Charles IV Reign, Spanish War of Independence & Bourbon Restoration

Charles IV: A Precursor to Conflict

Charles IV ascended to the throne a year before the French Revolution. The revolution's onset instilled fear, halting all reforms in Spain. Charles IV declared war on France. However, with the rise of Napoleon, the political landscape shifted. Godoy, a key figure during Charles IV's reign, gained influence and signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau with Napoleon, promising mutual aid. Under the pretense of invading Portugal, Napoleon requested passage through Spain. Godoy authorized this, anticipating a share of Portugal. Napoleon then lured the king to Bayonne and forced him to abdicate in favor of his brother, Joseph Bonaparte. The Church and the Spanish people vehemently opposed the French, culminating in the uprising of May 2, 1808, in Madrid, which marked the beginning of the War of Independence.

The Spanish War of Independence: A Nation Divided

The War of Independence lasted over four years, forcing France to commit more than 250,000 soldiers. The province of Cadiz remained the only area outside French control. In other cities, governing boards were established to organize resistance due to the power vacuum. Representatives from each provincial board formed the Cortes of Cadiz, initiating a liberal revolution.

The Cortes of Cadiz and the Seeds of Liberalism

In Cadiz, the Junta Central was established to coordinate resistance and convene the Cortes of Cadiz. This assembly included members from all over Spain and spearheaded revolutionary actions. In 1810, they approved freedom of the press. In the following years, they abolished lordships, guilds, and the Inquisition.

The Supreme Board convened the Cortes of Cadiz, which drafted a constitution embodying the ideals of the progressive bourgeoisie, similar to the Jacobin ideals in France. They approved universal male suffrage. In 1814, the war concluded with the defeat of the French.

The Bourbon Restoration: A Return to Absolutism

The Bourbon Restoration was accepted by both liberals and conservatives. Upon his return, Ferdinand VII appointed conservatives to positions of power. He suspended the Constitution of Cadiz and persecuted liberals. In 1820, General Riego staged a coup (a peaceful demonstration of force, a military initiative to change political direction). He forced Ferdinand VII to end the persecution of liberals and re-establish the Cortes of Cadiz. The king accepted, initiating the Trienio Liberal. However, Ferdinand VII sought help from absolutist foreign kings, who sent the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis. They suppressed the liberals, and Ferdinand VII reverted to the absolutist model. The next ten years until his death, known as the Ominous Decade, were marked by harsh persecution of liberals.

Colonial Losses and the Succession Crisis

During the 1820s, Spain experienced significant colonial losses. The army was weakened by the Napoleonic Wars. The Criollos (descendants of the Spanish upper class in America) resented that the most important political positions were held by people from the Iberian Peninsula. They were also prevented from trading among themselves and with other countries. Liberal ideas, along with support from France and England, fueled independence movements, leading to the loss of most colonies, except for Cuba and the Philippines.

In the final years of his mandate, Ferdinand VII faced a succession crisis. Having no sons, the Salic Law prevented women from reigning. He repealed this law to allow his daughter to inherit the throne, a decision his brother did not accept.

Carlism: A Reaction to Modernization

Carlism was a movement that united those discontented with the timid changes being introduced to modernize the country. A segment of the Church opposed liberalism, fearing the loss of political and religious power. The landed gentry, unwilling to invest in businesses or modernize their lands, held contempt for the bourgeoisie and defended the existence of privileges. Some groups of farmers opposed the sale of communal lands, such as forests or mountains, by city halls. Carlism represented a return to tradition, modeled after Imperial Spain.