Pragmatic Sanction of 1830

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The Pragmatic Sanction of 1830 (Spanish: Pragmática Sanción), issued March 29, 1830 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain, ratified a Decree of 1789 by Charles IV of Spain, which had replaced the semi-Salic system established by Philip V of Spain with the mixed succession system that predated the Bourbon monarchy (see also Carlism).

At the beginning of the 18th century, King Philip V of Spain promulgated Salic Law, from the French, which forbade females to inherit the Spanish Crown. The hope was this would prevent the Hapsburgs from regaining the the throne via female dynastic lines.

King Ferdinand VII of Spain had a problem, he had no sons, only two daughters, Isabel and Luisa Ferdinand of Bourbon. Ferdinand's father, Charles IV of Spain made a weak attempt to eliminate the Salic Law, and Ferdinand brought forth the The Pragmatic Sanction of 1830, so his oldest daughter inherit the throne and be declared queen upon his death, as was the Sapich custom.

This removed his brother, Charles Maria Isador of Bourbon, as the next in the line of succession under Salic Law. Charles' supporters, among whom was Francisco Calomarde, pressured Ferdinand VII to repeal the Pragmatic Sanction. However, a severe attack of gout incapacitated Ferdinand and when he died on 29 September 1833, Isabel was proclaimed Queen. Since she was still a minor, the kingdom was under the regency of her mother Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies.