Ferdinand VII: The Desired King Turned Despot

Ferdinand VII: The Desired King Turned Despot

Ferdinand VII (Spanish: Fernando VII; 14 October 1784 – 29 September 1833) was a monarch whose reign epitomized the turbulence of early 19th-century Spain.

Known both as el Deseado (the Desired) for the hope he inspired upon ascending the throne and el Rey Felón (the Criminal King) for his reactionary policies and betrayal of liberal ideals, Ferdinand’s reign was marked by upheaval, civil strife, and the loss of Spain’s vast colonial empire.

Born into the royal family at El Escorial near Madrid, Ferdinand’s life and legacy were shaped by the dramatic political and social transformations of his era, including the Napoleonic Wars, the Spanish American Wars of Independence, and the clash between absolutism and liberalism.

Early Life and Ascension

Ferdinand was born on 14 October 1784 as the eldest son of King Charles IV of Spain and Queen Maria Luisa of Parma.

From a young age, he was groomed as the heir apparent to the Spanish throne.

However, his upbringing was overshadowed by court intrigues, particularly the influence of Manuel de Godoy, his father’s powerful and controversial favorite.

By the early 1800s, Ferdinand had become a focal point for opposition to Godoy’s policies.

His supporters, known as the Fernandinos, painted him as a symbol of hope and reform, contrasting him with the perceived corruption of his father’s reign.

Tumult of Aranjuez and First Abdication (1808)

In March 1808, the Tumult of Aranjuez erupted as an uprising against Godoy and Charles IV, orchestrated in part by Ferdinand’s supporters.

The revolt forced Charles IV to abdicate in favor of Ferdinand, who ascended the throne as Ferdinand VII.

However, his reign was short-lived. Napoleon Bonaparte, seeking to expand French influence in Spain, summoned Ferdinand to Bayonne, where he was coerced into renouncing the throne.

Napoleon installed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as King of Spain, sparking the Peninsular War (1808–1814). Ferdinand was imprisoned in France at the Château de Valençay during this period.

Return to the Throne and the Restoration of Absolutism (1813–1820)

After Napoleon’s defeat in 1813, Ferdinand was released and returned to Spain, where he was welcomed as el Deseado.

Initially, there was hope that Ferdinand would embrace the liberal ideals embodied in the Constitution of 1812, drafted by the Spanish Cortes during his absence.

However, upon his return, Ferdinand rejected the constitution, instead re-establishing an absolutist monarchy.

This decision alienated many who had supported his return and deepened divisions within Spanish society.

Reactionary Policies and Repression

Ferdinand’s government embarked on a campaign of repression against liberals, imprisoning reformers and suppressing the free press.

His reign became synonymous with censorship, persecution, and the dismantling of progressive reforms.

These policies fueled unrest and created a deep rift between conservative royalists and liberal factions.

The Liberal Triennium (1820–1823)

In 1820, a military revolt led by Rafael del Riego forced Ferdinand to restore the Constitution of 1812, marking the beginning of the Liberal Triennium.

During this three-year period, liberal policies were reintroduced, including constitutional government and expanded civil liberties.

Ferdinand, however, secretly sought foreign assistance to restore his absolute authority.

In 1823, the Congress of Verona authorized French intervention under the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis, a royalist army that invaded Spain and crushed the liberal government.

Ferdinand was restored to absolute power, and the repression of liberal forces intensified.

Loss of the Spanish Empire

One of the most significant and enduring consequences of Ferdinand’s reign was the disintegration of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas.

Spanish American Wars of Independence

During Ferdinand’s captivity and subsequent rule, Spain’s American colonies began to seek independence.

Revolutionary movements emerged across Latin America, inspired by Enlightenment ideals and influenced by the revolutions in the United States and France.

By the time Ferdinand regained the throne, much of Spain’s colonial empire was in open rebellion.

His inability to effectively address these uprisings and domestic instability led to the loss of nearly all of Spain’s American possessions by the early 1820s.

Only Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines remained under Spanish control.

Later Years and Death

Ferdinand’s later years were characterized by political intrigue and uncertainty over the succession.

His marriages failed to produce a male heir until his fourth wife, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, gave birth to two daughters, including Isabella II.

Ferdinand issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830, which overturned the Salic Law and allowed his daughter Isabella to inherit the throne.

This decision was contested by his brother, Carlos María Isidro, sparking the First Carlist War (1833–1840) after Ferdinand’s death on 29 September 1833.

Legacy

Ferdinand VII’s legacy remains one of the most divisive in Spanish history.

Criticisms

1. Despotic Rule: His rejection of constitutional government and liberal reforms cemented his reputation as an authoritarian ruler.

2. Economic and Imperial Decline: His inability to modernize Spain or maintain its empire marked a turning point in the country’s global influence.

3. Civil Discord: His reign deepened divisions between conservatives and liberals, setting the stage for decades of political instability.

Supporters’ Perspective

To his supporters, Ferdinand was a defender of traditional Spanish values and Catholicism, who sought to preserve the monarchy during a time of revolutionary upheaval.

Conclusion

Ferdinand VII’s reign encapsulates the challenges faced by monarchies in adapting to the revolutionary changes of the 19th century.

While his initial popularity as el Deseado reflected the hope of a nation seeking stability, his reactionary policies and perceived incompetence earned him the enduring label of el Rey Felón.

His legacy serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of resisting reform in the face of societal and global transformation.

Ferdinand VII