Carlotism
Encyclopedia
Carlotism was a political movement that took place in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
between 1808 and 1812; it intended to make Carlota Joaquina of Spain its queen. After Napoleon's invasion of Spain
, Fernando VII was forced to abdicate and give the throne to Joseph Bonaparte
. Most Spanish did not consider him a legitimate king, and Carlota (sister of Fernando) seemed like a possible option to keep the royal line safe.
Carlota was living in Brazil
by then, after the nobility of Portugal
moved from Portugal to the Americas because of Napoleón's invasion of Portugal.
Carlotism found strong resistance from many parties involved: the viceroys, other Spanish authorities in the Americas, part of the Criollos
, and the British. The plans were never applied, and supporters of it would later turn to independence.
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
between 1808 and 1812; it intended to make Carlota Joaquina of Spain its queen. After Napoleon's invasion of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Fernando VII was forced to abdicate and give the throne to Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
. Most Spanish did not consider him a legitimate king, and Carlota (sister of Fernando) seemed like a possible option to keep the royal line safe.
Carlota was living in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by then, after the nobility of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
moved from Portugal to the Americas because of Napoleón's invasion of Portugal.
Carlotism found strong resistance from many parties involved: the viceroys, other Spanish authorities in the Americas, part of the Criollos
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
, and the British. The plans were never applied, and supporters of it would later turn to independence.