Editing Amadeo I of Spain (section)

==== Conflict Between Radicals and the King ====
[[File:Amadeo I, rey de España.jpg|thumb|Amadeo I.]]

On January 29, 1873, radical extremists seized on a perceived royal slight—Amadeo delaying his newborn heir's baptism due to childbirth complications, leaving government officials waiting—as a pretext to challenge him. Rumors swirled of Amadeo dismissing Ruiz Zorrilla for a Constitutionalist government, fueled by his meeting with General [[Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre|Serrano]] at the palace (Serrano declined after consulting his party). Radicals moved to declare the Cortes a permanent Convention, only halted by swift government action; the Chamber merely noted the prince's birth without fanfare. Amadeo told Ruiz Zorrilla he wouldn't “suffer impositions” and was “prepared to act,” writing his father in early February of abdication thoughts, suspecting Ruiz Zorrilla colluded with Republicans against the dynasty.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=326-327}}

A decisive clash emerged over artillery corps reorganization. In January, officers threatened mass resignation if General {{Interlanguage link|Baltasar Hidalgo de Quintana|es|Baltasar Hidalgo de Quintana}}—linked to the 1866 {{Interlanguage link|Uprising at the San Gil barracks|es|Sublevación del cuartel de San Gil}} suppression—remained Captain General of the Basque Country. The government and Cortes upheld civilian supremacy, affirming Hidalgo and reorganizing the corps, prompting officers to resign en masse.{{Sfn|Bahamonde|1996|p=88}} On February 6, these officers urged Amadeo to intervene, offering coup support to dissolve the Cortes and suspend guarantees. He refused but opposed the reorganization.{{Sfn|Bahamonde|1996|pp=88-89}}

That day, Ruiz Zorrilla denied press reports of Hidalgo's appointment as [[Captain General of Catalonia]], but its confirmation next day convinced Amadeo of deceit. He pressed Ruiz Zorrilla on February 7 to delay the artillery issue and retain officers amid the Carlist War, but the Cortes approved their resignations and replacements by sergeants that evening, ratified by the Senate on February 8. Moderate [[Fernando Calderón de la Barca, 1st Marquis of Reinosa|Fernando Calderón Collantes]] warned it undermined royal prerogatives, a view Amadeo shared as officers surrendered weapons before he signed the decree.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=331-333}}

Amadeo considered a Constitutionalist government and Cortes dissolution but feared civil war, lacking Radical-controlled Madrid garrison support despite backing from generals like [[Juan Bautista Topete|Topete]], Serrano, and [[José Malcampo, 3rd Marquess of San Rafael|Malcampo]]. Topete offered Constitutionalist aid on February 7–8, but Amadeo refused bloodshed, signing the artillery decrees on February 8 after a Council of Ministers meeting. He proposed a reconciliation government with all 1870 supporters, warning of abdication otherwise. Ruiz Zorrilla's cabinet rejected it after three meetings. On February 9, Constitutionalists telegrammed Serrano in Jaén to return; he arrived February 10, ready to defend the dynasty, but {{Interlanguage link|La Correspondencia de España|es|La Correspondencia de España}} announced Amadeo's abdication that day.{{Sfn|Vilches|2001|pp=333-339}}