On March 19, 1808, King Charles IV of Spain abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII, following the events of the Mutiny of Aranjuez. This revolt, driven by widespread discontent among the Spanish people, was sparked by the influence of the king’s unpopular chief minister, Manuel de Godoy, and the growing pressure of Napoleon’s ambitions in Spain The Abdication of King Charles.

The crisis began when Spain, under Charles IV, had formed an uneasy alliance with Napoleon, leading to the occupation of Spanish territory by French troops The Abdication of King Charles. Many Spaniards resented this foreign presence and blamed Godoy for allowing it. The breaking point came when rumors spread that Charles IV and Godoy were planning to flee to the Americas to escape the instability. On March 17, angry mobs and elements of the Spanish military stormed the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, capturing Godoy and forcing Charles IV to renounce the throne two days later.

With Ferdinand VII ascending to power, Spanish citizens initially saw him as a symbol of national unity and resistance against foreign influence. However, the political turmoil did not end with the abdication. Napoleon took advantage of the unstable situation, eventually tricking both Charles IV and Ferdinand VII into traveling to Bayonne, France, where he forced them to abdicate in favor of his brother, Joseph Bonaparte. This led to the Peninsular War (1808–1814), a brutal conflict between Spain and France that became one of the key struggles of the Napoleonic era The Abdication of King Charles.

The abdication of Charles IV marked the beginning of a chaotic period in Spanish history, setting the stage for war, resistance, and a long struggle for national sovereignty.