El Rincón del Pequeprofe: The Spanish War of Independence

How did the French take control of Spain?

Fusilamientos del 3 de mayo. Don Francisco de Goya y Lucientes

In 1788, Carlos IV became King of Spain, but his valido, Manuel Godoy, governed the country. At the end of the 18th century there was a revolution in France and a republic was formed. In 1808, Godoy allowed French troops to enter Spain on their way to conquer Portugal. However, the French leader, Napoleon, deposed King Carlos IV and made his brother, José Bonaparte, King of Spain.

The presence of French troops in Madrid caused a popular uprising on the 2nd of May, 1808. This was the start of the Spanish War of Independence.

How was Napoleon defeated?

La defensa del parque Monteleón por Joaquín Sorolla

All over Spain, people formed guerrilla groups and fought the French. Great Britain and Portugal also sent armies to help the Spanish. José Bonaparte finally left Spain in 1813.

During the War of Independence, the governing assembly of Spain was in Cádiz, where the first Spanish constitution, the Constitution of 1812, was written. It stated that all free men were equal and proposed a government chosen by vote, and a monarchy controlled by parliament.

Cortes de Cádiz

Constitución de 1812. Llamada La Pepa debido a que fue aprobada el 19 de marzo (Día de San José)

What happened during Fernando VII’s reign?

After the Spanish War of Independence, the monarchy was restored. From 1814 to 1833, Fernando VII was King of Spain. He was an absolute monarch and did not accept the Constitution of 1812.

Mariana Pineda fue ejecutada durante el Reinado de Fernando VII por sus ideas liberales y bordar esa bandera.
Extraído de Heroínas secretas de la Historia de España por El Fisgón Histórico.

Spain followed the Constitution of 1812 for three years: a period known as the Trienio Liberal. A military revolt in 1820, led by Colonel Riego, ended this period and forced Fernando VII to become a constitutional king.

During Fernando VII’s reign, many American colonies became independent countries because of the weak monarchy.

Simón Bolívar (derecha) y José San Martín (izquierda) lucharon por la independencia de las colonias

Fernando VII wanted his only child, Isabel, to become queen, so he revoked the Salic Law that stopped women from ruling. His brother Carlos and his supporters, the Carlists, did not accept this change.

Muerte de Fernando VII. F. de Madrazo 1833.

María Cristina con sus hijas Isabel II (con la corona) y Mª Luisa Fernanda (El parque de María Luisa de Sevilla lleva su nombre)

Carlos María Isidro

What happened during Isabel II’s reign?

The start of Isabel’s reign was very unstable with two Carlist wars from 1833 to 1839 and from 1846 to 1849.

La Guerra Carlista

Caricatura satírica del Carlismo. 1870

There were two groups of liberals that supported Isabel. The moderates wanted more power for the monarch and the progressives wanted more power for elected deputies in parliament.

Isabel II, Espartero y Narváez

Influencia de Sor Patrocinio en La Corte

Intento de asesinato a Isabel II

Isabel II and Francisco de Asís

Isabel and her government were very unpopular. In 1868, there was a military revolution, known as La Gloriosa, and Isabel II abdicated.

PARA SABER MÁS SOBRE LA GUERRA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA

Cómo sobrevivir durante la Guerra de la Independencia

PERSONAJES DESTACADOS

Agustina de Aragón

Defensora de Zaragoza durante los Sitios, en la Guerra de la Independencia. A golpe de cañón detuvo el avance los ejércitos napoleónicos.

Francisco de Goya

Pintor y grabador español que reflejó en sus pinturas los principales acontecimientos y escenas de su época.

Duque de Wellington

Militar y político británico con una participación destacada en las guerras napoleónicas y en la guerra de Independencia española y comandante jefe del ejército Británico

Luis Daóiz

Militar sevillano que participó en el levantamiento del pueblo de Madrid contra los franceses en 1808. A la derecha estatua en Sevilla.

El Empecinado

Leyenda de la Guerra de la Independencia en la que participó como jefe de una de las guerrillas que derrotaron repetidas veces al ejército napoleónico. Con un instinto natural para la guerra de guerrillas. Fue ejecutado como un perro, por el Rey que defendió: Fernando VII

General Castaños

Sirvió durante 80 años al ejército español y murió pobre. Sobresalió durante La Guerra de La Independencia española y las Guerras revolucionarias francesas.

VER LAS CRÓNICAS DE LA PEPA (COMPLETA)