La campagne de Russie de 1812 vue d’Espagne : analyse de la presse espagnole et des relations bilatérales russo-espagnoles

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the image of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 in the Spanish press, as well as to consider different aspects of the bilateral foreign relations between Russia and Spain during the period. First, we will offer a brief exposition of the situation of Spain in 1812, a country partially occupied by the French forces, which was struggling since 1808 in a double conflict: a war of independence against the Napoleonic invasion, and an internal confrontation between collaborators and patriots, along with a national revolution that would oppose, on the patriot side, absolutists against liberals. This political situation would influence decisively the Spanish press of the time, a press that can be classified into three different groups of newspapers: the afrancesados (Spaniards collaborating with the French invaders), the absolutists and the liberals, the latest being the most important and influential group. The vision by the Spanish newspapers of the French invasion of Russia in 1812 will be analyzed afterwards. Finally, we will try to examine the bilateral relations between Spain and Russia during this period. Thus, three different aspects will be considered: the diplomatic relations (Russia became the first country to recognize the Spanish liberal revolution, its new Parliament and its Constitution, by the Treaty of Friendship, Union and Alliance signed by the Tzar Alexander in 1812), the reciprocal military influence and support, and economic and trade relations.