The Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814)
The Crisis of 1808: War of Independence and Political Revolution
During the reign of Charles IV (1788-1808), Spanish foreign policy with regard to France ranged from outright rejection to alliance. During the French Revolution, the hostility served to isolate and protect Spain from revolutionary influence. Spain even guillotined the French king to declare war on France, resulting in the occupation of part of Catalonia and the Basque Country. Peace came in 1795 (Santo Domingo ceded to France). Then came an alliance that was reflected in the signing of the Treaty of San Ildefonso (1796), a Hispanic-French pact against Britain that led to the defeat of the Spanish fleet at Cape St. Vincent (1797) and later at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). In 1807, Godoy, the Prime Minister of Spain, and Napoleon signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau, allowing the passage of French troops through Spanish territory with the intention of invading Portugal and sharing it between both nations.
The Spanish economy was in crisis with inflation and a deficit because of war and the low influx of gold from America. Royal vouchers were issued for settlement, and a process for secularization was initiated.
Domestic politics focused on the unpopularity of Godoy’s actions and attempts by the Prince of Asturias (future Ferdinand VII) to be named king during his father’s life. This was helped by the nobility, who felt cornered, and the clergy, unhappy with Godoy’s disentailment measures. His claims were discovered, and the El Escorial Conspiracy occurred. Subsequently, the Mutiny of Aranjuez was encouraged, which caused the fall of Godoy and the abdication of the king in favor of his son. But soon, they were forced by Napoleon to go to Bayonne, where they renounced the throne in favor of Napoleon, who delivered it to his brother, Joseph Bonaparte.
War of Independence
Napoleon had planned to occupy the peninsula in order to enforce the economic blockade of Britain. The French invasion of 1808 was the result of the Treaty of Fontainebleau. The neighboring Spanish troops not only occupied Portugal but were also installed in Spanish territory. Some, called “Francophiles” (intellectuals, officials, artists), welcomed the reforms that came from France and believed that resistance to the conqueror of Europe was useless.
Phases of the War
- From May 1st to the end of 1808: An army of 150,000 men under Murat was unable to conquer Gerona, Zaragoza, and Valencia and was overpowered in Bailén by General Castaños, forcing them to leave Madrid. Given the initial confusion caused by the uprising and the lack of power, some local and provincial boards were created, composed of representatives of the people (army officers, officials, judges, professors, high clergy, burghers, etc.) to assume power during the war against the French. In 1808 in Aranjuez, the Central Board was formed, comprising 36 representatives of the Boards, chaired by Floridablanca, and was in charge of governing the country and leading the resistance.
- 1808-1811: The French, after the defeat, called for reinforcements, and 250,000 troops now came under the command of Napoleon, who retrieved Madrid and returned to France. Later, the French army conquered most of Spain (except Cadiz and Huelva). The Guerrillas, formed by the people before the Spanish military inferiority, attacked by surprise through their knowledge of the field and the cooperation of the civilian population and caused great losses to the invaders (Espoz y Mina, El Empecinado, Father Merino).
- 1812-1813: It became a conventional war, but the French army was increasingly depleted as it was also struggling in Russia. Aid came with a British army under Wellington, and after the battles of Arapiles and Vitoria, the French were permanently removed from Spanish territory, ending the war.
Consequences of the War
- Human and economic losses.
- Decline of the American Empire.
- Loss of importance in Europe.
- It caused the transition from absolutism to the liberal state.
- Facilitated the end of the Napoleonic empire.
Joseph I (1808-1814)
Joseph I (1808-1814) was surrounded by pro-French supporters, and in 1808, he enacted the Statute of Bayonne, which was a “granted charter” listing rights and freedoms such as print, movement, industry, trade, and fiscal equality. The Catholic religion was the only one allowed, privileges of the estates were maintained, and the king maintained almost all powers, including legislative ones.