ALCUDI'A, 31A_NuEL DE GODOY, DUKE OF, known as the prince of peace, was b. at Badajos, in Spain, 12th of May, 1767. Poor, but handsome and musical, at the age of twenty he entered the king's body-guard at Madrid, and soon became a favorite of the weak Charles IV., as well as of his queen. Honors and emoluments flowed in rapidly. In 1801, he led the Spanish army against the Portuguese, and signed the treaty of Badajos. In 1804, he was made generalissimo of the Spanish forces on sea and land, and invested with unlimited power. The alliance of Spain with France, and the war with England which ensued, in spite of the sums paid by Spain to secure neutrality, the defeat of Trafalgar, and consequent check to commerce—all tended to exasperate the public mind, and a court-party was formed against him, with the prince of Asturias at its head. A. now resolved to shake off the French alliance, and to treat secretly with the Lisbon court. But however cautiously taken, his warlike measures reached the ears of ..7.Capoleon, and
determined him to carry out his project of dethroning the Bourbons. Meanwhile, the people had been further exasperated against the favorite by his unprincipled accusations against the prince of Asturias; and when, in 1808, Charles abdicated in favor of his son, the duke's life was only saved by the promise of his trial. This trial, however, never took place. .Napoleon, who knew his influence over the minds of their Spanish majesties, had him liberated, and brought to Bayonne, where he instigated all measures taken by the ex-kium and queen, retaining their favor till their death. After his fall, he lived chiefly in France. In 1808, his income had been estimated at five million piastres. After the revolution of 1830, we find him subsisting in Paris upon a small pension bestowed by Louis Philippe. In 1847, his return to Spain was permitted, and his titles, together with great part of his wealth, restored. He died at Paris, 4th Oct., 1851.