The authors describe the state of the historiography of the sciences and mathematics in Spain in the 19th century as an ideological battlefield, with the liberals insisting on the backwardness of Spain. Towards the end of the 19th century the historiography of mathematics developed to some extent in connection with efforts to give mathematics social prestige. The first mathematical journal El Progreso Mátematico, edited by García de Galdeano since 1891, carried some historical articles. The first productive mathematician of Spain, Julio Rey Pastor (1888-1962), published historical work as well. During more than 35 years of fascist dictatorship (1939-1975) only the history of medicine received any significant institutional support and development. Since 1976 the historiography of mathematics has been seriously pursued in Spain, with the foundation of the journal \textit{LLULL} being one of the most conspicuous developments. The article, written by two leading Spanish historians of mathematics, is part of a broader project on the history of the historiography of mathematics under the auspices of the International Commission on History of Mathematics.