Ferdinand VII
King whose reign deepened Spain's liberal-absolutist divide.
Ferdinand VII ruled Spain and its empire in the early 1800s, though for much of his reign he was either Napoleon’s prisoner, in exile, or without real power. He was king during two liberal periods—1808–1813 and 1820–1823—when he had little control. Early on, people called him “the Desired,” but later he became known as “the Criminal King.” His time on the throne deepened the split between absolutists and liberals, and his actions helped trigger the loss of Spain’s American colonies and a major civil war after his death.
Born at El Escorial near Madrid, Ferdinand was the oldest surviving son of King Charles IV and Queen Maria Luisa of Parma. As a young heir, he was kept out of government by his parents and their powerful minister, Manuel Godoy. Public anger at the government led to a revolt in 1805. In October 1807, Ferdinand was arrested for his role in the El Escorial Conspiracy, which sought French support from Napoleon. When the plot was uncovered, he apologized to his parents.
After a popular uprising at Aranjuez in March 1808, Charles IV stepped down, and Ferdinand became king. He asked Napoleon for backing, but Napoleon forced him to abdicate on 6 May 1808 and kept him under guard in France for six years, mostly at the Château de Valençay. The choice of that château was reportedly a joke by Napoleon on its owner, former foreign minister Talleyrand, who had shown little interest in Spanish matters. While Spain’s top officials accepted Ferdinand’s abdication and Napoleon’s brother Joseph as king, ordinary Spaniards did not. Uprisings spread, starting the Peninsular War. Local juntas formed to resist French rule. After the Spanish victory at Bailén, the Council of Castile declared the Bayonne abdications invalid on 11 August 1808, and Ferdinand was again proclaimed king on 24 August. The British government recognized him as Spain’s king on 14 January 1809.
In December 1813, after French setbacks, Napoleon agreed to let Ferdinand return, signing the Treaty of Valençay. Spaniards initially welcomed him, blaming the Francophiles for the war and occupation. But Ferdinand found that the country had changed: the 1812 liberal constitution was in place, and he was expected to rule under it. He gave only vague promises to do so. After crossing into Spain on 24 March 1814, he was encouraged by conservatives and church leaders to reject the constitution. On 4 May
- born
- 14 October 1784, Madrid at El Escorial
- died
- 29 September 1833
- field
- Monarchy
- nationality
- Spanish
- known_for
- Restoring absolutist monarchy; rejecting the liberal constitution of 1812; presiding over the loss of Spanish America
Lore & Background
Ferdinand was the eldest surviving son of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma, born in the palace of El Escorial near Madrid. In his youth, he was heir apparent but excluded from government by his parents and their favorite advisor, Manuel Godoy. National discontent led to a rebellion in 1805, and in October 1807 Ferdinand was arrested for complicity in the El Escorial Conspiracy, which sought foreign support from Napoleon. After the conspiracy was discovered, he submitted to his parents. Following a popular riot at Aranjuez, Charles IV abdicated in March 1808, and Ferdinand ascended the throne, turning to Napoleon for support. He abdicated on 6 May 1808, and Napoleon kept him under guard in France for six years at the Château de Valençay. While the upper echelons of the Spanish government accepted his abdication, the Spanish people did not, leading to uprisings and the Peninsular War. After the Battle of Bailén, the Council of Castile declared the abdications null and void on 11 August 1808, and Ferdinand was proclaimed king again.
Reader's Guide
Ferdinand VII's political legacy has remained contested since his death; some historians regard him as incompetent, despotic, and short-sighted. His reign saw the liberal revolution throughout the Spanish Empire, the independence of Spanish America, and a large-scale civil war upon his death. He linked his monarchy to counter-revolution and reactionary policies, creating a deep rift between his forces on the right and liberals on the left. After being restored in December 1813, he re-established absolutist monarchy and rejected the liberal constitution of 1812. A revolt in 1820 forced him to restore the constitution, starting the Liberal Triennium, but a French intervention in 1823 restored him to absolute power. He suppressed the liberal press from 1814 to 1833, jailing many editors and writers. His refusal to recognize Mexican independence or be bound by a constitution led to the collapse of the proposed personal union with Mexico. His government was unstable, guided by a small camarilla, and he changed ministers every few months.
Did You Know?
- Ferdinand was known as el Deseado (the Desired) before 1813 and as el Rey Felón (the Criminal King) afterward.
- He was held prisoner by Napoleon at the Château de Valençay for six years.
- He made the Duke of Wellington the first Protestant member of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece.
- He declined the Mexican imperial crown offered under the Treaty of Córdoba in 1821.
More in European Monarchs & Consorts 1-24
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