Bourbon Reign and the French Revolution

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Questions and Answers

What major event led to the abdication of Carlos IV?

The Treaty of Fontainebleau

The Mutiny of Aranjuez (correct)

Napoleon's invasion of Spain

The Spanish War of Independence

Which battle is noted as a Spanish victory during the occupation by French forces?

Battle of Trafalgar

Battle of Bailén (correct)

Battle of Girona

Battle of Zaragoza

What was the Treaty of San Ildefonso primarily about?

Establishing democracy in Spain

Ending hostilities with Britain

An alliance against Portugal (correct)

Abdicating the throne

Who became king of Spain after Carlos IV and Fernando were forced into abdication?

Joseph Bonaparte Signup and view all the answers

Which constitution was imposed during Joseph Bonaparte's reign?

The Bayonne Constitution Signup and view all the answers

Which city remained the only significant resistance point during the French occupation?

Cadiz Signup and view all the answers

What key strategy did the Spanish forces employ against the French army?

Guerrilla warfare Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant feature of the Bayonne Constitution?

Instated freedom of speech Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of the Central Council established in 1810?

To coordinate the election of local councils Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the Constitution of 1812?

It guaranteed rights and freedoms such as equality under the law. Signup and view all the answers

What did the term 'afrancesados' refer to during the Spanish War of Independence?

Supporters of Fernando VII who aligned with Napoleon Signup and view all the answers

What significant political change did the Constitution of 1812 introduce regarding the monarchy?

The king’s authority was subject to the parliament. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following rights was guaranteed by the Constitution of 1812?

Right to universal manhood suffrage Signup and view all the answers

What was the main consequence of the Bayonne Constitution regarding Hegoalde?

It guaranteed the fueros of Hegoalde. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event began in Hegoalde during the summer of 1808?

A violent uprising against the French army. Signup and view all the answers

What event prompted Fernando VII to swear loyalty to the Fueros in 1808?

The invasion of Spain by Napoleon Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the Absolutist Sexenio (1814-1820) during Fernando VII's reign?

The suppression of constitutional reforms. Signup and view all the answers

What traditional institution was suppressed by the Constitution of 1812?

The Inquisition Signup and view all the answers

Which battle was NOT one of the significant battles at the end of the War of Independence?

Battle of Hegoalde Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a key characteristic of the Constitution of 1812?

It maintained a limited monarchy alongside liberal governance. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Constitution of 1812 primarily aim to establish?

A centralized state. Signup and view all the answers

What led to the First Carlist War in 1833?

The death of Fernando VII. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the 'afrancesados' in Hegoalde during the war?

To form alliances with the French. Signup and view all the answers

Which period followed the liberal Triennium during Fernando VII's reign?

The Década Ominosa. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bourbon Reign and the French Revolution

The Bourbon monarchs initially followed the model of Enlightened Despotism.
The principles of the French Revolution spread through Spain.
The reign of Charles IV began in 1788, one year before the French Revolution.
The economic situation worsened during his reign.
Godoy, the Prime Minister under Charles IV, aligned Spain with France under Napoleon.
The Treaty of San Ildefonso led to Spain joining the Continental Blockade against Great Britain.
The British defeated Spain's combined forces at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Treaty of Fontainebleau allowed French forces to cross Spain to attack Portugal.
Fernando, the heir to the throne, disagreed with the Treaty of Fontainebleau, leading to the Mutiny of Aranjuez.
Godoy was nearly killed, and Charles IV was forced to abdicate.
Napoleon manipulated events, forcing Charles IV and Fernando to sign the Abdications of Bayonne.
Napoleon imprisoned the Spanish monarchs and made his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, king of Spain.
This ignited the Spanish War of Independence, which lasted from 1808 to 1814.

