Ramón Altarriba y Villanueva

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Ramón Altarriba y Villanueva was born into a distinguished aristocratic Aragonese family of Altarriba. Possibly from the old distinguished Catalan noble family of Altarriba in Catalonia, part of the Crown of Aragon at the time, it held baronia de Sangarrén since the 14th centuryPorfirio Sanz Camañes, Del Reino a la Corte. Oligarquías y élites de poder en las Cortes de Aragón a mediados del siglo XVII, [in:] Revista de Historia Moderna. Anales de la Universidad de Alicante 19 (2001), pp. 39, 43, 83, also Sangarrén, baronia de entry [in:] Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa online, available [http://www.enciclopedia-aragonesa.com/voz.asp?voz_id=11401 here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011809/http://www.enciclopedia-aragonesa.com/voz.asp?voz_id=11401 |date=2015-09-24 }} and condado de Robres since the 18th century;Robres, Conde de entry at compactgen service, available [https://web.archive.org/web/20160308225554/http://compactgen.com/es/r/rob.htm here] its representatives were many times noted in the history of Aragón and Zaragoza.Santiago Broto Aparicio, Nobleza altoaragonesa: Condes de Robres, [in:] Diario del Alto Aragón online, available [http://www.diariodelaltoaragon.com/NoticiasImprimir.aspx?Id=549630 here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326024426/http://www.diariodelaltoaragon.com/NoticiasImprimir.aspx?Id=549630 |date=2014-03-26 }} His paternal grandmother, María Bernarda Colón Serra,she married Ramón’s paternal grandfather, José Jacobo Altarriba y Calasanz; José Ramón Urquijo Goitia, María Jesús Álvarez-Coca Gonzálvez, José Joaquín Colón y la rehabilitación de la monarquía absoluta, [in:] Revista de Historia Jerónimo Zurita 87 (2012), p. 176 was a descendant of Christopher Columbus.Urquijo, Álvarez-Coca 2012, pp. 172-173; for detailed genealogical tree see genealogiacolombiana service available [http://www.genealogiacolombiana.com/doc/6%20desc/6.1.6.1.pdf here] and look for the "José Altarriba y Calasanz" box Ramón's father, José de Altarriba y Colón de Larreátegui (1804-1870), 11th conde de RobresRobres, Conde de entry at compactgen service and 22nd barón de Sangarrén, was a Carlist highly esteemed by Carlos VI; no details of his involvement in the movement are available.Francisco de Paula Oller, Album de Personajes Carlistas con sus Biografias, volume II, Barcelona 1888, p. 171, Agustín Fernández Escudero, El marqués de Cerralbo (1845-1922): biografía politica [PhD thesis], Madrid 2012, p. 180 Ramón's mother, also from Aragón, María Pilar Villanueva y Altarriba (1820-1895), was daughter of conde de Atarés and second cousin of his father José.see the Heirs of Europe service available [http://heirsofeurope.blogspot.com/2010/02/atrisco.html here]

None of the sources consulted clarifies why the family lived in the French Bayonne, a usual location for Carlist exiles and refugees fleeing Spain in the aftermath of defeat suffered during the First Carlist War. Ramón was one of 8 siblings and the second oldest son.see geneallnet service available [http://geneall.net/es/name/514649/jose-de-altarriba-y-colon-de-larreategui/ here], entry nr 67 His older brother, José María, upon return to Aragón followed the family path and also engaged in Carlist activities,e.g. he was the co-founder, together with conde de Fuentes, Bienvenido Comín y Sarté and José Puente y Villabueva, of the Carlist La Esperanza daily, Julio V. Brioso y Mairal, Noticias carlistas en "El Diario de Huesca", [in:] Fernando Alvira Banzo (ed.), El Diario de Huesca. 125 años después, Huesca 2000, {{ISBN|8481271101}}, pp. 74-75 which did not prevent him from becoming comisario regio for Zaragoza in 1869;and a Carlist candidate to the Cortes from Sariñena in 1871, Brioso 2000, p. 74 he inherited all family titles in 1870. Ramón as a youngster moved from France to Spain and entered Real Seminario Científico Industrial,María Cinta Caballer Vivies, Los alumnos de la Escuela Especial de Matemáticas del Real Seminario Científico Industrial de Vergara, [in:] Revista de la Sociedad Española de Historia de las Ciencias y de las Técnicas'' 32 (2009), p. 260 a state-ran and highly esteemedonly 22% of the alumni were from Vascongadas; 55% originated from the rest of Spain and 23% from abroad, including America, Caballer 2009, p. 282 Gipuzkoan educational establishment in Bergara.Caballer 2009, p. 260 He is reported as enrolled in 1854, though it is not clear when he completed the curriculum; the standard cycle lasted 5 years.Caballer 2009, p. 228; it is not clear what development path Ramón’s parents envisaged; the school, apart from training commercial merchants, was a stepping stone towards military career (usually in artillery) or provided general training enabling its student to run family estates, Caballer 2009, p. 260

