Juan Prim y Prats (1814- dec 30 1870)
One of the most influential Spaniard from his time General Prim rise to military glory in Spain during the
first Carlist war a Spanish civil war fought between factions seeking the control over the
succession of the throne in favor of the future queen Isabella II and of the brother of the defunct king Carlos de Borbon.
Long story short Ferdinand VII did not had male descendant to take over so he change a century old rule to allow one of his daughters to become queen,
over the old law his brother would have become king. During this 5 year war the subject of this topic fought in favor of Isabella, not being part of
the royalty or having any military training he started from the bottom of the military chain but thanks to his bravery and command skills by the end
of the conflict at the age of 26, having participated in 35 battles he had attained the rank of colonel.
After this war he participated in conflicts in Africa and Mexico, amount others. During US civil war he supported the union and during a trip to USA
he even visited Lincoln.
A liberal man he opposed the government of the queen regent Baldomero Espartero when he started his political career, and soon after taking office in
the parliament participated in a successful rebellion against Espartero.
After a lifetime of rebellions, condemnations and pardons in july 1869 Prim became president of the council (president of Spain) and was made a
marshal after Queen Isabella II was deposed During the
Glorious Revolution.
This revolution instituted a parliamentary system in Spain that promulgated a liberal constitution, first in Spain since 1812.
However Monarchy in Spain have strong roots even until our days and the revolutionary spirit that overthrown the queen was in disarray. In a last
ditch to remove the Borbons for good Prim started the search of a new king that would act as a liberal puppet, Germans and French were no good but in
august 1870 an Italian prince,
Amadeo of Savoy was chose as the ideal candidate, in November
3 was promulgated King Amadeo I of Spain.
His triumphal arrival to the country was November 27, same date of the shooting against Prim. His kingship lasted 2 more years during the time the
first Spanish republic was formed and the fate of Spain was changed having repercussions in the entire history of the XXI century.
Prim Death.
The first president that tried to institute a republic instead of a monarchy in Spain was killed one and a half years after taking the office. At 7pm
December 27 1870 while leaving the parliament his carriage was intercepted by a dozen of assassin and shot. His demise was certain as there were
groups of killers in all directions from the parliament waiting to kill him.
A tough man had “luck” that day, usually traveling in the other side of the car this time he was on the left, so the best shooters from the party
dint have a clear shot; wounded in the chest lasted 3 days more until his death.
The official report of the autopsy revealed that the wounds got infected and this caused his death; during the General Franco regime a second group of
expert’s corroborated the finds of the first autopsy. It is good to point out at this point, that before his death Franco make sure the return of
the Borbons even during the times of the present republic at proclaiming the current king Juan Carlos de Borbon.
Now after 40 years of the General Franco dictatorship and 140 of the assassination of General Prim happens this: a group of forensic academics of
different Spanish universities want to perform routine analysis to the remains of the general as an exercise to assess the expertise of the field in
the country, but what they find is nothing routine.