Spanish visions about Asia throughout the 19th century: Ali Bey el Abbassi and Adolfo Rivadeneyra

Abstract

The Spanish 19th century is very complicated from a political point of view. The continuous changes of government implied very different policies at international level, which tried to adapt to a general framework that was also very changing. This paper aims to trace the general lines of this abroad action (or inaction) by Spain, with special attention to the Asian continent. What in principle could be advanced as a general conclusion, that the policy towards Asia by Spain hardly existed, despite the control of the Philippines or the first positions in the Pacific, however, contrasts with specific actions, such as the one carried out in the territories controlled by the Ottoman Empire by Ali Bey el abbassi, or the commitment to Iran by liberal governments that only were materialized with the First Spanish Republic. Foreign action with respect to Asia from Spain during the 19th century was to conserve what one had, doing practically nothing. Only specific actions contradict this general trend, and here we will talk about two very significant ones, but only partially known.