profile of Carlism and confirmed its commitment to religion, dynasty, and decentralized state, the relative novelties having been an effort to accommodate the social teaching of the Church and to lure back the Integrists by highlighting the principle of Catholic unity. As the crisis in Cuba mounted, the liberal press was repeatedly warning against a new Carlist insurgency, allegations usually refuted by Correo Español. Small Carlist groups indeed resolved to violence and de Cerralbo tried to prevent the phenomenon. The pretender seemed decided not to weaken the country while at war with the United States, but the situation changed following the disastrous peace of 1898, as Carlos VII made some moves interpreted as preparation to another Carlist war. Cerralbo, widely considered the leader of the doves and confronted by the hawks like Llorens, was rumored to be dismissed soon. Quoting health reasons he left Spain and distanced himself from the conflict, finally handing his resignation as Jefe Delegado in late 1899. The notice was accepted by Carlos VII, who nominated Matías Barrio y Mier as the new political leader. Break in leadership De Cerralbo left Spain mid-1900 and was absent during La Octubrada, the failed Carlist insurrection in Badalona of October 1900. Surprised by the coup he condemned it as premature, though in principle he did not exclude a violent action. He did not withdraw from the Senate. It is not clear whether de Cerralbo, like many Carlist leaders, was expulsed from Spain, the only measure confirmed two police search raids on his Madrid residence. He returned early 1901 and resumed his duties in the Senate. His relationship with Carlos VII remained correct, but the two were getting more and more apart, especially following dismissal of conde de Melgar (Cerralbo's friend) as the claimant's political secretary, and the growing influence of his second wife, Berthe de Rohan. Cerralbo remained loyal to the pretender and his Jefe Delegado Barrio y Mier, taking part in Carlist initiatives and feasts of Madrid. He was also ready to enter Junta Central, the collective governing body designed but eventually abandoned in 1903. He forged a friendly relationship with the son of Carlos VII, Don Jaime, as the two shared historical and archaeological interests. Following the period of poor health and limited public activity, in mid-1900s de Cerralbo increased his engagements becoming head of the Carlist parliamentary minority. When Matías Barrio died in 1909 de Cerralbo