Antonio Mazarrasa Quintanilla

Antonio María Andrés Mazarrasa Quintanilla
Born	1864 Spain
Died	1941
Occupation(s)	Politician, civil servant, businessman
Years active	1890s–1940
Known for	Carlist and Mellista politician; director of Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Madrid; civil governor of Segovia

Antonio María Andrés Mazarrasa Quintanilla (1864–1941) was a notable Spanish figure known for his roles as a politician, civil servant, and businessman. Originally aligned with the Carlist movement, he later affiliated with the Mellista faction and subsequently became involved in the Primoriverrista political framework. During the 1890s, he was a member of the Santander city council. His legislative career comprised two terms in the Congress of Deputies (1903–1905 and 1910–1914) and one term in the Senate (1919–1920). Between 1924 and 1927, he held the position of civil governor for Segovia province. From 1928 to 1936 and again from 1939 to 1940, he directed Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Madrid. Up until the late 1920s, he was actively engaged in managing the family’s Mazarrasa mining enterprises located in Cantabria.

Family and youth

The Mazarrasa lineage is a distinguished Cantabrian hidalgo family with longstanding involvement in legal professions, military service, and governmental positions. Antonio’s great-grandfather, Juan Manuel Mazarrasa Mazarrasa (1746–1824), originating from Villaverde de Pontones in the Trasmiera region, held the office of Abogado de los Reales Consejos. His grandfather, Felipé Mazarrasa Cobo de la Torre (1789–1879), possessed extensive rural estates within Santander province. Antonio’s father, Juan Manuel Mazarrasa Jorganes (1827–1898), also from Villaverde, practiced law and during the 1880s acquired several zinc and lead mining operations in Andara that were struggling financially, thereby steering the family’s focus away from agriculture toward industrial ventures.

Juan Manuel married Josefa Quintanilla López-Galmares (deceased 1906), who descended from an indiano family with origins tracing back to Salamanca and Mexico. The couple had ten offspring; Antonio was their firstborn. While three younger brothers pursued engineering careers to support mining activities, Antonio completed his legal studies at Valladolid University and later at Universidad Central in Madrid. After earning his degree in 1885, he joined the Santander bar association in 1887 and established a legal practice that handled matters related to the family’s mining interests.

In 1902, Antonio wed María de la Concepción Fernández de Henestrosa Tacón (1878–1968), daughter of a retired military officer from Madrid who held aristocratic titles. The couple resided in Santander and had six children; one died during infancy (1917), while two were executed by Republican forces amid the Spanish Civil War—one in Bilbao and another who was an Atlético Madrid footballer killed at Paracuellos de Jarama. Their eldest son, Roberto Mazarrasa Fernández (1903–1981), pursued a career as an artillery officer. Among Antonio’s grandchildren, Javier Mazarrasa Coll became known as a military historian, whereas Agustín served in executive roles at Caja de Ahorros y Monte Piedad de Madrid. Other descendants include Gonzalo Mazarrasa Martín, a Catholic priest and singer, and Lucia Botín Mazarrasa, a writer from related branches of the family.

Early public career (until 1902)

The Mazarrasa family maintained strong conservative convictions. Antonio’s paternal grandfather’s elder brother, José de Mazarrasa Cobo de la Torre (1772–1858), commanded Voluntarios Realistas and achieved high rank as mariscal de campo during the First Carlist War. Antonio’s grandfather occupied minor positions within Carlist circles during the late Isabelline era; meanwhile, relative José Tomás de Mazarrasa served as bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo and Filipopolis. Antonio adopted their political stance early on; during his studies he signed petitions opposing secular education reforms and married into a staunchly Carlist family. Initially involved with ostensibly apolitical conservative groups such as Santander’s Milicia Cristiana in the late 1880s, he also participated in charitable work and educational initiatives including membership in Real Sociedad Económica Cantábrica de Amigos de País. In 1892, he assumed leadership of Santander’s Círculo Tradicionalista. He maintained cultural engagements by hosting prominent personalities like Narcís Oller.