Ramón Altarriba y Villanueva married Rosa Guerra y Serbi; nothing is known of this marriage, apart that his wife died in 1875 and the couple had no issue.see Altarriba and conde de Altarriba entries at compactgen service, available [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064516/http://www.compactgen.com/cg/a/l/altarr.htm here] He then espoused María de la Blanca Porcel y Guirior (1859-1940),see Villa Alegre entry at compactgen service, available [https://web.archive.org/web/20160308211927/http://compactgen.com/es/v/vil.htm here]; some sources spell her family name as "Guirioz", see Luisa Utanda Moreno, Francesco Feo Parrondo, Propiedad rustica en Guipuzcoa segun el registro de la propiedad expropiable (1933), [in:] Lurralde. Investigación y espacio 18 (1995), pp. 113-135, available [http://www.ingeba.org/lurralde/lurranet/lur18/utanda18/18utanda.htm here], or „Guerior", see Miguel Caballero Pérez, Pilar Góngora Ayala, Historia de una familia: la verdad sobre el asesinato de García Lorca, Madrid 2007, {{ISBN|8495803593}}, 9788495803597, p. 149 heir to aristocratic family originating from Gipuzkoa and Andalusia. Since her fatherLuciano Porcel Valdivia, marqués de Villa Alegra y de San Millán, native of Beasáin, represented Gipuzkoa in the Senate in 1871, Caballero 2007, p. 149 died in 1873Villa Alegre entry at compactgen with no male descendants, having been the oldest daughter she arranged to inherit his titles as 7th marquesa de Villa Alegre and San Millán; Altarriba became marqués consorte.their descandants were not entitled to the honor, Villa Alegre entry at compactgen The couple had two sons, Ramón and Jaime Altarriba y Porcel.see Ramón de Altarriba y Villanueva entry at geneallnet service, available [http://geneall.net/es/name/515805/ramon-de-altarriba-y-villanueva-1-conde-de-altarriba-24-baron-de-sangarren/ here] Nothing is known about the former; the latter (1884–1936)see Jaime Altarriba y Porcel entry at compactgen service, available [https://web.archive.org/web/20150214130306/http://compactgen.com/getperson.php?personID=I1144&tree=tree1 here]; at his baptism the padrinos were the future Carlist king Don Jaime and his sister doña Blanca, see La Unión 07.05.84, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0004873708&page=3 here] joined artillery and pursued a military career.see ABC 14.09.10, available [http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1910/09/14/016.html here] He became comandante de Artilleria, maestrante de la Real Maestranza de la Caballeria de Zaragozahe followed in the foosteps of his father, see Oller 1888, p. 173; see also Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Zaragoza website available [http://www.rmcz.com/ here] and an entrepreneur.see Askar, [in:] Zumaiako Industria-ondarearen Informazio Zentroa web bulletin 2012, available [http://www.ziiz.eus/es/motorgintza/talleres-askar/ here] Also an active Carlist, in 1934 he headed finance section of Comunión Tradicionalista.Martin Blinkhorn, Carlism and Crisis in Spain 1931-1939, Cambridge 2008, {{ISBN|9780521207294}}, 9780521086349, p. 207 The 1936 coup surprised him in the Gipuzkoan spa of Zestoa, where he was detained by the republican militia and died.according to a Basque source he died due to tuberculosis, see Askar; a different version presented in the Carlist publication, Félix G. Olmedo, En España empieza a amanecer: a la memoria de Jaime Altarriba Porcel, s/l 1936. In the same Zestoa spa the Republicans detained also a Carlist activist and a former MP, Joaquín Beunza, who was later taken to San Sebastián and executed, see Joaquín Beunza Redin entry [in:] Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia, available [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/13724 here]

