El Escorial Conspiracy

The El Escorial Conspiracy (Spanish: Conspiración-proceso de El Escorial) was an attempted coup d'état led by the Crown Prince Ferdinand that took place in 1807, but was quickly discovered and led to an investigation known as the Process of El Escorial.^[1]

Historical context

In the early nineteenth century, Spain was trapped politically by the First French Empire and the ambitious expansion plans of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1801 Charles IV of Spain named Manuel Godoy as first secretary, in place of Pedro Cevallos, who distrusted and opposed the French. In 1805, Spain signed a mutual assistance treaty with the newly crowned French Emperor.

The treaty led to Spain's involvement in the War of the Third Coalition, with Spanish and French forces against the Portuguese and English, culminating in the English naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. This defeat made many enemies at court for Godoy, among them the son of Charles IV, Crown Prince Ferdinand (later King Ferdinand VII).

The Conspiracy

Having been kept out of government, Ferdinand joined with other plotters to reach out to Napoleon for assistance in his struggles against his father and Godoy. In October 1807, Ferdinand was arrested. He revealed his allies in the conspiracy and was pardoned. Ferdinand's allies were all tried in court and acquitted.^[2][3]

Aftermath

The pardon and acquittals of 1807 were granted because there was significant public support for the conspirators against Godoy, as demonstrated in the Tumult of Aranjuez a few months later, in which Godoy's palace was attacked, the king deposed and Ferdinand granted the throne by the Royal Council the next day.

See also

• Battle of Trafalgar
• Battle of Bailén
• Tumult of Aranjuez
• List of coups and coup attempts in Spain

References

1. Sancho, José Luis (2002). The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Patrimonio Nacional. ISBN 978-84-7120-318-2.
2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ferdinand VII. of Spain" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 267–268.
3. Oman, Charles (1902). A History of the Peninsular War. Vol. 1. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 19-24.