By the late 1880s, Mazarrasa secured election to Santander’s city council; by 1892 he advanced to primer teniente de alcalde (first deputy mayor). After reelection in 1893, he served as tercer teniente de alcalde (third deputy mayor) and chaired the Comisión de Obras. He advocated for municipal cultural venues and recreational facilities and was among principal holders of municipal bonds by decade’s end. His tenure on the council extended through reelection in 1901; however, he failed to secure deputy mayor status internally in 1902.

While active within the legal profession, Mazarrasa increasingly concentrated on business affairs representing family interests internationally, notably in Britain. Following his father’s death in 1898, siblings divided responsibilities within Minas Mazarrasa mining operations. In 1899 he joined Nueva Montaña’s board—a steel manufacturing company owned by the family. By 1900 he was part of Sociedad Española de Minas’ executive committee—a local mining cartel—and in 1901 became director at Hidráulica de Frésser managing a hydroelectric facility in Catalonia. His political engagement remained limited; contemporary accounts report minimal activity beyond an unfulfilled candidacy for Cortes representing Vitoria in 1893 and sporadic presence at a Carlist rally held in Liébana during 1897.

Carlist deputy (1903–1914)

During the 1903 elections for the Congreso de los Diputados, Mazarrasa ran as a Carlist candidate in the Basque constituency of Laguardia, a traditional Carlist bastion last secured in 1893. Although considered an outsider, he achieved a commanding victory by securing 3,806 votes out of 4,067, surpassing the Liberal contender. Following his election, he resigned from his position in the ayuntamiento due to its incompatibility with his parliamentary duties. Within the Cortes, he was part of a modest Carlist faction consisting of seven deputies but remained largely inactive; the only recorded parliamentary engagement involved endorsing a bill aimed at enhancing Cantabrian mining operations by improving river transport and loading infrastructure in the Bay of Santander. In the 1905 campaign, he sought to retain his seat in Laguardia but was defeated by a Liberal opponent. Subsequently, he briefly served as an interim councilor in Santander’s town hall and participated in the Comisión de Hacienda. In the 1907 elections, Mazarrasa stepped aside to allow fellow Carlist Celestino Alcocer to run for Laguardia and instead unsuccessfully contested a Senate seat representing Álava.

In the 1910 elections, Mazarrasa reclaimed a deputy seat from Laguardia, obtaining 2,520 votes out of 4,920 cast; concurrently, the Carlist parliamentary minority expanded to nine members. Despite this increase, his legislative involvement remained minimal; the principal Carlist opposition during this period centered on contesting the Ley del Candado. Nonetheless, he played a notable role in rallying grassroots support through public meetings held in Vitoria (1911) and Eibar (1912). In 1912, he succeeded Alcocer as Recaudador General del Tesoro de la Tradición, assuming responsibility for managing party finances. The following year, he hosted Don Jaime’s clandestine visit to Santander.

Mazarrasa was also active in propaganda efforts by publishing open letters in Traditionalist newspapers, sponsoring awards at events such as the Floral Games (notably in 1911), and attending ceremonial banquets including one held in Labastida in 1913. His standing within the party increased substantially; he was appointed honorary president of youth circles and by 1913 had become part of the nationwide Carlist executive body, Junta Nacional, owing to his parliamentary position. His term concluded in 1914 when he unsuccessfully sought election to the Senate once more.

Mellista (1915–1923)

Throughout the 1910s, Carlism experienced internal division between claimant Don Jaime and prominent ideologue Juan Vázquez de Mella, who advocated forming an ultra-conservative coalition with less emphasis on dynastic legitimacy and favored alignment with the German Empire during the Great War. While Don Jaime prioritized his dynastic rights and sympathized with the Entente, Mazarrasa did not play a central role in this schism; scholarly work on Mellismo references him only briefly. He maintained cordial relations with party leadership and held the position of Traditionalist provincial chief in Santander. Not strictly adherent to Carlist dynastic claims, Mazarrasa notably welcomed Alfonso XIII during his visit to Altos Hornos de Nueva Montaña in 1918.

