Lorenzo Sáenz y Fernández Cortina (1863–1939) was a Spanish politician and publisher. Politically he supported the Carlist cause, though in the mid-1930s he assumed a somewhat dissident stand and co-led a faction known as Cruzadistas. His career climaxed in 1908–1910, when he served in the lower chamber of the Cortes. Within the party ranks during two spells of 1912-1913 and 1929-1932 he served in the national executive Junta Nacional, and in 1929-1932 he held the regional jefatura in New Castile. As a publisher in the 1890s and 1900s he founded and animated minor titles issued in eastern Andalusia, but is better known as one of key figures behind Madrid-based Carlist periodicals, El Correo Español (1919–1921) and El Cruzado Español (1929–1936). As an entrepreneur he was engaged in banking, olive oil, hydroelectricity and mining businesses.
Family and youth
Sáenz's paternal ancestors were related to Rioja. His grandfather, Manuel Sáenz García (b. 1799), originated from Ortigosa de Cameros and belonged to petty nobility;Manuel Sáenz García (sr) entry, [in:] Geneanet service, available here he married Celestina García Rubio, a girl from the nearby Rasillo de Cameros, whose brother León in the 1820s would open one of the first banks in Jaén.in the early 19th century banking in Jaén was principally small family credit or savings unions; one of the key institutions was run by Anselmo García Rubio, though his business was heavily affected by the Peninsular War. In 1821 León García Rubio founded a bank, María José Vargas-Machuca, Merchant Bankers, Banking Houses and Large Banks. The Case of Jaen Province (1800-1936), [in:] Mariano Castro-Valdivia, María Vázquez-Fariñas, Pedro Pablo Ortúñez-Goicolea (eds.), Companies and Entrepreneurs in the History of Spain. Centuries Long Evolution in Business Since the 15th Century, London 2012, ISBN 9783030613174, p. 122 The son of Manuel and Celestina, also Manuel Sáenz García (1828–1904),Manuel Sáenz García (jr) entry, [in:] Geneanet service, available here though born in Ortigosa at one point moved to Jaén and joined the family-related banking business, which since the mid-19th century became a very successful enterprise; he got known as a banquero.one of his banks was Sáenz, Sáenz, Rivas y Compañía; from 1873 this house appeared as commissioner of the Spanish Mortgage Bank, Vargas-Machuca 2012, p. 122 Around 1863one author claims 1863 and provides additional details, namely that the ceremony took place in the Jaén church of San Bartolomé, see Moreno Jara 2011, p. 56. However, the year of 1863 appears somewhat dubious, as Lorenzo was born in March 1863 he married Joaquína Fernández y Fernández Cortina (died 1914).Don Lope de Sosa. Crónica mensual de la provincia de Jaén 31.10.41, available here Her ancestors originated from Pendueles (Llanes, Asturias)her father was Juan Fernández Bustamante (Pendueles, 1791), her mother was Ana María Fernández Cortina (Pendueles, 1793), Moreno Jara 2011, p. 56 and her maternal uncles were Joaquín and Lorenzo Fernandez Cortina, the former the bishop of Sigüenza and the latter the canónigo in Jaén.see e.g. Bishop Joaquín Fernández Cortina, [in:] Catholic Hierarchy service, available here Though born in Asturias she moved to Jaén, where her brother Manuel Férnandez Cortinaaccording to the standard naming convention his name was Manuel Fernandez y Fernandez-Cortina. However, for reasons which are not clear and thanks to rather loose official regulations at the time, he appeared as Manuel Fernandez Cortina, Moreno Jara 2011, p. 56 became the co-founder of Colegio de Abogados and one of the most prestigious citizens of Jaén.Moreno Jara 2011, p. 56
Manuel and Joaquína settled in Jaén and formed part of the local financial oligarchy. It is not known how many children they had, though Lorenzo had at least 3 brothers, Joaquín,born before 1866, died 1905, El Defensor de Granada 21.04.08, Hidalguía II/4 (1954), p. 43 Juanborn 1870, died 1932. Abogado in Jaén and propietario, he married Gertrudis de Bonilla y Bonilla, Moreno Jara 2011, p. 574 and Manuel;referred to as "rico propietario", he died in 1920, Don Lope de Sosa. Crónica mensual de la provincia de Jaén 01.12.20, available here it is not clear who was the oldest one,the Geneanet site here lists him as the 3rd oldest, which appears to be incorrect, as Juan was born in 1870 and Joaquín - apparently - prior to 1866 yet Lorenzo outlived all of them.Joaquin died 1905, Manuel in 1920 and Juan in 1932 None of the sources consulted provides any information on his early education, though some suggest that he frequented schools in Rioja, perhaps in Logroño.in 1908, when he was to run for the Cortes from the Navarrese district of Tudela, he was advertised as "tiene cerca del distrito la circunstancia grata de ser oriundo de la noble tierra que baña el Ebro, donde ha hecho sus estudios", El Correo Español 03.06.08, available here. Circumstances suggests that "la noble tierra que baña el Ebro" means La Rioja, separated from the merindad of Tudela by the Ebro. One author claims that Sáenz was "a veteran of the 1870-6 war", Blinkhorn 2008, p. 73. Theoretically it is not impossible, since he was 13 in 1876 and boys of this age did fight in Carlist troops, compare the case of Teodoro Mas. However, it would have been odd that this episode has never been mentioned in numerous hagiographic press notes, published on him later In 1878 he entered Facultad de Derecho at Universidad Central in Madrid.Sáenz