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Upon the outbreak of Primera Guerra de Marruecos in 1859 the young Altarriba volunteered to the army; accepted, he was assigned to the Aragon infantry unit of Regimento de Zamora and landed in Ceuta in December 1859.Nicolas Estevanez, Mis memorias, Madrid 1975, {{ISBN|8472730883}}, pp. 49 Details of his service are unclear, though he certainly entered many combat actions against the Moroccan troops. Serving under the command of Antonio Ros de OlanoEstevanez 1975, p. 8 in January 1860 he might have taken part in the battle of Castillejos; bypassing Monte Negrón in a dare Spanish maneuver,Estevanez 1975, pp. 54-55 he then participated in the battle of Cabo Negro.Estevanez 1975, p. 55 For meritorious service Altarriba was awarded Cruz de San FernandoRamón Altarriba y Villanueva entry [in:] Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia, available [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/19966 here] and got promoted to teniente.Oller 1888, pp. 171–2; Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia claims he was promoted to capitán Late 1860 the unit returned to the Zaragoza barracks.Estevanez 1975, p. 69 Apparently enjoying adventurous life and vivacious company, he demonstrated some gift for rhyming couplets;compare "Y cuaitdo al castillo vuelven / mis caballos arrogantes, / les doy a comer diamantes / en morrales de tisú", or "Queridisimo rechoncho, / debes pedir una plancha / para quitar esa mancha / que te ha caído en el poncho", quoted after Estevanez 1975, p. 70. at that time he befriended Nicolas Estevanez Murphy.Estevanez 1975, p. 69 During the next few years Altarriba continued his military career, though no details are known.

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Following the Revolution of 1868 Altarriba requested and was granted release from military service,his service in the Isabelline army was later called against him by some Carlists, see Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 180 though he returned to the army in 1871.Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia Once the Republic was declared he approached the conspiring CarlistsAuñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia; in 1871 his brother was a Carlist candidate to the Cortes from Sariñena, Brioso 2000, p. 74 and at the outbreak of the Third Carlist War he was already incorporated in their army.Oller 1888, p. 172, Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia He was assigned to the Northern Front and took command of an insurgent volunteer Biscay battalion, which conquered and cleared the Durango district in 1873.Oller 1888, p. 172 Promoted to coronel, he then commanded primera brigada de Vizcaya and joined the siege of Bilbao in early 1874; he led the unit routing the Republican forces during the battle of SomorrostroOller 1888, p. 172 and advancing later to Portugalete,Oller 1888, p. 172 where Altarriba was given the privilege of accepting surrender of the famous battalón de Segorbe.Oller 1888, p. 172 Participated in a number of skirmishes at the outskirts of Bilbao, assaulting the forts of Delmas and Volantín.Oller 1888, p. 173 Nominated Comandante General del Alto Aragón, Altarriba was the organizer, sponsor and commander of Battalón de Almogávares de la Virgen del Pilar,Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas y Lopez (ed.), Suplemento al Elenco de grandezas y títulos nobiliarios españoles: Títulos vacantes y títulos extranjeros cuyo uso fue autorizado en España. Appendice II, Madrid 1991, {{ISBN|8487204295}}, 9788487204296, p. 11 leading it early 1875 during the defense of the so-called línea de CarrascalOller 1888, p. 173 and in the Navarrese battles of Lumbier and Etxauri.Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia In final phase of the war and in unclear circumstances there was an investigative proceeding launched against Altarriba; eventually cleared of all charges, he was promoted to brigadier.Oller 1888, pp. 173-4 Located in mid-range command chain, he did not make it amongst top Carlist commanders and did not supervise operations above the tactical level. Nominated adjutant to Carlos VII,ABC 01.04.06, available [http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1906/04/01/010.html here], Oller 1888, p. 174 in reward for his service Altarriba was conceded the title of conde de Altarriba.Cadenas 1991, p. 11. Unlike many other aristocratic titles awarded by Carlist claimants, often recognised by Franco in the 1950s and functional until today, condado de Altarriba has never been confirmed. It is not clear whether any of Altarriba’s descendants claims the title currently

