DISCUSS THE ROLE OF SPAIN IN THE DOWNFALL OF NAPOLEON.
Without question, Spain played a significant role in the downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Penisular War (1808-1819) was a major turning point in the fortunes of the Napoleonic Empire. Although, he arguably, had betrayed France by jeopardising the Revolution through war, and by failing to adhere to the values of liberty, equality and fraternity, he was remarkably successful in his ambition to unite Europe under his, and French rule. After a series of successful campaigns, it would have been, to Napoleon, a foregone conclusion that Spain would fall at his feet. However, the Spanish war did not quite go according to plan, and marked a reversal in fortunes for Napoleon, followed by the defeat by Russia, and finally at Waterloo. Therefore, as Napoleon himself would have admitted, the much talked about "Spanish ulcer" and the disastrous Peninsular War was a key factor in his downfall.
Napoleon had conquered much of Europe by 1808. He had failed, however, to conquer Britain. Portugal was allied with Britain; it was almost a colony, for, trading. Napoleon decided to deal with.
Portugal, as a means of getting to Britain. This would involve passing through Spain. The King Charles IV, was a weak ruler. The kingdom was in fact run by Godoy, who had maintained an alliance with France since 1804, in the hope of winning Portugal as a reward. Crown Prince Ferdinand was wary of Godoy, suspecting him of trying to usurp the throne after Charles death. Ferdinand appealed to Napoleon to overthrow Godoy. Ferdinand was popular, and in the midst of a possible succession, Charles abdicated and Godoy, the suspected usurper, was imprisoned. It was Napoleon who would turn out to be the usurper however, a gamble that proved to be the beginning of the inevitable end for him. .
R. S. Alexander says, "Napoleon was somewhat reminiscent of a Mafia godfather, in his placement of relatives on European thrones".
