Italy–Spain relations

Italy–Spain relations refers to interstate relations between Italy and Spain. Both countries established diplomatic relations some time after the unification of Italy in 1860.

Italian-Spanish relations

Italy
Spain
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Italy, MadridEmbassy of Spain, Rome

Precedents
Felipe González and Giuliano Amato during the 1993 Italian-Spanish Summit

In 218 BC the Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula, which later became the Roman province of Hispania. The Romans introduced the Latin language, the ancestor of both modern-day Italian and Spanish. The Iberian Peninsula remained under Roman rule for over 600 years, until the decline of the Western Roman Empire. In the Early modern period, until the 18th century, southern and insular Italy came under Spanish control, having been previously a domain of the Crown of Aragon.

Establishment of diplomatic relations

After the proclamation of Victor Emmanuel II as King of Italy in 1861 Spain failed to initially recognise the country, still considering Victor Emmanuel as the "Sardinian King".[1] The recognition was met by the opposition of Queen Isabella II of Spain, influenced by the stance of Pope Pius IX.[2] Once Leopoldo O'Donnell overcame the opposition of the Queen, Spain finally recognised the Kingdom of Italy on 15 July 1865.[3] Soon later, in 1870, following the dethronement of Isabella II at the 1868 Glorious Revolution, the second son of Victor Emmanuel II, Amadeo I, was elected King of Spain, reigning from 1871 until his abdication in 1873.

Situation after World War I

Despite some incipient attempts to promote further understanding between the two countries, immediately after the end of World War I there were still issues restraining further Italian-Spanish engagement in Spain, including a sector of public opinion showing aversion towards Italy (a prominent example being Austria-born Queen Mother Maria Christina).[4]

Rapprochement between the Mediterranean dictatorships
Alfonso XIII and Victor Emmanuel III during the visit of the former with Primo de Rivera to Italy in November 1923.

Once dictators Benito Mussolini (1922) and Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923) got to power, conditions for closer relations became more clear, with the notion of a rapprochement to Italy becoming more interesting to the Spanish Government policy, particularly in terms of the profit those improved relations could deliver to Spain vis-à-vis the Tangier question.[4] For Italy, the installment of the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera offered a prospect for greater ascendancy over a country with a government now widely interested in the reforms carried out in Fascist Italy.[5] Relations during this period were often embedded in a diplomatic triangle between France, Italy and Spain. While showing a will for friendship and rapprochement, the "Treaty for Conciliation and Arbitration" signed in August 1926 between the two countries delivered limited substance in practical terms, compared to the expectations at the starting point of the Primorriverista dictatorship.[6]

A diplomatic "honeymoon" between the two regimes followed the signing of the treaty, nonetheless.[7]

Conspirations against the Spanish Republic

The early monarchist conspirations against the Second Spanish Republic enjoyed support from Mussolini.[8] One of the most important Italian communities in Spain resided in Catalonia as well as the Italian economic interests in Spain lied there, hence that region became a significant point of attention for the Italian diplomacy during the Spanish Second Republic, and the Italian diplomacy established some contacts with incipient philo-fascist elements within Republican Left of Catalonia, including Josep Dencàs, although Italy eventually went on to bet on Spanish fascism.[9] Although both monarchists from Renovación Española, the traditionalists and the Fascist falangists engaged in negotiations asking help from Fascist Italy regarding the preparations of the 1936 coup d'état, Mussolini decided not to take part at the time.[8]

Italian intervention in the Spanish Civil War
Italian tankettes advancing with a flame thrower tank during the battle of Guadalajara.
See also: Foreign involvement in the Spanish Civil War

After 18 July 1936 and the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini changed the strategy and intervened on the side of the Rebel faction.[8] The Corps of Volunteer Troops (CTV), a fascist expeditionary force from Italy, brought in about 78,000 Italian troops, sent to help Franco and vowing to establish a Fascist Spain and a Fascist Europe.[10] Key military actions in which the CTV took part include Málaga, Bermeo, Santander and the March 1937 fiasco of Guadalajara.[11]

Spanish Republican poster decrying the Italian intervention in the Spanish Civil War: 'The Italian invader's claw wants to enslave us'.

Italian submarines carried out a campaign against Republican ships, also targeting Mediterranean ports together with surface ships.[12] The Italian Regia Marina also provided key logistical support to the Rebels, including escort of commercial shipment transporting war supplies,[13] and, seeking to facilitate the naval blockade on the Republic, it also allowed the Rebel Navy the use of anchorages in Sicily and Sardinia.[14]

See also: Italian occupation of Majorca

Italians forces partially occupied the Balearic Islands and soon established an air base of the Aviazione Legionaria in Mallorca, from which Italians were given permission by the rebel authorities to bomb locations across the Peninsular Levante controlled by the Republic (including the bombings of Barcelona investigated as crimes against humanity).[15] A Fascist squadristi, Arconovaldo Bonaccorsi, led a wild repression in the Balearic islands.[16]

World War II

During World War II, 1939 to 1943, Spanish-Italian ties were close. Though Italy fought alongside Germany during the war, Spain was recovering from a civil war and remained neutral. In February 1941, the meeting between Mussolini and Franco in Bordighera took place; during the meeting the Duce asked Franco to join the Axis.[17] After Mussolini fell in 1943, Italy was ripped apart in its own civil war, and Spain stayed away;[18]

From 1943 onwards, both the Kingdom of Italy and the Italian Social Republic aimed to maintain good diplomatic relations with Francoist Spain; those attempts for reconciliation were however aborted by Spain in order to ensue the balance in its relation with both countries as well as with the rest of belligerent powers.[19]

Common membership

Nowadays, Italy and Spain are full member countries of the European Union, the NATO and the Union for the Mediterranean.

Resident diplomatic missions


  • Embassy of Italy in Madrid
  • Consulate-General of Italy in Barcelona
  • Embassy of Spain in Rome

See also

References
  1. López Vega & Martínez Neira 2011, p. 96.
  2. López Vega & Martínez Neira 2011, pp. 96, 98.
  3. López Vega & Martínez Neira 2011, p. 99.
  4. Sueiro Seoane 1987, pp. 185–186.
  5. Domínguez Méndez 2013, p. 238.
  6. Tusell & Saz 1982, pp. 443–445.
  7. Tusell & Saz 1982, p. 444.
  8. Saz-Campos 1981, p. 321.
  9. González i Vilalta 2009, pp. 11–12.
  10. Rodrigo 2019, pp. 86–87.
  11. Rodrigo 2019, pp. 87, 91.
  12. Campo Rizo 1997, pp. 75–77.
  13. Campo Rizo 1997, pp. 70–71.
  14. Campo Rizo 1997, p. 73.
  15. Aguilera Povedano 2019, pp. 285–286.
  16. Aguilera Povedano 2019, p. 291.
  17. Payne 1998, p. 110.
  18. Payne 1998, pp. 99–115.
  19. Hierro Lecea 2015, p. 17.

Bibliography
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.