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A widower with no close family, it is not clear where Altarriba settled after the war; in 1877 he was linked to the Catalan town of Aviá.El Siglo Futuro 13.04.77, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000020835&page=1 here] In 1878 he was already marriedat that time he was already reported by the press as marqués de Villalegre, see La Unión 12.09.78, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0003886463&page=3 here] and assumed administration of his wife's property in Gipuzkoa. The estates slightly exceeding 1,000 hathe estate did not make an impressive figure by national Spanish standards; as late as in 1919 duque de Peñaranda possessed 51,000 ha, Antonio Manuel Moral Roncal, Aristocracia y poder económico en la España del siglo XX, [in:] Vegueta 7 (2003), p. 157; in the sole Cordoba district there were around 30 landholders with estates exceeding 1,000 ha, see [https://www.mapa.gob.es/ministerio/pags/biblioteca/fondo/pdf/14761_2_4.pdf here], p. 80-81 [surface area is listed in fanegas (fgs), a fanega differed from province to province, though one scholar suggests an average of 1 fg = 1,044 ha for the nearby Almeria province, see [http://www.dipalme.org/Servicios/Anexos/anexosiea.nsf/VAnexos/IEA-BN1_c4/$File/BN1-c4.pdf here], p. 88] rendered the couple the 4th largest terratenientes in the provincemost of the holdings, some 400 ha, was in the district of Azpeitia, see Moreno, Parrondo 1995 and one of the richest people in Gipuzkoa.Javier Real Cuesta, El Carlismo Vasco 1876-1900, Madrid 1985, {{ISBN|978-84-323-0510-8}}, p. 28 His wife held land also in Álava and Andalusia;Brioso 2000, p. 74, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 98 for some time Altarriba managed the Pinos Puente estate in Granada, which she possessed jointly with her two unmarried sisters, though with a rather mediocre result.Caballero, Góngora 2007, pp. 149-150 In 1878 José María Altarriba, unmarried and with no issue,see José María de Altarriba y Villanueva entry at geneallnet service, available [http://geneall.net/es/name/515804/jose-maria-de-altarriba-y-villanueva/ here] renounced baroniabut not condado de Robres in favor of his younger brother, making Ramón the 24th barón de Sangarrén.see La Unión 12.09.78, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0003886463&page=3 here], La Epoca 19.11.78, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000378574&page=4 here]

Altarriba seemed pessimistic as to the future of Carlism,he deemed it necessary that "se modifique la tactica de hacerle hacer el muerto [al partido], porque el simil y la realidad solo se separan ya en esto por un atomo impalable", quoted after Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 1-2 considered orphaned, with no political directionReal Cuesta 1985, p. 7 and managed by ineffective Junta Militar.Altarriba was not nominated its member, Real Cuesta 1985, p. 2 In 1878 he wrote to Carlos VII urging him to appoint a strong political leader.Real Cuesta 1985, p. 8 As in early 1879 the military rule was terminated and civic rights restored in Gipuzkoa,Real Cuesta 1985, p. 41 Altarriba – already admitted to a meeting of leading Carlists – spoke in favor of taking part in the elections.Real Cuesta 1985, p. 6 The claimant allowed only individual unofficial contenders and authorized Sangarrén.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 59, Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 15, 41 Fielding his candidature in the Azpeitia district,most of Altarriba’s estates were in Azpeitia district Altarriba was considered one of the 4 "transigentes" running;some Carlists, firmly opposed to new laws scrapping most of the fuerista establishments and called "intransigentes", ran on the Union Vasconavarra platform, though with no success he emerged as the only one victorious.the defeated ones were Olano Altuna, Pedro de Egańa (Gipuzkoa) and Domingo Martinez de Aragón (Alava), Real Cuesta 1985, p. 42. Altarriba became the only Carlist deputy in the chamber and the first Carlist MP of the Restoration era. Elected,see official Cortes service available [http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/SDocum/ArchCon/SDHistoDipu/SDIndHistDip?_piref73_1340024_73_1340023_1340023.next_page=/wc/servidorCGI&CMD=VERLST&BASE=DIPH&FMT=DIPHXD1S.fmt&DOCS=1-1&DOCORDER=FIFO&OPDEF=Y&NUM1=&DES1=&QUERY=%284410%29.NDIP. here] he settled permanently in Madrid.initially he was listed as living at calle San Leonardo (university quarter), see Anuario del Comercio 1881, p. 425, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0004967953&page=425 here], than at calle Alarcon (Jeronimos quarter), see Anuario del Comercio 1894, p. 563, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0005143535&page=563 here], and finally at Pza Independencia, see Anuario del Comercio 1905, p. 68, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0005330970&page=68 here] He attempted re-election in 1881issuing a manifesto mocked by the liberal press as "mas expresivo y pintoresco en su clase", Altarriba himself dubbed as "Don Quijote" see El Globo 09.08.81, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001125141&page=1 here], full text in La Iberia 06.08.81, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001504379&page=1 here]; according to one source this manifesto caused official investigation and Altarriba narrowly avoided trial, Oller 1888, p. 174 but lost both in Tolosa and Azpeitia.La Discussion 22.08.81, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002471418&page=2 here], also El Globo 22.08.81, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001125461&page=2 here]

