Peninsular War

The Peninsular War (1808–1814) (known as War of Independence in Spain and as French Invasions in Portugal) was a major conflict during the Napoleonic Wars, fought in the Iberian Peninsula with Spanish, Portuguese, and the British forces fighting against Napoleonic French.

Consequences in Spain

The new King Joseph was cheered initially by Spanish afrancesados ("Frenchified"), who believed that collaboration with France would bring modernization and liberty. An example was the abolition of the Spanish Inquisition.

Related Topics:
Afrancesado - Collaboration - Spanish Inquisition

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However, priesthood and patriots began an agitation among the populace, which became widespread after the French army's first examples of repression (Madrid, 1808) were presented, as fact, to unite and enrage the people against the invaders.

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The remaining ones were exiled to France following the departure of French troops. The painter Francisco de Goya was one of these afrancesados, and after the war he had to exile himself to France to avoid being prosecuted and perhaps lynched.

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On the pro-independence side, both traditionalists and liberals were found. After the war, they would clash in the Carlist Wars, as the new king Ferdinand VII "the Desired one" (later "the Traitor king"), revoked all the social advances made by the independent Cortes, which were summoned in Cádiz acting on his behalf to coordinate the provincial Juntas and resist the French. He restored absolute monarchy, prosecuted and put to death every one suspected of liberalism, and, as his last misdeed, altered the laws of royal succession in favour of his daughter Isabella II, thus starting a century of civil wars against the supporters of the former legal heir to the throne.

Related Topics:
Liberals - Carlist War - Ferdinand VII - Cortes - Cádiz - Junta - Isabella II

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The liberal Cortes had approved the first Spanish Constitution on March 19th 1812, which was later nullified by the king.

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In Spanish America, the Spanish and Creole officials formed Juntas which swore allegiance to king Ferdinand. This experience of self-government led the later Liberators to promote the independence of the Spanish-American colonies.

Related Topics:
Spanish America - Creole - Liberators

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The French troops seized many of the extensive properties of the Catholic Church. Churches and convents were used as stables and barracks, and artworks were sent to France. Spanish cultural heritage took a serious hit, but this was not as bad though, for Spain, as the actions of the other side. The affect of this was to severely impoverish Spain's economy, which would flounder during the rest of the century.

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