| Share  Baldomero Espartero, duque de la Victoria, conde de
Luchana  Espartero, Baldomero, duque de la Victoria, conde de
Luchana (bäldōmāˈrō āspärtāˈrō dōˈkā dā lä vēktōˈrēä kōnˈdā dā
lōchäˈnä) [key], 1793–1879, Spanish general and statesman. He
fought against the French in the Peninsular War (1808–14) and
later against the revolutionists in South America. After
Ferdinand VII's death (1833), he supported Isabella II against
the Carlists and won important victories in the Carlist War of
1834–39. His agreement at Vergara (1839) with the Carlist
general Rafael Maroto virtually ended the war, and he was
rewarded (1840) with the title duque de la Victoria [duke of
victory]. A member of the Progressive party in the Cortes from
1837, Espartero played an important political role. His
opposition to the queen regent, Maria Christina, helped force
her to leave (1840) the country. In 1841, Espartero was made
regent by the Cortes and became virtual dictator. His ruthless
suppression of opposition—notably at Barcelona—so