1833 territorial division of Spain

[1] This division was followed (helped by the enforcing of the 1834 Royal Statute) by the ensuing creation of provincial deputations, the government institutions for most of the provinces, remaining up to this date.

[2] Immediately after the death of King Ferdinand VII on 29 September 1833,[9] the regent Maria Christina attempted to find a moderate third way between the absolutist Carlists—the followers of the Infante Carlos—and the liberals.

This mission was given to First Secretary of State Francisco Cea Bermúdez, leader of a government that lasted only into the following January, having been unable to satisfy either side.

[citation needed] In 1834, Spain was divided into legal districts (partidos judiciales); these took provincial borders into account.

[20] The new design arranged by Jorge de Burgos and government officials in Madrid opened a scenario of overt confrontation with the Basque territories and institutions, who kept a separate legal and institutional status, including taxation and customs with the Spanish heartland on the Ebro.

News of the central government's decision overruling native institutions spread to the Basque districts, sparking uproar and anger.

[22] While Jorge de Burgos' design of provincial Spain suppressed enclaves, it did keep the ones located in Basque territories—Trucios in Biscay, and Treviño in Álava.

According to the new arrangement, the Basque enclaves were to be attached to the closer Spanish province of Common Fiscal Regime.

[18] There were a few minor adjustments of borders, and several provinces have been renamed to accord with local languages or in view of other issues of regional identity.

[41] However, the number of senators or deputies that Catalonia contributes to Spain's parliament, the Cortes Generales: remained regulated by Article 69 of the Constitution in terms of provinces.