Who was Ferdinand VII?

Ferdinand VII was the king of Spain during two periods: 1808 and from 1814 to 1833. He was imprisoned in France by Napoleon between 1808 and 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Upon his return to Spain in 1814, Ferdinand abolished the liberal Constitution of 1812 and reasserted his absolute power. His reign was marked by attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely succeeded in becoming independent. Ferdinand's inability to produce a male heir led to a succession crisis, ultimately resulting in his daughter Isabella II ascending to the throne, which precipitated the First Carlist War.

When did Ferdinand VII rule Spain?

Ferdinand VII ruled Spain in 1808 and again from 1814 until his death in 1833. During the Napoleonic Wars, from 1808 to 1813, he was imprisoned in France by Napoleon. Upon his return to Spain in 1814, he abolished the Constitution of 1812 and ruled as an absolute monarch. He faced a liberal revolution in 1820, which restored the constitution, but French intervention in 1823 allowed him to reassert his absolute power for the final decade of his reign.

Why was Ferdinand VII's reign important in Spanish history?

Ferdinand VII's reign was a tumultuous period in Spanish history, marked by a struggle between absolutism and liberalism. Upon his return from French captivity in 1814, he initially ruled as an absolute monarch, attempting to reassert Spanish control over its American colonies, though this effort ultimately failed. His reign saw a brief return to constitutionalism during the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823) before he re-established absolute rule. This period was characterized by political instability and the persecution of liberals. A significant development during his reign was the revocation of the Salic Law of Succession to ensure his daughter, Isabella II, would inherit the throne, which ultimately led to the Carlist Wars after his death.

What challenges did Ferdinand VII face during his time as king?

Ferdinand VII faced significant challenges during his reign as king of Spain. He was imprisoned in France by Napoleon from 1808 to 1813, during which time Spanish patriots fought for his return. Upon his restoration in 1814, he abolished the liberal Constitution of Cádiz and attempted to regain control of Spanish America, which was largely unsuccessful. A liberal revolution in 1820 forced him to accept the constitution again, but French intervention in 1823 restored his absolute rule. His reign was marked by internal political turmoil between liberals and conservatives, and the succession of his daughter Isabella II led to the Carlist Wars.

How did the Peninsular War affect Ferdinand VII's rule?

The Peninsular War significantly impacted Ferdinand VII's rule by creating a power vacuum during his imprisonment in France. While he was away, Spanish patriots fought against French occupation in his name, leading to the adoption of the Constitution of Cádiz in 1812. Upon his return in 1814, Ferdinand VII abolished this constitution and restored absolute monarchy, alienating liberals. His reign was marked by attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely succeeded in becoming independent by 1826, and by internal political struggles between liberals and conservatives, ultimately leading to the Carlist Wars after his death.

What were the main results of Ferdinand VII's time as king for Spain's government and society?

Ferdinand VII's reign in Spain was marked by a struggle between absolutism and liberalism. Upon his return from imprisonment by Napoleon in 1814, he abolished the liberal Constitution of Cádiz and reasserted absolute monarchical power. This led to attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely failed as colonies declared independence. In 1820, a liberal revolution forced Ferdinand to accept constitutional rule, but this was short-lived. French intervention in 1823 restored his absolute power, ushering in the "ominous decade" characterized by a purge of liberals. Despite attempts at economic revival, his reign ended with a succession crisis that ignited the First Carlist War.

Ferdinand VII

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Painting by Francisco de Goya of King Ferdinand VII wearing a red and white fur-trimmed royal mantle, holding a scepter, with a neutral dark background.

Oil painting by Francisco de Goya showing King Ferdinand VII of Spain standing in ornate state robes with gold embroidery, holding a scepter, against a plain background.

Quick Facts

Byname:: Ferdinand the Desired

Spanish:: Fernando el Deseado

Born:: October 14, 1784, El Escorial, Spain

Died:: September 29, 1833, Madrid (aged 48)

Title / Office:: king (1808-1833), Spain

Ferdinand VII

king of Spain

Also known as: Ferdinand the Desired, Fernando el Deseado

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 10, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who was Ferdinand VII?
Ferdinand VII was the king of Spain during two periods: 1808 and from 1814 to 1833. He was imprisoned in France by Napoleon between 1808 and 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Upon his return to Spain in 1814, Ferdinand abolished the liberal Constitution of 1812 and reasserted his absolute power. His reign was marked by attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely succeeded in becoming independent. Ferdinand's inability to produce a male heir led to a succession crisis, ultimately resulting in his daughter Isabella II ascending to the throne, which precipitated the First Carlist War.
5 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
When did Ferdinand VII rule Spain?
Ferdinand VII ruled Spain in 1808 and again from 1814 until his death in 1833. During the Napoleonic Wars, from 1808 to 1813, he was imprisoned in France by Napoleon. Upon his return to Spain in 1814, he abolished the Constitution of 1812 and ruled as an absolute monarch. He faced a liberal revolution in 1820, which restored the constitution, but French intervention in 1823 allowed him to reassert his absolute power for the final decade of his reign.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why was Ferdinand VII's reign important in Spanish history?
Ferdinand VII's reign was a tumultuous period in Spanish history, marked by a struggle between absolutism and liberalism. Upon his return from French captivity in 1814, he initially ruled as an absolute monarch, attempting to reassert Spanish control over its American colonies, though this effort ultimately failed.

