The King in the North

About this board game

The King in the North is a two-player historical game about Spain’s First Carlist War, with an approximate play time of 260 minutes. Released in 2023, it focuses on the conflict in northern Spain between the Carlists and the Isabelinos.

The Carlists supported the Infante Carlos María Isidro de Borbón and an absolutist regime. Opposing them were the Liberals, also known as Cristinos or Isabelinos, who defended Isabel II and her regent, María Cristina de Borbón.

Although the war affected much of Spain, including the Basque Country, Navarra, Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia, The King in the North represents only the fighting in the North. Its gameplay mechanisms are similar to those found in Sekigahara and Granada, Last Stand of the Moors.

Each player commands a side divided into five distinct factions:

• Isabelino: Royal Guard, Regular Army, Militias, Chapelgorris, and Foreign Legion.
• Carlist: Álava, Castilla, Guipuzcoa, Navarra, and Vizcaya.

The Isabelino government began with moderate absolutist origins before becoming liberal in its effort to gain broader popular support. Against this backdrop, the two players represent the opposing forces of a civil war fought from 1833 to 1839.

With its focused northern setting and two-sided historical structure, The King in the North offers a detailed tabletop portrayal of the Carlist and Isabelino struggle.