Manuel de Godoy

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Manuel de Godoy - painting by Francisco de Goya (1801)

Manuel de Godoy y Álvarez de Faria Rios Sanchez Zarzosa (born May 12, 1767 in Badajoz ( Spain ), † October 4, 1851 in Paris ) was a Spanish statesman who pursued a policy of enlightened absolutism .

Origin and advancement

Manuel de Godoy, son of José de Godoy and his wife Maria Antonia Álvarez de Faria, came from the lower nobility and joined the royal guard in 1784. From 1788 Godoy was considered the lover of Crown Princess Maria Luise of Bourbon-Parma and belonged to the inner circle around the Crown Prince couple. Through his marriage in October 1797 to María Teresa de Borbón y Vallabriga (1780-1828), a granddaughter of King Philip V , he became a first cousin of both the reigning king and the queen. However, he also had a long-term lover , Pepita Tudó , with whom he officially married in February 1829 - after the death of his wife.

Karl and Maria Luise tried to build an independent party devoted only to them. After his accession to the throne in December 1788, however , Charles IV left the most important domestic and foreign politicians from the government of Charles III. in their offices. Godoy was made Lieutenant General of the Guards in 1790 and Secretary to the Queen in 1791. On February 28, 1792, Karl dismissed his first Minister of State, Floridablanca (1728-1808). His successor and political rival Count Aranda (1719–1798) failed a few months later because of the task of saving the French royal family from the revolutionaries. At the insistence of the Queen, Aranda was replaced on November 15, 1792 and Godoy was appointed the new first Minister of State. Godoy received the title of Duke of Alcúdia and Sueca and was given ample gifts from his patrons.

Government from 1792 to 1798

Manuel Godoy - painting by Antonio Carnicero (1790)

Godoy retained the neutrality policy of his two predecessors, but heightened diplomatic pressure on revolutionary France . Despite the Spanish protest, the French King Louis XVI. executed on January 21, 1793. Because of Godoy's constant interference in the internal affairs of France, the National Convention declared war on Spain. Godoy could portray the war against France as a patriotic crusade. Because there were no successes, the initial enthusiasm for the war changed into growing dissatisfaction. The discontented gathered around Aranda with the aim of overthrowing Godoy. But Godoy asserted himself against his opponents, Aranda had to leave Spain and died in exile in 1798.

Peace negotiations with France began in October 1794 and the Basel Peace Treaty was signed in July 1795 . Spain had to transfer its colony Santo Domingo to France and in return got its lost border areas back from France. Therefore Godoy was awarded the honorary title of "Prince of Peace" ( Principe de la Paz ) by the king .

Godoy introduced some domestic reforms to the government of Charles III. away. He passed laws to promote agriculture and manufacturing and promoted the reform of the school system. He promoted scientists and appointed representatives of the Enlightenment, such as Saavedra (1746-1819), Jovellanos (1744-1811) and Urquijo (1768-1817) in important administrative offices. Because of his luxurious lifestyle, his nepotism and his relationship with the Queen, Godoy was unpopular with the representatives of the Enlightenment .

In 1796, Spain had to conclude the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso with France and then wage war on France's side against the Kingdom of Great Britain . Great Britain brought Spain's shipping traffic with its American colonies to a standstill, shaking Spain's economy. The economic problems of Spain and many measures that had become necessary to wage the war enlarged the circle of Godoy's opponents. In May 1798 Godoy lost his office as the first Minister of State; but he remained an influential favorite of the queen and the king. Godoy's successor Saavedra formed the "Government of the Enlightenment".

Renewed government from 1801 to 1808

The "Enlightenment Government" quickly grew tired of the endless struggles between traditionalists and reformers. The First Consul of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, forced the 3rd Treaty of San Ildefonso on Spain in October 1800 . This Franco-Spanish alliance revived the conflict with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Charles IV therefore enforced Godoy's return to politics. Godoy now became the “strong man” of Spain without a ministerial office, while Pedro Ceballos Guerra officially served as prime minister. At the beginning of 1801 Godoy was appointed Generalissimo and Admiral of Spain and India (term for Spanish America). In May 1801 he successfully led an army of 60,000 men in the " Orange War " ("Guerra de la Naranjas") to conquer Portugal .
The Amiens peace treaty between Great Britain and France in 1802 gave Spain, and thus Godoy, a brief, much-needed respite. Godoy was able to maintain Spain's neutrality through monthly payments of subsidies to France. He could not overcome the difficulties in the economy. Godoy's domestic political opponents rallied around the heir to the throne Ferdinand .

In December 1804, Godoy declared war on the United Kingdom. The Franco-Spanish fleet suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 . Godoy's opponents personally credited him with the high losses of people and material and demanded the termination of the alliance with France. Because of this, Godoy called for war against France in October 1806. But at the beginning of 1807 Godoy had to end his anti-French policy. Napoleon I asked for 15,000 Spanish soldiers to be deployed. These soldiers had to fight against Prussia and Russia in the Napoleonic Army in northern Germany and East Prussia . In October 1807, in the Treaty of Fontainebleau, the Franco-Spanish alliance was contractually re-regulated. Spain had to agree to the occupation of Portugal by French troops under the command of General Andoche Junot .

A little later, Karl IV and Maria Luise uncovered a conspiracy of their son Ferdinand . Ferdinand betrayed his co-conspirators under pressure, and they were immediately removed from the court. French troops occupied Spain in early 1808 . Godoy brought the royal family to Aranjuez ; from there she was to travel to Seville and then by ship to Mexico . Godoy became more and more isolated; the Council of Castile and the majority of the ministers opposed him. Ferdinand's followers believed that Napoleon's actions in Spain were directed against Godoy only.

Manuel Godoy kneeling in front of Ferdinand VII.

On March 17, 1808 soldiers, palace servants and peasants instigated the "Aranjuez Mutiny" ("Motin de Aranjuez") and stormed Godoy's palace. The angry crowd could not find the hated favorite. But a little later the mutineers found the king. He was forced to sign a decree arresting Godoy; this was done two days later. He was asked to step down as Generalissimo and Admiral of Spain and India. On the same day, Charles IV had to abdicate in favor of his son Ferdinand VII .

Troops of Joachim Murat occupied on March 23, 1808 Madrid. On May 2nd, 1808, the people of Madrid rose against foreign rule; Murat put down the uprising with blood. After Ferdinand VII abdicated on May 5, 1808, Godoy was able to travel to France with Karl and Maria Luise. He accompanied both of them on trips through France and Italy until their death in January 1819. During a joint stay in Rome in 1812, Godoy was raised by Pope Pius VII to Prince of Bassano and Posserano.

Godoy was no longer politically active and died very old on October 4, 1851 in Paris.

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personal data
SURNAME Godoy, Manuel de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Godoy y Álvarez de Faria Rios Sanchez Zarzosa, Manuel de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Spanish statesman
DATE OF BIRTH May 12, 1767
PLACE OF BIRTH Badajoz ( Spain )
DATE OF DEATH October 4, 1851
Place of death Paris