Ottr Catltolic Heritage in T ezas
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sold out to Napoleon in order to prevent the Prince of Asturias from becoming king. A mob raided Godoy's palace on March 17, and forced Charles IV to dismiss him. The next day, the favorite was imprisoned after a scuffle in which he was slightly wounded; Charles IV had to appeal to his son, Ferdinand, to protect Godoy. The emotional tension of these three days proved too much for the king. On March 19, 1808, he abdicated in favor of Ferdinand. The news was hailed by the populace with the greatest joy. Their jubilation, however, was short- lived, and Napoleon, who had manipulated the whole incident, was disappointed. · He had hoped that the royal family would follow the example of the Portuguese and flee to America. He refused, therefore, to recognize Ferdinand VII until it was proved that Charles IV had abdicated voluntarily. The excitement over, Charles IV recovered his equanimity and, re- gretting his hasty action, made the foolish mistake of appealing to Napoleon for help and of placing himself entirely in his hands. The Emperor, supposedly on the way to Madrid, invited the old king and queen and Ferdinand VII to discuss the situation with him at Bayonne, just beyond the border. Both Charles IV and Ferdinand VII proved to be as putty in the hands of the clever Emperor. Two treaties were soon drawn up--one signed on May 5 and the other, on May IO, 1808-- which bound Charles and Ferdinand to renounce all claims to the Spanish throne in favor of Napoleon, and authorized him to bestow the crown on whomsoever he pleased. 1 The astonishment of Spain, her colonial empire, and all Europe quickly gave way to protests. The Corsican had loosed forces which were soon to crush him and his empire, and set free the Spanish colonies in America. On May I 1, 1808, Joseph, Napoleon's elder brother, then King of Naples, received a brief note: "The Nation, through the Supreme Council of Castile, asks me for a king. I destine this crown for you." 2 Juntas sprang up overnight throughout Spain to denounce the action of Napoleon. Swearing undying fealty to Ferdinand VII, they voiced their determination to rule in Spain and in the colonies until their legitimate king was restored. "Their indignation rumbled hoarsely for 1 The summary here given is based largely on the accounts of Altamira y Creveam, Rafael, Historia de Espa1ia, IV, 98-103 (Barcelona, 1911); Oman, Charles, A History of tl,e Penin.stlla War, I, 1-20; and Rydjord, John, Foreign Interest in the Independence of New Spain, 254-258. 2 The Confidential Correspo11dence of Napoleon B011aparte with His Brother Joseph, Sometime King of Spain. I, 320. (2 vols., New York, 1856.)
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