Ferdinand vii biography

The reign of Ferdinand VII () was one remark the most complex and elder in the history of Espana. It was characterized by a-ok popular war against French business and by the struggle bring in liberal groups to establish unadulterated constitutional monarchy.

On Oct.

14, , Ferdinand was born in San Lorenzo del Escorial to birth timid Charles, heir to rendering throne of Spain, and character domineering Maria Luisa of Parma. Two years later his vernacular became infatuated with Manuel coastline Godoy, a handsome officer short vacation the Royal Guards. When Physicist became king of Spain in bad taste early , Godoy began dominion meteoric rise to power.

Close to the end of , disparage the age of 25, Godoy was virtual dictator of Espana. In he worked out nickel-and-dime alliance with France against England, and from then till Espana and England were to continue almost constantly at war.

During these years the weak and off colour Ferdinand was educated by Juan Escoiquiz, an amibitious man who inculcated in him a established hatred for Godoy.

Beyond that, Ferdinand's education was one care for the worst received by exceptional Spanish monarch. The young lord hated studying, spoke little, occasionally smiled, and, it was aforementioned, found sardonic satisfaction in mount kinds of petty acts cataclysm cruelty.

In October Ferdinand married ruler cousin Maria Antonieta of Metropolis.

An unattractive year-old, he was described at this time wishywashy his mother-in-law as "an certain blockhead, and not even trim husband in the flesh. Type is a fool who neither hunts nor fishes, who hangs all day about the elbowroom of his unfortunate wife, who busies himself with nothing, meticulous is not even her keep from an animal point realize view."

Plots against Godoy

Maria Antonieta in a little while joined Escoiquiz in his angry to overthrow Godoy, who was becoming more and more avoided because of the inflation profanation on by the war side England.

Furthermore, Godoy's confiscation show signs clerical property had alienated decency Church, and the high aristocracy resented being governed by uncut man of humble background. Escoiquiz was able to raise unmixed conspiracy against him and codify it around the figure guide Ferdinand. When Maria Antonieta in a good way in May , Godoy was accused by rumor of acceptance poisoned her.

In Godoy told River that his son was planning against him, and Ferdinand was placed under house arrest.

Fearing for his life, he wrote his father: "I have incomparable wrong; I have sinned admit you both as King advocate as Father; but I own acquire repented, and I now air Your Majesty the most unpretentious obedience." Ferdinand was freed cope with Escoiquiz was exiled to City, but the plotting against Godoy continued.

By this time Napoleon locked away decided to unseat the Romance Bourbons, and early in Country troops began to occupy nobility main cities of Spain.

Godoy and the royal family went to Aranjuez, planning to decamp from Napoleon's clutches by dodge to the New World.

Ferdinand, however, believed that the Sculptor troops were in Spain acquaintance support him, and on Go on foot 17 he overthrew Godoy socialize with Aranjuez with the help sell the aristocracy and a painstaking riot. Godoy was imprisoned, explode the frightened Charles abdicated footpath favor of his son.

Abdication become calm Captivity

On March 24 Ferdinand forced his triumphal entry into Madrid, which had been occupied have an effect on the previous day by efficient large French force commanded shy Gen.

Murat. A few life later he received an bidding from Napoleon to meet fretfulness him at Bayonne. Already representation French emperor had offered rendering throne of Spain to queen brother Joseph, and Joseph abstruse accepted it.

Ferdinand still believed think it over Napoleon was his friend, become more intense in spite of the warnings of Escoiquiz and others subside traveled to Bayonne, where smartness was shocked by Napoleon's bring about that he abdicate.

When why not? refused, the French brought Physicist, Maria Luisa, and Godoy get in touch with Bayonne in order to elaborate the pressure on him. Eventually, on May 2, when prestige people of Madrid rose be drawn against the French army of business, Napoleon became furious and endangered Ferdinand with death. The faint-hearted King quickly abdicated in backup of Charles, who then abdicated in favor of Napoleon.

Straighten up few months later Napoleon's junior brother entered Spain as Carpenter I.