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The 1880s are marked by growing rivalry within Carlism, divided between the immovilistas and the aperturistas. The former, led by Candido Nocedal, opted for intransigence. The latter, Altarriba included, dismissed either wardespite crushing defeat in 1876, in the 1880s the Carlists still maintained some military potential; it was estimated that within 3 days they were able to mobilise 4,000–6,000 people, and skeleton battalion structures were still maintained with commanders, officers and NCOs appointed, Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 83–84 or total abstention, preferring conditional alignment with the new political system. The dispute grew into a full-scale conflict, waged also by means of guerra periodistica;Real Cuesta 1985, p. 24, see El Cabecilla 09.03.84, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0003844914&page=3 here] to fight the Nocedalista titles,principally El Siglo Futuro, Real Cuesta 1985, p. 28 Sangarrén founded a Madrid satirical weekly, El Cabecilla.issued in 1882-1890 and directed by Gonzalez Granada, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 98 During the 1884 election campaign Altarriba sought Carlos VII's exemption from "despotism" of Nocedal, who ordered abstention, but this time the claimant did not agreeRevista Contemporanea 3–4 1884, p. 360, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002409566&page=360 here] and Sangarrén loyallyin 1886 Altarriba confessed that he accepted the tyranny of Candido Nocedal only because the latter was appointed by the king, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 81 withdrew from the race 3 weeks prior to election date.as usual he intended to run in Azpeitia, see El Liberal 09.03.84, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001117859&page=2 here] Two years later, already a recognized Carlist leader,in 1886 he took part in unveiling of the Cegama monument to Zumalacarregui, financed mostly by public subscription, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 94 he obtained the permissionFernández Escudero 2012, pp. 97-8 and was re-elected from Azpeitia.see official Cortes service, available [http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/SDocum/ArchCon/SDHistoDipu/SDIndHistDip?_piref73_1340024_73_1340023_1340023.next_page=/wc/servidorCGI&CMD=VERLST&BASE=DIPH&FMT=DIPHXD1S.fmt&DOCS=2-2&DOCORDER=FIFO&OPDEF=Y&NUM1=&DES1=&QUERY=%284410%29.NDIP. here] Focused on by the press as a single Carlist in the Cortes,Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 98 when sworn Altarriba declared in the house that he considered Carlos VII the king of Spain.Oller 1888, pp. 174-177; though fiercely anti-democratic, Altarriba was member of a parliamentary anti-slavery group, see La Ilustriación Católica 25.04.89, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0003175111&page=11 here]

As the Nocedalista crisis entered its terminal phase, in 1887 Altarriba engaged in a related conflict with Francisco Cavero y Alvarez de Toledo, the jefe of Aragón,Cavery tried to rebuke Donostia gatherings organized by Altarriba, see La Ilustración Española y Americana 08.09.1887, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001125969&page=2 here], and disenfranchised Círculo Aragonés, inspired by Sangarrén and considered his frondist outpost in Aragon with Carlos VII intervening and ordering truce;the claimant called Cavero to his Venice residence and ordered end of public polemics, though Cavero kept rising in the Carlist structures later on, see Ignacio Martínez de Pisón, Carreteras secundarias, Zaragoza 2012, {{ISBN|8415538685}}, 9788415538684, p. IX, also Cavero y Álvarez de Toledo, Francisco entry [in:] Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa online, available [http://www.enciclopedia-aragonesa.com/voz.asp?voz_id=3487 here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160906171446/http://www.enciclopedia-aragonesa.com/voz.asp?voz_id=3487 |date=2016-09-06 }} some authors claim that Cavero was dismissed.and present the Altarriba – Cavero conflict in a slightly different way, see Jordi Canal i Morell, Carlins i integristes a la Restaurado: Tescissió de 1888, [in:] Revista de Girona 147 (1991), p. 63 Though assaulted by the Nocedalista press for his defense of Manifesto de Morentin,Canal 1991, p. 63 in the unfolding press war Altarriba defended the vacillating La Fe and did not side unconditionally with the claimant; Carlos VII's entourage counted him among "malos Carlistas".Canal 1991, p. 66 Somewhat accidentally triggering the final breakup in Vascongadas,during one of his Cortes addresses Altarriba compared some governmental measures to "la Inquisición con todos sus tormentos". The pro-Integrist Biscay periodical El Vasco jumped on this phrase, denouncing Altarriba as anti-Catholic and anti-Traditionalist. The Vascongadas Carlist leader, marqués de Valde-Espina, ordered El Vasco to backtrack, but the Biscay provincial jefe, José de Accilona, took an independent stand, which resulted in provincial schism taking place in 1887, followed by the Gipuzkoan one in 1888, Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 93–97 at the decisive moment he stayed loyal to his king.

