The
Convention of Vergara () was a treaty successfully ending the major fighting in
Spain's
First Carlist War. The treaty—also known by many other names including the Embrace of Vergara () was signed by
Baldomero Espartero for the
Isabelines (or "Constitutionalists") and
Rafael Maroto for the
Carlists.
The two generals met at the hermitage of
San Antolín de Abadiano near
Durango, Biscay. The
British commissioner Colonel Wylde attended as an observer, because of England's recent role as mediator in the conflict; also present was brigadier
Francisco Linage, secretary to Espartero.
Initially, negotiations were stymied by the matter of
fueros, the special rights of certain regions of Spain, notably the
Basque Country and
Navarre: Maroto had promised to defend the
fueros and Espartero held that they were unconstitutional.
As negotiations took place, both armies remained positioned and prepared, although they did not battle. Two less senior Carlist officers—La Torre and Urbiztondo—formalized the treaty with Espartero; the first written version still lacked Maroto's signature, although everything that it expounded was in his name. Later, Espartero sent a copy to Maroto with a request to sign it formally.
The first article of the treaty was related to
fueros, and declared that "Captain General
Don Baldomero Espartero will recommend with interest to the government compliance with its offer to compromise formally to propose to the Court the concession or modification...
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