Fernández, Lorenzo entry, [in:] Pares. Portal de Archivos Españoles service, available here One source maintains that in 1884 he became Doctor en Civil y Canónico thanks to the thesis Reglas equitativas para tratar la línea divisoria entre ambas potestades, o sea, entre los derechos e intereses de la Iglesia y el Estado.Sáenz Fernández, Lorenzo entry, [in:] Pares Another author claims that in 1883 he became licenciado en derecho,Moreno Jara 2011, p. 457 while in 1885 he majored in civil and canon law;the exact date given is 22.05.1885, Moreno Jara 2011, p. 457 one more source notes that his dissertation was accepted as sobresaliente.B. de Artagan, Bocetos tradicionalistas, Barcelona 1912, p. 251 In 1888 Sáenz entered Colegio de Abogados de Jaén, yet it is not known whether he commenced own practice.Moreno Jara 2011, p. 457
In 1893La Opinión de Asturias 14.03.1893, available here. It is not clear why the ceremony took place in Madrid, since the groom was from Jaén and the bride from Llanes Sáenz married Antonia Dosal Sobrino (1872–1933);one author refers to her as "perteneciente a la oligarquía santanderina", Moreno Jara 2011, p. 457. There are numerous sources which confirm she was related to Asturias but none pointing to Cantabria since she was from Llanes, Lorenzo probably came to know her due to his maternal family links.or because he knew her brother Sinforiano, as the two studied law in Universidad Central in the early 1880s. For her links to Llanes see e.g. Boletin Oficial de la Provincia de Oviedo 27.07.43, available here Her mothernamed Maximina Sobrino Díaz; she married Sebastian Dosal, Boletin Oficial de la Provincia de Oviedo 27.07.43, available here was sister to very successful indianos, who thanks to textile business made a fortune in Mexico but who died with no descendancy.compare e.g. Guillermo Fernández, Gloria Pomarada, La casona de La Concepción, en obras para su transformación en un hotel, [in:] El Comercio 09.10.18, available here The wealth was first inherited by Antonia's brother Sinforiano,Lorenzo Sáenz knew Sinforiano very well. Apart from years spent studying law in Central, later as brothers-in-law they attended many family events, compare e.g. El Pueblo 26.05.09, available here but following his childless death part of it eventually passed to her;Fernández, Pomarada 2018. When Sinforiano died, the estate was inherited by his sister Fernanda, and after her death by their common sister Antonia (the wife of Lorenzo). The two sisters passed away one after another, Fernanda on June 10, 1933, and Antonia on August 12, 1933 its crown was the estate in Llanes, known as La ConcepciónEl Siglo Futuro 17.08.33, available here or Palacio Sinforiano.Fernández, Pomarada 2018 Lorenzo and Antonia lived mostly in Madrid, where he joined the local Colegio de Abogados.no later than in 1900, Boletin Oficial de la Provincia de Oviedo 10.09.00, available here They owned a luxurious apartment next to the Cortes building,at Plaza de las Cortes 8, La lid católica 05.07.93, available here. The apartment would remain his residence until his death yet they used to spend long spells in Llanes and Jaén, where he co-owned the family economy. They had no children."sin sucesión", see Certificado de defunción Lorenzo Sáenz, available here Among more distant relatives, Lorenzo's sister-in-law became condesa de Mendoza Cortina,Lorenzo's sister-in-law (sister to his wife), Fernanda Dosal Sobrino, married conde Mendoza Cortina, see e.g. El Debate 11.06.33, available here. Hence Sáenz and condesa (consorte) de Mendoza Cortina were hermanos políticos, see e.g. El Lábaro 17.08.17, available here while his brother (who prior to 1905 served as alcalde of Jaén)Hidalguía II/4 (1954), p. 43 married condesa de Humanes.in 1897, compare Joaquín Sáenz Fernández entry, [in:] Geneanet service, available here
First publishing projects (1890s)
Sáenz inherited political outlook from his father, who was an active Carlist and in the 1890s formed part of the local party executive, Junta Provincial de Jaén.El Baluarte 08.05.96, available here Lorenzo was not noted in Carlist structures before in 1889 he launched a local Jaén-based weekly, El Norte Andaluz. It was not openly Traditionalist (last Traditionalist title disappeared in Jaén in 1877), posed as Catholic periodical, sub-titled "periodico de intereses morales y materiales",Checa Godoy 2016, p. 79 and by scholars is described as "cercano al carlismo". Co-edited with Bartolomé Romero Gago, the future Seville cathedral canon, it was barely more than a 4-page bulletin, dedicated mostly to religious issues. The last issue appeared in 1891. According to friendly newspapers, the closing of El Norte resulted from " una conspiración íntegro-conservadora"."una conspiración íntegro-conservadora, ha dejado de publicarse en Jaén el interesante periódico El Norte Andaluz, que ha venido prestando valiosos servicios a la causa católica", quoted after Checa Godoy 2016, p. 70. In 1893 an Integrist periodical, El Pueblo Católico, managed by Francisco Ureña Navas, appeared in Jaen This conspiracy was principally about later launch of the local Integrist bi-weekly, El Pueblo Católico;it was launched in 1893 and remained published until 1935, Checa Godoy 2016, p. 79 since then, hostility towards the Integrists would mark Sáenz's activity for some 45 years to come. Scholars summarize the episode by noting that "la importancia objetiva de El Norte Andaluz es escasa".Checa Godoy 2016, pp. 69-70