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Following secession of the Integristas Altarriba, the only party MP and one of its few aristocrats, found himself in the top strata of Carlism and became one if its most distinguished politicians.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 103 His relations with other party leaders were uneasy, even after the departure of the allegedly hated Nocedal. The undisputed Traditionalist leader in VascongadasReal Cuesta 1985, p. 68–69 marqués de Valde-Espina,Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 118 the claimant's personal secretary conde de Melgarfractious Carlists, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 230 and the aspiring political leader, marqués de Cerralbosee Altarriba mocking Cerralbo, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 118 found it difficult to work with Sangarrén and did not spare him harsh words; in the intrigue-ridden world of Carlism of the late 19th century he was accused of envy towards legitimate party leadersFernández Escudero 2012, p. 117 and turning Gipuzkoa into his personal fiefdom.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 118 When in late 1888 he was appointed vice-president of the newly established Junta Directiva del Circulo Tradicionalista de Madrid,Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 118 he refused the post claiming – probably sarcastically – that he did not merit such an honor.Fernández Escudero 2012, pp. 118, 180, also El Siglo Futuro 19.12.88, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000129043&page=2 here]

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In 1889 Carlos VII started to build formal nationwide party structures, initially disguised as an organization to stage celebrations of Conversión de Recaredo centenary; within its Junta Central, soon turned into a permanent collegial executive,Vascongadas were represented by Valde-Espina, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 146, Real Cuesta 1985, p. 134 Sangarrén was nominated to represent Castilla la Vieja.Agustín Fernández Escudero, El XVII Marqués de Cerralbo (1845–1922). Iglesia y carlismo, distintas formas de ver el XIII Centenario de la Unidad Católica, [in:] Studium: Revista de humanidades 18 (2012) [referred to further on as "Fernández Escudero 2012 (2)"], p. 131, Fernández Escudero 2012, pp. 145–46 Like 10 years earlier, he called for a new jefe which would impose the party discipline, though it is not clear whether he himself hoped for the job.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 115 In the fall of that year, the liberal press speculated about a directorate leading the movement and mentioned him as one of its 4 members.along de Cerralbo, Cavero and Menendez de Luarca, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 172 Altarriba's position was confirmed when he was invited to Frohsdorf for the wedding of Carlos VII's daughter.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 173 Though in early 1890 El Cabecilla mocked marqués de Cerralbo,causing irritation of Carlos VII, annoyed with what he considered „dirty tricks" of El Cabecilla, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 180 when later that year the latter was finally appointed the new Jefe Delegado Sangarrén rushed with congratulations, directed to "mi querido amigo".Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 180

Ahead of the 1891 elections for the first time during Restoration the Carlists decided to take part officially and set up a co-ordinating committee. Details of its work are not known; the outcome was that in Azpeitia, which turned into a prestigious battlefield against the rebellious Ramón Nocedal, Sangarrén had to give way to the aspiring Gipuzkoan leader, Tírso de Olazábal. Himself he ran in two districts, Aranda de Duero (Burgos) and Santo Domingo de la Calzada (Logroño),Fernández Escudero 2012, pp. 237–38 losing in both.For Logroño see La Unión Católica 02.02.91, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0004885740&page=2 here], for Aranda see El Imparcial 03.02.91, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000680556&page=2 here] Following this defeat, he did not renew his electoral bid in any of the successive electoral campaigns.Altarriba is not listed among candidates running after 1891 either by historical studies or by contemporary press, though no source consulted explicitly states that Sangarrén did not run after that date