Spanish War of Independence

The people of Madrid rebelled against the French on May 2, 1808, marking the start of the Spanish War of Independence.
The Spanish initially won some battles, including the Battle of Bailén.
However, the French occupation became close to complete throughout Spain.
Towns like Zaragoza and Gerona fiercely resisted, while Cadiz, allied with Great Britain, remained independent.
British troops led by Duke Wellington were crucial in supporting Spanish forces.
Guerrilla warfare played a significant role in resisting the French, with surprise attacks undermining French control.
The French finally withdrew from Spain in 1813 with the Treaty of Valançay.

Joseph Bonaparte and the "Afrancesados"

Joseph Bonaparte was proclaimed King of Spain in 1808, promising economic improvements, the restoration of the Cortes, and tolerance of Catholicism.
He implemented the Bayonne Constitution, which abolished medieval estates and included Enlightenment reforms like freedom of printing and equality under the law.
The Constitution had little impact on the lives of most Spaniards.
Joseph Bonaparte had supporters known as the "afrancesados," civil servants and politicians who pledged loyalty to him.
The majority of Spaniards opposed Joseph's authority and his reign ultimately failed.

The Cortes of Cadiz and the Constitution of 1812

The Central Council, representing Fernando VII, coordinated local councils during the war.
This was the first time Spaniards elected their representatives, who had two objectives: addressing wartime needs and proposing reforms for the country.
The Central Council, headquartered in Cadiz, established the first parliament in Spain in 1812.
The deputies, influenced by liberal ideas, approved the Constitution of 1812, the first Spanish constitution.
The Constitution established parliamentary supremacy over the king, ending the absolute monarchy.
It maintained two traditional elements: the monarchy and Catholicism.
Key provisions of the Constitution included:
- Sovereignty residing in the nation, which established fundamental laws.
- Separation of powers with the King holding executive power and the courts judicial power.
- Universal manhood suffrage.
- Abolition of feudal jurisdiction.
- Suppression of the Inquisition.
- Guaranteed rights and freedoms like equality under the law, privacy, and freedom of expression.

The Spanish War of Independence in the Basque Country

In 1808, Fernando VII acknowledged the importance of Basque traditions and swore to uphold their fueros (regional privileges).
Napoleon's invasion of Spain led to the convocation of an assembly in Bayonne, involving Spanish and Basque representatives.
Surprisingly, Napoleon agreed to guarantee the fueros of the Basque provinces (Hegoalde) in the Bayonne Constitution despite installing Joseph Bonaparte as king.
This failed to calm the Basque population, and uprisings against the French in 1808 were brutally suppressed.
An insurgent war began in Hegoalde, with the French establishing "afrancesados" as strategic centers, further antagonizing the population.
Basque peasants formed guerrilla bands and, by 1811, controlled the countryside and later, urban centers of Hegoalde.
French forces ultimately lost ground in Hegoalde, culminating in battles like Vitoria and San Marcial (Irún).
The French withdrawal in 1813 saw the Bourbon monarchy restored in Spain.

The Reign of Fernando VII

Fernando VII's reign (1813-1833) was marked by the return to absolutism and the suppression of liberal reforms, including the Constitution of 1812.
His reign can be divided into three periods:
- The Absolutist Sexenio (1814-1820): characterized by the suppression of the Constitution of 1812, supported by the army and a minority in the Cortes.
- The liberal Triennium (1820-1823): marked by the restoration of the Constitution of 1812, supported by Colonel Riego and Quiroga.
- The Década Ominosa (1823-1833): saw the return to absolutism led by the "Cien Mil Hijos de San Luis."
Fernando VII's death in 1833 set the stage for the First Carlist War, a civil war between supporters of his brother Carlos and his daughter Isabel for the Spanish throne.

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Description

Explore the historical intricacies of the Bourbon monarchs during the French Revolution. This quiz delves into the reign of Charles IV, the alliances formed with Napoleon, and the resulting major events that shaped Spain's political landscape. Test your knowledge on how these events unfolded and affected the broader context of revolution and monarchy.