Antonete Gálvez and the independence of Cartagena

Antonete Gálvez, a farmer and revolutionary from Murcia, played a central role in the independence of Cartagena during the First Spanish Republic. Approximately 153 years ago, the city of Cartagena operated independently for six months as part of the Cantonal Rebellion.

Gálvez’s political journey was marked by opposition to mandatory military service, which heavily impacted the working classes. His activism led to participation in the Glorious Revolution of 1868 and a failed armed uprising in 1869, which forced him into exile in Oran, Algeria. After returning to Spain following an amnesty in 1870, he became a folk hero. Following the abdication of Amadeo I and the proclamation of the First Republic in 1873, Gálvez returned to the political forefront to lead the movement for the Murcian Cantons.