File:Palacio Sangarren Usurbil.jpg

Having lost the parliamentary ticket Sangarrén could dedicate more time to his private business, geographically scattered from Vascongadas across Castille and on to Andalusia. Apart from managing family estates in Gipuzkoa, he invested in the mining and metalworking industry.Ideas y negocios. Carlistas en Moralzarzal, [in:] Historias de Moral (y Zarzal) 01.05.12, available [http://historiasdemoralzarzal.blogspot.com/2012/05/ideales-y-negocios-carlistas-en.html here] He co-owned exploration rights to a copper mine in the Sierra de Guadarrama location of Colmenarejo, North of Madrid.the pit was named "Pilar" after his wife, Ideas y negocios 2012 In 1893 he took control over the "La Fe" mineral springs in the nearby Moralzarzal,the previous owner was also a Carlist, Ramón Manrique de Lara, Ideas y negocios 2012 renaming the site "Mudarra" and exploiting it until 1900, when he renounced the concession.Ideas y negocios 2012 He held stakes in paper mill business in Pyrenaic parts of the Lérida provinceMadrid cientifico 418 (1903), p. 14, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001757766&page=14&search=sangarren&lang=es%20http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001757766&page=14 here] and was vice-president of Derecha del Rio Genil, a Granada-based company engaged in irrigation works.La Ilustracion Española y Americana 22.10.79, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001102670&page=15 here]

As the Carlist fuerista principles envisaged that a politician should only represent the region where he lives,Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 242-3 within the party command structures Altarriba formally headed Castilla la Vieja.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 285 Though due to his terrateniente status he exercised the largest influence in Gipuzkoa,Altarriba's prestigious standing in the province was reflected in his role in a number of initiatives, like opening of the Zumarraga-Zumaya railway line, known as "ferrocaril del Urola", see [http://www.spanishrailway.com/2012/05/06/ferrocarril-del-urola-zumarraga-a-zumaya/ spanishrailway.com site] Vascongadas was first headed by Valde-Espina, then by Salvador Elío y EzpeletaFernández Escudero 2012, pp. 285–86 and later by Tirso de Olazábal.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 443 Altarriba's contribution to Gipuzkoan Carlism, however, remained crucial; local landowners were key to mobilising rural supportfor a sample how Sangarrén instructed "his" renters to vote see Real Cuesta 1985, p. 251 and maintaining – if not straightforwardly financing – provincial party structures.though according to the fuerista outlook electoral work was to be entrusted to locals, in fact there were many exceptions, with some juntas were simply appointing nominees for different roles, triggering complaints; also Sangerrén used to complain to Valde-Espina, though in general Gipuzkoa adhered to the fuersita principles much closer than the neighboring Biscay, see Real Cuesta 1985, pp. 242–43 Partially as a result of his contribution, in the 1880s and 1890s Gipuzkoa emerged as a Carlist stronghold; in provincialthe number of Traditionalist (mainstream Carlism and Integrism combined) v. Liberal members elected to Diputación Provincial was: 1882 8:8; 1884 10:6; 1886 11:5; 1888 9:11; 1890 9:11; 1892 11:9; 1894 11:9; 1898 9:11, Real Cuesta 1985, p. 167 and generalthe number of Traditionalist (mainstream Carlism and Integrism combined) v. Liberal members elected to the Cortes from Gipzukoa was: 1891 2:3; 1895 3:2; 1896 3:2; 1899 3:2, Real Cuesta 1985, p. 168 elections the party was striving for dominance.