His reign saw a brief return to constitutionalism during the Liberal Triennium (1820-1823) before he re-established absolute rule. This period was characterized by political instability and the persecution of liberals. A significant development during his reign was the revocation of the Salic Law of Succession to ensure his daughter, Isabella II, would inherit the throne, which ultimately led to the Carlist Wars after his death.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Ferdinand VII
2. Spain - The “ominous decade,” 1823–33
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What challenges did Ferdinand VII face during his time as king?
Ferdinand VII faced significant challenges during his reign as king of Spain. He was imprisoned in France by Napoleon from 1808 to 1813, during which time Spanish patriots fought for his return. Upon his restoration in 1814, he abolished the liberal Constitution of Cádiz and attempted to regain control of Spanish America, which was largely unsuccessful. A liberal revolution in 1820 forced him to accept the constitution again, but French intervention in 1823 restored his absolute rule. His reign was marked by internal political turmoil between liberals and conservatives, and the succession of his daughter Isabella II led to the Carlist Wars.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Ferdinand VII
2. Spain - The “ominous decade,” 1823–33
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did the Peninsular War affect Ferdinand VII's rule?
The Peninsular War significantly impacted Ferdinand VII's rule by creating a power vacuum during his imprisonment in France. While he was away, Spanish patriots fought against French occupation in his name, leading to the adoption of the Constitution of Cádiz in 1812. Upon his return in 1814, Ferdinand VII abolished this constitution and restored absolute monarchy, alienating liberals. His reign was marked by attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely succeeded in becoming independent by 1826, and by internal political struggles between liberals and conservatives, ultimately leading to the Carlist Wars after his death.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What were the main results of Ferdinand VII's time as king for Spain's government and society?
Ferdinand VII's reign in Spain was marked by a struggle between absolutism and liberalism. Upon his return from imprisonment by Napoleon in 1814, he abolished the liberal Constitution of Cádiz and reasserted absolute monarchical power. This led to attempts to regain control of Spanish America, which largely failed as colonies declared independence.

In 1820, a liberal revolution forced Ferdinand to accept constitutional rule, but this was short-lived. French intervention in 1823 restored his absolute power, ushering in the "ominous decade" characterized by a purge of liberals. Despite attempts at economic revival, his reign ended with a succession crisis that ignited the First Carlist War.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Ferdinand VII
2. Spain - The “ominous decade,” 1823–33
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ferdinand VII (born October 14, 1784, El Escorial, Spain—died September 29, 1833, Madrid) was the king of Spain in 1808 and from 1814 to 1833. Between 1808 and 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars, Ferdinand was imprisoned in France by Napoleon.

Ferdinand was the son of Charles IV and Maria Luisa of Parma, who placed their whole confidence in Manuel de Godoy. From 1795 Godoy had flaunted the title of prince of the Peace for his capitulation to France in the Peace of Basel. Ferdinand’s tutor stirred up his jealousy and encouraged him to seek the protection of Napoleon. Charles IV was sufficiently alarmed to arrest Ferdinand but forgave him. When Godoy allowed French troops to enter Spain, Charles was overthrown by the Revolt of Aranjuez (March 17, 1808), and he abdicated in favour of Ferdinand. However, French troops occupied Madrid, and Napoleon summoned Ferdinand to the frontier and obliged him to return the crown to his father, who granted it to Napoleon. Napoleon made his brother Joseph Bonaparte king of Spain and held Ferdinand in France for the duration of the war.

It was left to the Spanish populace to rise against the French invaders in the name of the absent Ferdinand, known as “the Desired.” In 1812 independent Spaniards adopted the Constitution of Cádiz, but in December 1813 Napoleon released Ferdinand expressly to overthrow it. When Ferdinand returned to Spain in 1814 he was urged by reactionaries to abolish the Cortes of Cádiz and all its works, which he did almost immediately. He resumed his obsolete powers and attempted to recover control of Spanish America, now partly independent. But his ministers could neither reinforce his armies in America nor persuade the British government to collaborate or connive at reconquest. In 1820 a liberal revolution restored the Constitution of 1812, which Ferdinand accepted, but in 1823 Louis XVIII of France sent the duc d’Angoulême at the head of a large army to release Ferdinand from his radical ministers. Ferdinand’s new government arrested the radicals or drove them into exile. By 1826 the Spanish possessions in America were all independent. Ferdinand’s government now depended on a militia, the Royalist Volunteers, and the French forces of occupation.

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Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon in Coronation Robes or Napoleon I Emperor of France, 1804 by Baron Francois Gerard or Baron Francois-Pascal-Simon Gerard, from the Musee National, Chateau de Versailles.

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Ferdinand had no children from his three marriages, and his absolutist supporters looked to his even more absolutist younger brother, Don Carlos (Carlos María Isidro de Borbón), to succeed him. In 1830 his fourth wife, María Cristina, gave birth to a daughter, the future Isabella II. Isabella’s birth prompted Ferdinand to revoke the Salic Law of Succession, which prevented women from acceding to the throne. During Ferdinand’s illness, Don Carlos tried to persuade the queen to recognize his rights, but Ferdinand recovered, banished Don Carlos, and looked for moderate liberal support for his young daughter. When Ferdinand died in September 1833, Isabella was recognized as the sovereign, but his widow was obliged to lean on the liberals as Don Carlos asserted his claims from Portugal and thus began the First Carlist War.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Ferdinand VII

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