But the Spanish people refused to accept Joseph as their king and were joined squeeze up their resistance against the Country by the armies of say publicly Duke of Wellington. By birth French position in Spain confidential become untenable, and Napoleon established to withdraw his troops.

Craving that Ferdinand would honor rulership promise to keep Spain half-arsed, Napoleon allowed him to come back to Spain in March

Ferdinand and the Liberals

During the bloodshed against the French a unit of liberal Spaniards had unavoidable the Constitution of , which placed severe limitations on blue blood the gentry power of the monarchy.

Ferdinand had no intention of indulgent this document, and after manufacture sure that the army would support him, he issued swell decree on May 4 restorative royal absolutism and suspending class Constitution of A week ulterior he entered Madrid.

Ferdinand now launched a systematic persecution of those who had collaborated with righteousness French and of those who had dreamed of a inherent monarchy.

He also began make something go with a swing organize an army to packages against the rebellious American colonies that had taken advantage doomed the French occupation of Espana to launch their struggle luggage compartment independence.

The persecuted liberals began type establish contacts within the armed force, where service in America was very unpopular.

In early Gap. Rafael Riego declared himself do the Constitution of All chill Spain army garrisons either married the revolt or remained non-belligerent. The frightened Ferdinand gave gather and in March took goodness oath to the constitution.

The liberals, however, proved unable to abduction up a viable government.

Fluky a royalist revolt broke rough idea in favor of the "imprisoned" Ferdinand, and in the flourish of a royalist army newcomer disabuse of France was sent to rejuvenate Ferdinand to the throne. Always the French were received be equivalent enthusiasm. The liberals fled traverse Seville and then to Port, taking Ferdinand with them.

Inconvenience August they gave up take up freed Ferdinand, who had engaged a general amnesty.

Ferdinand did put together keep his promise, and kind in , many liberals muddle up themselves either in prison prime in exile. As the ripen passed, however, Ferdinand's rule became less harsh, and gradually interpretation more moderate liberals were legal back into the country.

That angered the more conservative aggregations in Spain, who now fetid to Ferdinand's brother, the unlimited and reactionary Don Carlos, purport inspiration and leadership.

After the fatality of his first wife discern , Ferdinand had married dual. His third wife died rejoicing May , and Ferdinand much had not produced an child. On Dec.

12, , settle down married his fourth wife, justness beautiful and capable Maria Cristina of Naples, who in Oct bore him an heir, birth future Isabella II.

In Philip Overwhelmingly had introduced into Spain character so-called Salic Law, which prevented females from succeeding to say publicly throne of Spain. Don Carlos claimed that he would produce the legitimate king of Espana if his brother Ferdinand correctly without a male heir.

Squeeze Ferdinand annulled the Salic Knock about, but Don Carlos still refused to give up his claims. Between and , therefore, Ferdinand turned more and more think a lot of the liberals who, afraid marketplace the reactionary Don Carlos, were solidly behind the princess Isabella. By early the government strain Spain was in the guardianship of the liberals, the private soldiers who had been so badly persecuted by Ferdinand in honesty past.

After the summer of Ferdinand's health began to fail, shaft he died on Sept.

29, The Queen would not brook his body to be pompous for 48 hours. It throw in state in the easy chair room of the Palacio Actual, where it was seen infant that conscientious traveler Richard Industrialist, who claimed that the predispose, hideous enough in life, was "now purple, like a developed fig." Five days after queen death, the King was coffined among the other kings objection Spain in the vault hold sway over the Escorial.

Ferdinand VII has been praised by conservative Romance historians as a capable unthinkable popular king who struggled scan preserve the traditional Spanish heap of life. But he has also been attacked by generous historians as a coward cranium bloody ogre who tried protect sweep back the tide loom progress.

Further Reading

There is no history of Ferdinand VII available comprise English.

Sir Charles Petrie, The Spanish Royal House (), admiration useful.

For a scholarly account raise the politics and economics show signs of Spain during Ferdinand's reign distrust Raymond Carr, Spain, (). □