Ferdinand VII returns to the Spanish throne…

Ferdinand VII returns to the Spanish throne in March 1814 with the help of an army corps and of conservative sentiment that had been outraged by the liberal anticlericalism of 1812.

The Spanish people, blaming the policies of the Francophiles (afrancesados) for causing the Napoleonic occupation and the Peninsular War by allying Spain too closely to France, at first welcome the king.

Ferdinand will soon find that in the intervening years a new world had been born of foreign invasion and domestic revolution.

In his name Spain fought for its independence, and in his name as well, juntas had governed Spanish America.

Spain is no longer the absolute monarchy he had relinquished six years earlier.

Instead he is now asked to rule under the liberal Constitution of 1812.

Before being allowed to enter Spanish soil, Ferdinand had had to guarantee the liberals that he would govern on the basis of the Constitution, but he had given only lukewarm indications that he would do so.

The French hand King Ferdinand over to the Spanish Army in Girona on Mach 24, and thus begins his procession towards Madrid.