^ Boletín oficial de la provincia de Cáceres 02.01.37, available here
  27. ^ Carlos Petit
  28. ^ Carlos Petit
  29. ^ Carlos Petit
  30. ^ Carlos Petit
  31. ^ Carlos Petit, Froilán de Lózar, p. 169
  32. ^ Carlos Petit, Froilán de Lózar, p. 169; according to a press obituary he was also a rector, see ABC 24/06/1909, available here
  33. ^ he challenged the rejection of his application in court; a number of MPs appealed in his favor, see Petit
  34. ISBN 8437043948
    , 9788437043944, pp. 193
  35. ^ Carlos Petit
  36. ^ see Barrio y Mier, Matías entry [in:] vivirasturias.com
  37. ^ Carlos Petit
  38. ^ Carlos Petit
  39. ^ Carlos Petit, Froilán de Lózar, p. 171; B. de Artagan, Politicos del Carlismo, Barcelona 1913 claims it was in 1906, referred after Blog de la Asociación Cultural Tradicionalista Fernando III el Santo, available here
  40. ^ Historia general del derecho Español. Extracto taquigráfico de las explicaciones del dr. d. Matías Barrio y Mier, Volumes I-IV, Madrid, no stated date of issue, usually dated at 1900
  41. ^ vivirasturias.com
  42. ^ Carlos Petit
  43. ^ Froilán de Lózar, p. 179
  44. ^ Francia Lorenzo
  45. ^ His commitment to the native region was demonstrated also in 1904, when he co-founded Casa de Palencia in Madrid, see Froilán de Lózar, p. 190
  46. ^ Carlos Petit; Francia Lorenzo says it was in Pisuerga
  47. ^ Carlos Petit
  48. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, p. 169
  49. ^ Carlos Petit
  50. ^ Carlos Petit
  51. ^ Carlos Petit; Francia Lorenzo says he had also offices in Valladolid, Burgos and Madrid
  52. ^ Francia Lorenzo
  53. ^ though he did not complete the required 25 years of age; allegedly because of his bid he suffered harassment at Universidad Central, see Fróilan de Lózar, p. 169
  54. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, p. 170 claims that he succeeded in 1872 elections, but his mandate was annulled
  55. ^ some scholars even label the area as Barrio's political "property" and consider his long career part of the caciquismo phenomenon, see José Varela Ortega 2001, pp. 186-187; a hagiographical biographer attributes his success to popularity among the locals, see Fróilan de Lózar, p. 166 and onwards
  56. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, pp. 171-172
  57. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, p. 168
  58. ^ del Valle, del Valle López, p. 101
  59. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, pp. 254-255
  60. ^ Fróilan de Lozar, p. 171
  61. ^ Carlos Petit
  62. ^ See many excerpts quoted by Fróilan de Lózar
  63. ^ During the Cortes session of 29 May 1895, apparently replying to a republican deputy from Cuba, Rafael Maria de Labra y Cadrana, Barrio praised the missionaries, stressing that they work pro de la patria como constants obreros de la civilización, sobre la base indispensable de la enseñanza moral y religiosa. Referring to incident at Cabo San Carlos, when 500 batons administered to a native caused his death, Barrio went on noting that la mala voluntad de algunas personas, ejerciéndose contra esor misionerios, ha querido, sin embargo, sacar partido de algunos hechos aislados que hayan podido ocirrir, casi siempre sin culpa ni intervención de aquellos, pero de los cuales se pretendian deducir graves cargos que en definitive resultan infundiados, see Revista de Geografía Comercial, XI (1895), pp. 223-224, available here
  64. ^ Europa en 1898 y la Guerra de Estados Unidos con España, [in:] Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia, vol. CXCV (2), 1998, p. 199
  65. ^ Europa en… (1998), p. 203-204
  66. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, 167
  67. ^ del Valle, del Valle López, p. 100, Fróilan de Lózar, p. 190
  68. ^ Froilan de Lózar, p. 169-170
  69. ^ Fróilan de Lózar, p. 170
  70. ^ ABC 24/06/1909 wrote in Barrio's obituary that he fought for the Carlist cause "with a spade"; not clear whether this was pure retorics or a reference to Barrio's actual combat experience
  71. ^ together with Lorenzo de Arrieta Mascaria, Conde del Pinar, see Julián Gómez de Maya, El código penal de Don Carlos VII, [in:] Anales de derecho 26 (2008), p. 102
  72. ^ Agustín Fernández Escudero, El marqués de Cerralbo (1845-1922): biografía politica [PhD thesis], Madrid 2012, p. 42
  73. ISBN 8460589323
    , pp. 76-81
  74. ^ E.g. when intervening about the Carlist political leader, Marques de Cerralbo, assaulted in Valencia, see Escudero 2012, p. 213
  75. ^ he declared in Cortes: nosotros no somos absolutistas, somos los menos absolutistas, rechazamos el absolutismo que condenamos con energía, reprobamos todos los absolutismos conocidos, somos partidarios de la libertad Cristiana, quoted after Escudero 2012, p. 214
  76. ^ in 1896 Barrio was heading junta regional, see Escudero 2012, p. 285, and in 1899 was representing León in a number of Carlist initiatives, like the Junta to commemorate conversión de Recaredo, see Escudero 2012, p. 293
  77. ^ Escudero 2012, p. 332
  78. ISSN 2172-671X
    , p. 149
  79. ^ Escudero 2012, p. 406
  80. ^ Escudero 2012, p. 374
  81. ISBN 8400077784
    , 9788400077785, p. 206
  82. ^ González Calleja, p. 214
  83. ^ Carlist leaders among themselves spoke openly about the insurgency and Carlos VII made some moves which might have been interpreted as gearing up for rebellion, see Escudero 2012 pp. 383, 385, 385-402;
  84. ^ he declared those taking part not being Carlists, Escudero 2012, p. 390 Escudero 2011 (2) p. 73
  85. ISBN 8496467341
    , 9788496467347, p. 36, Escudero 2012, p. 408
  86. ^ Escudero 2012, pp. 408-409, Canal 2006, p. 36
  87. ^ A friend of the dismissed de Cerralbo, de Mella was reported by the press to hate Barrio and to call him “a camel” due to his posture and coarse look, see Escudero 2012, p. 373-4; see also the anecdote referred by Froilán de Lózar, p. 165: when asked by a journalist about his physis, Barrio replied that “God paints according to His own will”
  88. ^ see Juan Ramón de Andrés Martín, El control mellista del organo carlista oficial. “El Correo Español” antes de la Gran Guerra, [in:] Aportes. Revista de la Historia Contemporánea 1999 (40/2), pp. 67-78
  89. ^ de Artagnan 1913 claims his health suffered due to work overload
  90. ^ consisting of deputies, senators and regional jefes
  91. ^ Escudero 2012, p. 413-4; the formation of the Junta was led the government to anticipate Carlist uprising and triggered special measures, see González Calleja, p. 339
  92. ^ E.g. Barrio wrote in El Correo Español that Carlists should afford a sacrifice of going to the polls, see Escudero 2012, p. 415
  93. ^ following the Third Carlist War the Traditionalists were winning at best 3 of the 7 Navarrese mandates available; in 1903 they won 5, and in 1907 and 1910 they grabbed 6 out of 7 mandates, the remaining one ceded to the allied Conservatives; their domination was broken in 1918, when they slipped to 3 mandates again
  94. ^ Escudero 2012, p. 416
  95. Senante Martinez
    (Gipuzkoa)
  96. ISBN 9780521207294
    , pp. 332-333

Further reading

External links
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