History of Madrid - War of Independence

War of Independence

On October 27, 1807, Carlos IV and Napoleon signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which allowed French troops passage through Spanish territory to join Spanish troops and invade Portugal, which had refused to obey the order international block against England. In February 1808, Napoleon, with the excuse that the blockade against England was not being respected at Portuguese ports, sent a powerful army under his brother in law, General Murat. Contrary to the dictates of the treaty, French troops entered via Catalonia, occupying the plazas along the way. Thus, throughout February and March 1808, cities like Barcelona and Pamplona remained under French rule.

While all this was happening, the Mutiny of Aranjuez (March 17, 1808) took place, which was led by Charles IV's own son, the crown prince, Ferdinand VII against him, Charles IV resigned and Ferdinand VII took his place. However, Ferdinand VII's reign would be short: in May 1808 Napoleon's troops entered the city. On May 2, 1808 (Spanish: Dos de Mayo) the Madrileños revolted against the French forces, whose brute reaction would have a lasting impact on French rule in Spain and France's image in Europe in general. Thus, when Ferdinand VII returned to Madrid, the city was already occupied by Murat, so both the king and his father became virtual prisoners of the French army. Napoleon, taking advantage of the weakness of the Spanish Bourbons, forced both, first the father and then the son, to meet him at Bayonne, where Ferdinand VII arrived on April 20. here Napoleon forced both royals to abdicate on 5 May, handing the throne to his brother Joseph Bonaparte.

In the absence of kings, the situation became more and more tense in the capital. On May 2, the crowd began to concentrate at the Palacio Real. The crowd watched as the French soldiers removed the royal family members who were still in the palace. On seeing the infant Francisco de Paula struggling with his captor, the crowd launched an assault on the carriages, shouting ¡Que nos lo llevan! (They're taking him away from us). French soldiers fired on the crowd. The fight lasted for hours and was spread around Madrid. Meanwhile, the Spanish military, victims of reigning institutional confusion, remained garrisoned and passive. Only the Artillery Park located at the Palace of Monteleón finally rose in arms against the French, led by captains Luis Daoíz y Torres and Pedro Velarde Santillán. After repelling a first offense under French General Lefranc, both died fighting heroically against the reinforcements sent by Murat. Gradually, the pockets of resistance fell. Hundreds of Spanish men and women, and French soldiers were killed in this skirmish. The Goya La Carga Canvas by the Mamelukes reflects the street fighting that took place that day.