Spain's Napoleonic Era: Joseph I, Juntas, and the 1812 Constitution

The Government of Joseph I: Challenges and Reforms

From the beginning, the position of Joseph I was weak. The general context prevented his actions from affecting the entire territory, partly because the French acted with great autonomy, and Napoleon's continued meddling undermined his authority.

The Royal Statute of Bayonne

The most prominent political measure was the imposition of the Royal Statute of Bayonne, a charter that was never fully implemented.

The Rise of the Juntas

Some significant reforms under Joseph I included the removal of secretaries and councils. However, in the absence of the king after the Abdications of Bayonne, the Spanish people as a whole rejected his rule in a revolutionary act.

The Central Junta and Resistance

The creation of the Central Junta was a more palpable demonstration of the assumption of sovereignty. After the royal abdications, local and provincial juntas were created. In September 1808, the Central Junta was formed, which led the resistance against the invader and convened an extraordinary meeting of the Cortes of Cádiz. It was dissolved in 1810, transferring its powers to a Regency Council.

The Cortes of Cádiz (1810-1813)

The idea of convening the Cortes had been raised for the first time by the Central Junta, but it was the Regency Council which made the call in late January 1810. The Cortes of Cádiz gathered all the deputies or representatives of Spain in a single assembly, functioning until September 1813. The number of members exceeded 200. The majority were clergymen and lawyers.

Ideological Trends within the Cortes

Members belonged to three main ideological groups:

• Liberals: Supporters of the application of revolutionary reforms.
• Jovellanistas (or Reformers): Advocated for reforms that did not stray from traditional boundaries.
• Absolutists: Sought a return to the Old Regime.

The Constitution of 1812: Political Reforms

The Constitution of 1812 was the first Spanish constitution. Its basic principles were:

• National sovereignty, exercised by all Spaniards.
• Division of powers (legislative, executive, and judicial).
• Individual rights (e.g., property, freedom of the press).
• Indirect universal male suffrage.
• Equality before the law.
• Catholicism as the official state religion.

Economic and Social Measures

In addition to the Constitution, the Cortes approved other economic and social measures that involved a complete break with the Old Regime and its stratified society. The most outstanding were:

• Desamortización (confiscation of church and municipal lands).
• Abolition of the seigneurial regime.
• Freedom of work and contract.
• Suppression of the Inquisition.

However, the implementation of both the Constitution and these measures was largely limited by the ongoing war and subsequent political changes. Nevertheless, the Constitution of 1812 marked a significant turning point for the rights of the Spanish people.