A book with a innovative point of view on Alfonso XIII, which is actually a very interesting case to study the phenomenon of stage monarchies, which explain the survival of these institutions that come from the Ancien Régime in the era of mass politics.
——El Cultural, El Español

★10,000+ copies sold.
★Winnder of National History Award 2024.
★Meet the dissipated hopes of Alfonso XIII, the reckless ‘patriot king’. Masterfully dissecting his figure, Luzón shows that the Spanish king’s interventionism in politics, both domestic and foreign, was not an isolated case: Central European and Mediterranean monarchies were clear parallels of Alfonso XIII’s actions.

Alfonso XIII (Madrid 1886-Rome 1941) was one of the most powerful and controversial figures of the Spanish twentieth century. His reign changed the country. When he came of age in 1902, he was presented as the savior of Spain, but three decades later, in 1931, he had to go into exile, swept away by the Republicans and accused of corruption. This book studies his figure from an unprecedented point of view: the relationship between monarchy and national identity. Like other monarchs, he adopted the language of nationalism and a taste for dynastic spectacles. Trips, courtly parties and massive ceremonies dotted his public image. Charming and thoughtless, he played multiple roles: valiant soldier, modern aristocrat, sportsman and cosmopolitan dandy, diplomat or humanitarian prince, he left no one indifferent. However, Alfonso XIII never accepted a mere symbolic and representative role, but wanted to be a patriotic king, active and committed to the political life of his time. Encouraged by the majority of the political forces and convinced of his personal harmony with the people, he exercised his constitutional powers to the limit. He evolved from a regenerationist Spanishism, compatible with liberal projects, to counterrevolutionary positions that distrusted Parliament and fused Spain with the Catholic faith. Thus, he did not become an undisputed national emblem, safe from partisan struggles, but ended up supporting a military dictatorship that only convinced a part of the opinion.

His trajectory, as rich as it is exciting, speaks of serious conflicts, about the nation and the monarchy, which still resonate among us.

Professor of History of Thought and Social and Political Movements at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he has been teaching and researching since 1997. He has been assistant professor at the UNED and visiting professor or researcher at centers such as Harvard University, the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, Sorbonne Université, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University and the University of California, San Diego. He has also been Deputy Director General of the
Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies. He has published works on clientelism, parties, elections, parliamentarism, elites, monarchy and Spanish nationalism. He is currently researching religion
and nationalist politics in the 20th century. Among his published books are El rey patriota. Alfonso XIII y la nación, and Music, Words, and Nationalism. National Anthems and Songs in the Modern Era, as scientific editor together with María Nagore Ferrer. He also directs the Seminario de Historia Santos Juliá (UCM/UNED/Fundación Ortega- Marañón/Fundación Francisco Giner de los Ríos- ILE), Madrid, and the journal Historia y Política.