1808 Crisis: Independence War & Liberal Revolution
The Crisis of 1808: The Start of the War of Independence and the Liberal Revolution
In late 1807, the situation in the country was very serious. Successive wars, famine, and the collapse of colonial trade, exacerbated by Napoleon’s blockade against Britain, had brought the nation to its knees. The treasury was bankrupt. Continuous wars and economic hardships were not alleviated by the confiscation of 1797.
All social groups were indignant. They accused Godoy of the military defeats and the economic collapse. The opposition rallied around Ferdinand, spreading a positive image of him and presenting him as a savior.
In 1807, the first conspiracy of Ferdinand was discovered in El Escorial. He obtained the pardon of his peers in person during the Escorial process.
The Treaty of Fontainebleau and French Invasion
The blockade against trade was supported by most European states, but Portugal continued to trade. In 1807, Napoleon decided to invade Portugal, signing the Treaty of Fontainebleau with O’Donnell, which allowed the French army to pass through Spain. Napoleon, having a negative opinion of the ruling family and government, decided to invade Spain. He placed General Murat at the head of his armies in Spain, which began to alarm and discontent the Spanish people.
Supporters of Ferdinand took advantage of the situation, and on March 1, 1808, the Mutiny of Aranjuez occurred. Supporters of Ferdinand assaulted the palace.
Godoy was deposed and arrested. Charles IV was obliged to abdicate his crown, ceding it to his son.
The Abdications of Bayonne and the Uprising of May 2nd
Ferdinand VII found himself in Murat’s hands. Events rushed forward: Napoleon invited Ferdinand north to meet with him.
Discussions were held in Bayonne, where Napoleon shamefully demanded the resignation of Charles, María Luisa, and Godoy.
On May 7, Ferdinand abdicated in favor of his parents, and they, in turn, ceded the throne to Napoleon. Charles IV only bothered to guarantee the possessions of the crown and the exclusivity of the Catholic religion. In return, he and his son received enormous incomes. Napoleon then gave the kingdom to Joseph Bonaparte.
There was an uprising on May 2nd in Madrid. The privileged classes and institutions of the Old Regime complied with authority, but the popular reaction rejected Ferdinand’s waiver, interpreting it as imposed by force.
The rebellion extended to all the cities of the country.
The War of Independence (1808-1814)
In principle, the balance of forces was uneven, as the French army was large and invincible, while the Spanish army was inferior. However, English and Portuguese intervention strengthened it.
In June, the siege of Zaragoza began, where General Palafox organized the resistance. The French troops were defeated at the Battle of Bailén. Napoleon decided to intervene personally at the head of the Grande Armée. After winning in Somosierra, Madrid surrendered on December 4.
In 1809, the French moved south but were unable to vanquish the Spanish army, which remained in units (Central Supreme Board). A war of attrition began.
Guerrillas appeared in 1808 with the objective of keeping the French armies under constant threat.
Since 1811, the war changed direction. In 1812, Napoleon decided to attack Russia, withdrawing troops from Spain. Later, he again raised troops and won several battles, but the French defeat was inevitable. On December 11, 1813, Napoleon signed the Treaty of Valençay, restoring Ferdinand VII to the throne of Spain.
Consequences and the Rise of Liberalism
The war coincided with the independence process of Spanish America.
After receiving the crown, Bonaparte imposed a royal charter and measures to modernize the state. Those who collaborated with him, known as *afrancesados*, faced exile after his failure.
Local juntas emerged, then provincial ones, and finally, the Central Junta was formed in Aranjuez. This Junta modernized the institutions of the Old Regime. These changes were promulgated by liberals who demanded a free parliamentary political regime, as opposed to monarchical absolutism.