The conflict between Don Jaime and de Mella escalated sharply in early 1919, resulting in Mellista supporters establishing a separate organization. Initially hesitant, Mazarrasa eventually sided with the Mellistas, renouncing loyalty to Don Jaime. In the June 1919 elections, he stood for a Senate seat representing Mellista interests from Álava. Despite criticism labeling him an outsider, effective negotiation secured his victory. In the Senate, he formed a two-member Mellista minority alongside Ampuero from Gipuzkoa. His senatorial activity was limited and primarily focused on budget debates related to the Ministerio de Fomento. His term ended in 1920 without evidence of attempts at re-election.

The Mellista faction failed to unify effectively and fragmented during the early 1920s. Throughout this period, Mazarrasa’s political influence diminished considerably. His main attention shifted toward his industrial and financial enterprises; records from notarial archives reveal assets spanning seventy-seven pages. Among his significant holdings were shares in Minas Mazarrasa and Nueva Montaña; however, mining operations were becoming less profitable due to exhausted lead and zinc reserves. The family business portfolio included investments across Banco Mercantil, Nueva Argentífera, Sociedad Minas del Carmen, Compañía Azufrera de Hellín y Moratalla, among others. Additionally, Mazarrasa possessed land on Fernando Poó in Spanish Guinea, joining its board as early as 1908.

Governor and executive leadership (1924–1940)

The political landscape in Spain was dramatically altered following Miguel Primo de Rivera's 1923 coup, which effectively suspended political processes nationwide. Initially, the majority of Mellistas expressed support for the new regime; Mazarrasa appeared to align with this stance, as evidenced by his appointment in late 1924 as gobernador civil of Segovia province by the military directorate. His administration, spanning nearly three years, was characterized by routine governance duties, active engagement with Unión Patriótica, and involvement in state-sponsored propaganda events. He stepped down from this position in mid-1927.

In 1928, Mazarrasa transitioned to the financial sector by joining Monte de Piedad y Caja de Ahorros de Madrid, a government-influenced institution functioning both as a charitable pawnbroker and savings bank. Upon the passing of the incumbent manager, he was nominated and formally appointed as director-gerente (CEO) through a royal decree. Over the subsequent eight years, he steered Monte through the collapse of the dictatorship and the emergence of the Second Republic, retaining his leadership role despite surpassing typical retirement age. His period in charge is viewed as effective; he oversaw daily operations and legally represented the institution until September 1936 when revolutionary syndicates removed officials considered politically unreliable, resulting in his dismissal.

Due to his background as a former Carlist, previous official under the dictatorship, business executive, and right-wing personality, Mazarrasa was apprehended by revolutionary militias along with his son—who was later executed. Circumstances surrounding his escape from detention remain unclear; he found sanctuary at the Mexican embassy until hostilities concluded. Following the Nationalist takeover of Madrid in 1939, Mazarrasa was reinstated as director of Monte de Piedad but retired in April 1940. Later that year, now in his mid-70s, he publicly participated in ceremonies marking Monte’s operational resumption as an esteemed former director. There is no documentation indicating any further public engagements prior to his death the next year.

See also

• Carlism
• Traditionalism (Spain)
• Mellismo

Further reading

• José Antonio Gutiérrez Sebares, El metal de las cumbres: historia de una sociedad minera en los Picos de Europa (1856–1940), Santander 2007, ISBN 9788493567019
• Manuel Titós Martínez, Historia de la Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de Madrid, Madrid 2002, ISBN 8489471274

External links

• Mazarrasa at official Congreso de Diputados service
• Mazarrasa at official Senado service
• Por Dios y por España; contemporary Carlist propaganda