File:Don carlos de borbón nypl.jpg

In the early 1890s fellow Traditionalists approached Altarriba cautiously as one of "fractious Carlists"."Carlistas discolos", Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 230 Some sources report him as championing a militant "de armas tomar" group, consisting mostly of the Navarros and the Gipuzkoanos.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 115 Other episodes seem to counter this thesis indicating that he worked closely with the non-belligerent de Cerralbo,Fernández Escudero 2012, pp. 192, 199 together travelling across Spain during innovative political tours and delivering harangues,Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 223, Jordi Canal i Morell, Banderas blancas, boinas rojas: una historia política del carlismo, 1876–1939, Madrid 2006, {{ISBN|8496467341}}, 978849646734 , pp. 151-156 also jointly with Carlist pundits like Vazquez de Mella;like it was the case in 1893, see Cristobal Robles Muñoz, La Santa Sede y la oposición carlista a la restauración durante los episcopados de José Oliver y Antonio Ruiz-Cabal (1875-1899), [in:] Principe de Viana 49 (1988), p. 421 residing in Madrid he customarily appeared in events staged in the capital.e.g. during the first Fiesta de los Mártires de la Tradición, see Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 293 or during other events, see Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 313 As the colonial crisis of 1897 unfolded, he initially seemed leaning towards a bold action; he welcomed general Weyler, dismissed from Cuba, amongst the crowd shouting "Viva Cuba Española", but also a somewhat more ambiguous "a caballo mi general".Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 338 However, during the Spanish–American War Sangarrén was busy denouncing widely circulating rumors about another Carlist insurgency forthcoming as "a fable",Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 387. The government was alarmed by Guardia Civil discovering large Carlist depots of rifles and by increased traffic of Carlist envoys to Carlos VII’s residence in Venice, reported by the Spanish diplomatic service, see Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 387 though it is not clear whether it was a pre-agreed propaganda smokescreen or a genuine effort. During La Octubrada, the series of minor Carlist revolts of October 1900,on 28-30 of October 1900 a series of minor and very minor Carlist attempts to seize power locally was recorded in Badalona, Casteldefells, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Igualada, Sardañola, Alcoy, Berga, Calella, Mantesa and Moncada, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 387 he was in Paris,present day scholar interprets the presence of Carlist leaders in Paris as a demonstration, aimed at the Madrid government and intending to prove that they were not involved in any conspiration, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 389 which did not spare him detention by Guardia Civil the following month in Bilbao.Ideas y negocios 2012, also El Dia 09.11.00, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0002427342&page=3 here] Also during persistent rumors of mid-1902contemporary scholar suggests they were caused by speculators willing to affect the Madrid stock-exchange quotations, Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 409 Altarriba spoke publicly against a Carlist military action.Fernández Escudero 2012, p. 411; though some newspapers were hysterical about another Carlist war behind the corner, the other titles considered Carlism already "a cadaver", see La Epoca 20.06.02, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0000680946&page=1 here] The press reported him as an agreed Carlist candidate in the 1903 elections,La Correspondencia militar 30.01.03, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001884261&page=3 here] but he was not mentioned as running later on. None of the sources consulted mentions him politically active after that date; obituaries claimed he had been suffering from an unidentified longtime "enfermedad crónica";ABC 01.04.06, available [http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1906/04/01/010.html here] his funeral was attended by the then Carlist political leader, Matías Barrio y Mier.El Globo 03.04.06, available [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/issue.vm?id=0001277034&page=2 here]

• Carlism
• Electoral Carlism (Restoration)
• Hispano-Moroccan War (1859–60)
• Third Carlist War
• Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa
• Matías Barrio y Mier

{{Reflist|3}}

• Jordi Canal i Morell, Carlins i integristes a la Restauració: l’escissió de 1888, [in:] Revista de Girona 147 (1991), pp. 59–68
• Agustín Fernández Escudero, El marqués de Cerralbo (1845–1922): biografía politica [PhD thesis], Madrid 2012
• Francisco de Paula Oller, Album de Personajes Carlistas con sus Biografias, volume II, Barcelona 1888
• Javier Real Cuesta, El Carlismo Vasco 1876–1900, Madrid 1985, {{ISBN|8432305103}}, 978843230510
• Luisa Utanda Moreno, Francesco Feo Parrondo, Propiedad rustica en Guipuzcoa segun el registro de la propiedad expropiable (1933), [in:] Lurralde. Investigación y espacio 18 (1995), pp. 113–135

• [http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Iniciativas?_piref73_2148295_73_1335437_1335437.next_page=/wc/servidorCGI&CMD=VERLST&BASE=DIPH&FMT=DIPHXLDA.fmt&DOCS=1-100&DOCORDER=FIFO&OPDEF=Y&NUM1=&DES1=&QUERY=%284410%29.NDIP. Altarriba at official Cortes service]
• [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/19966 Altarriba at Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia]
• [http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/details.vm?lang=es&q=id:0003842511 El Cabecilla at Hemeroteca Digital]
• [http://www.hotelatxega.com/welcome/ a hotel in former Sangarren palace, Gipuzkoa]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhK1ER3B4Hg Por Dios y por España, contemporary Carlist propaganda]

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