Villarroya de los Pinares

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Villarroya de los Pinares

Ramón Cabrera, military chief
of Carlism.

Ramón Cabrera, Carlist military chief.

The town council of Villarroya de los Pinares was especially active in the defense of government legality in the early stages of the war. And this in spite of the presence in its streets of important Carlist leaders such as Carnicer or Quílez. He was able to do so as long as he had the support of liberal columns such as those of Colonel Nogueras or Lieutenant Pedro Eced who supported his position. In 1837 an important contingent of the Royal Expedition passed through and, the following year, its neighbors witnessed the siege operations of the liberals against Morella and Cantavieja.

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The Royal Expedition

Oráa's great failure against Morella

When Manuel Carnicer, leader of the Carlist movement in Maestrazgo, left for the court of Don Carlos in the North, he left the provisional command of the troops to Cabrera. But Quílez, another of the other chiefs, who was a military man and had more experience, did not accept it willingly.

The war in Maestrazgo was becoming a confused and uncertain combat whose results were always disappointing for the queen’s troops. The national militiamen risked their lives on a daily basis in villages where the Carlist parties could enter without any obstacle.

The Carlist army that left Estella in mid-May 1837 had reached the heart of Maestrazgo by the end of July. After a few days reorganizing and regaining strength in Cantavieja, Mirambel or La Iglesuela, the huge column of the rebel army, whose objective was to take Madrid, resumed its march.

In 1838 Ramón Cabrera reached the peak of his power in Maestrazgo. The concern of the liberal authorities was at its peak, especially after General Cabañero’s Carlists strolled through the streets of Saragossa in March. To put an end to the threat, a large military operation was organized to take Morella and Cantavieja.