“Worth More Than Life Itself”: Military Honour and the Birth of Its Courts in Spain (1810–1870)

Abstract

Even though the concept of honour has varied throughout history, this paper will deal exclusively with military honour in nineteenth-century Spain, after examining how the meaning of this term evolved from Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars onwards. This crucial ethic value was learnt from the moment someone joined the army and even before, through education and common public military demonstrations. It was related to individual behaviour while also maintaining a high collective and corporative aspect, and it varied depending on gender, class and social group. It was part of the political thought of most relevant Spanish generals' and consequently it influenced the Spanish political dynamics, guided by the top brass of the military. The court of honour, an institution in Spain that was not regulated until 1811, (and not really enforced until 1867) controlled honour compliance. The last section of this paper focuses on how and why these institutions were born and explains their early legislative evolution. Spanish political and military development are bound together, to the extent that a deepening sense in the nature of honour and its effects on the army and civilian ethics is equivalent to delving into a whole socio-political analysis of the country during nineteenth century.

“Procuraré morir matando o acabará mi vida”: el duelista y la muerte

“…El culto al honor, arraigado siglos atrás en el Ejército, adquirió un nuevo significado tras la revolución liberal 81 . Salvo excepciones, durante el Antiguo Régimen solo los nobles pudieron ser oficiales, pero en el nuevo orden liberal la cuna ya no fue un requisito.…”