Juntas, established by army commanders, guerrilla leaders,…
1804 CE to 1815 CE
They also exist underground as alternatives to the French-imposed government.
Unity extends only to fighting the French, however.
Coups are frequent, and there is sometimes bloody competition among military, partisan, and civilian groups for control of the juntas.
A central junta sits in Cadiz.
It has little authority, except as surrogate for the absent royal government.
It succeeds, however, in calling together representatives from local juntas in 1810, with the vague notion of creating the Cortes of All the Spains, so called because it would be the single legislative body for the empire and its colonies.
Many of the overseas provinces have by this time already declared their independence.
Some see the Cortes at Cadiz as an interim government until the Desired One, as Ferdinand VII is called by his supporters, can return to the throne.
Many regalists cannot admit that a parliamentary body can legislate in the absence of a king.