Charles IV of Spain

Charles IV (November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication on March 19, 1808.

Reign

After he succeeded to the throne in 1788 his one serious occupation was hunting. Affairs were left to be directed by his wife and her lover Manuel de Godoy. Although Godoy essentially took over his wife and his office, the king was favourable towards him for all his life. When terrified by the French Revolution he turned to the Inquisition to help him against the party which would have carried the reforming policy of Charles III much further. But he never took more than a passive part in the direction of his own government. He simply obeyed the impulse given him by the queen and Godoy.

Related Topics:
1788 - Manuel de Godoy - French Revolution - Inquisition

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In 1803, after smallpox had affected his daughter María Luisa, the king commissioned his doctor Francisco de Balmis to bring the vaccine to the Spanish colonies on state expenses.

Related Topics:
Daughter - Francisco de Balmis - Bring the vaccine to the Spanish colonies

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He had a profound belief in his divine right and the sanctity of his person. He thought it very important to seem a very powerful monarch, although his kingdom was treated as a mere dependency by France and his throne was dominated by the queen and her lover. Spain allied with France and supported the Continental Blockade, but withdrew after the Battle of Trafalgar. When Napoleon won from Prussia in 1807, Godoy returned to the French side, but France did no longer consider Spain a worthy ally. But even the alliance with France as it was made Godoy's rule unpopular and fueled the partido fernandista, the supporters of Ferdinand, who favored a close relationship with Great Britain.

Related Topics:
France - Continental Blockade - Battle of Trafalgar - Prussia - 1807 - Partido fernandista - Great Britain

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