Prime Minister Luis González Bravo is one of the few politicians who have remained consistently faithful to Queen Isabella II throughout her ruling years, standing by her from the beginning of her effective monarchy, to the very last days of her reign in 1868.

In September 1868, however, upon facing the first battle of the revolution, he advises the Queen to substitute him in the country's presidency for an experienced army general as Prime Minister, to better fight the ready to strike armed forces organized against her government. 

Generals Juan Prim and Francisco Serrano denounce the government and much of the army defects to the revolutionary generals on their arrival in Spain.

The queen makes a brief show of force at the Battle of Alcolea, where her loyal moderado generals under Manuel Pavia are defeated by General Serrano on September 28.