FERDINAND VII, king of Spain: b. San Ildefonso, 13 Oct. 1784; d. Madrid, 29 Sept. 1833. He was the eldest son of Charles IV. From the earliest years he manifested a strong dislike to the favorite Godoy, who ruled both the king and queen; and in 1807 was arrested as a conspirator. After the popular rising at Aran juez, in March 1808, his father was forced to abdicate in his favor — an act which he presently repudiated. A month later, having been induced to meet Napoleon at Bayonne, he himself abdicated in turn, placing the crown at the disposal of Napoleon, who at once gave it to his brother Joseph. Ferdinand was kept a prisoner at Valencay till 1813, when Napoleon offered to re-establish him on his throne. He returned to Spain in March 1814, having previ ously promised to maintain the constitution of 1812. In spite of his promise he annulled this constitution and dissolved the Cortes two months after his return. In consequence of this and of his arbitrary rule a military insurrection broke out 1 Jan. 1820. The rebels were at first
successful and Ferdinand was obliged to swear to the constitution of 1812; but having received support from Louis XVIII of France, who sent an army to his aid in 1823, he was ulti mately enabled to suppress the insurrection and to make his authority once more absolute in Spain. Ferdinand was under control of the clericals, and proved himself cruel, ungrateful and unscrupulous. Ferdinand was married four times, but only left one daughter, Isabella, by his fourth- wife, Maria Christina of Naples. By a decree issued 29 March 1830, called the Pragmatic Sanction, he abolished the act of 1713, by which Philip V had excluded women from the throne of Spain. He then left his crown to his daughter, Isabella, to the ex clusion of his brother, Don Carlos. It was during the reign of this king that the Spanish colonies in South America broke away from the mother country.