The Peninsula War had taken a turn…
January 1810 CE
By the beginning of 1810, Spanish forces have suffered serious military reverses—the Battle of Ocaña, the Battle of Alba de Tormes—in which the French had not only inflicted large losses, but had also taken control of southern Spain and forced the government to retreat to Cadiz, the last redoubt available to it on Spanish soil.
In light of this, the Central Junta dissolves itself on January29, 1810 and sets up a five-person Council of Regency of Spain and the Indies, charged with finalizing the convening the Cortes.
The Council is composed of General Francisco Javier Castaños; the councilors of state Antonio de Escaño; Francisco Saavedra and Esteban Fernández de León; and the Bishop of Orense, Pedro de Quevedo y Quintano, none of whom had served in the Supreme Central Junta.
Fernández de León is replaced from the first day by Miguel de Lardizábal y Uribe—a substitute member of the Junta representing New Spain—due to health reasons.
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