Ferdinand VII of Spain
Ferdinand VII was twice restored to the Spanish throne and used both restorations to undo everything done in his absence. Born in 1784, he conspired against his own father Charles IV and the favourite Godoy from adolescence, was arrested for it in 1807, and was placed on the throne by a popular rising at Aranjuez in March 1808. Napoleon summoned both father and son to Bayonne weeks later, forced them to renounce the crown, and installed his brother Joseph. Ferdinand spent the next six years in comfortable captivity at Talleyrand's château, writing congratulatory letters to Napoleon on French victories over the Spanish armies fighting in his name. Spain meanwhile fought a savage war of independence and produced, at Cádiz in 1812, the most liberal constitution in Europe — popular sovereignty, a single chamber, a limited monarchy, an end to the Inquisition and to seigneurial dues. He returned in 1814 to enormous acclaim, and within weeks abolished the constitution, dissolved the Cortes, restored the Inquisition and imprisoned or exiled the liberals who had defended his throne. A military revolt in 1820 forced him to swear to the constitution again. He spent three years pretending to accept it while asking the Holy Alliance for help, and a French army — the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis — restored his absolute power in 1823. The reprisals were severe. The American colonies were lost during the same period, almost all of them by 1825. He set aside the Salic law for his infant daughter Isabella, and died in 1833, leaving the Carlist wars behind him.
- Lived: 1784 CE – 1833 CE
- Nationality: Spanish
- Roles: king
