A Bonaparte as King of Spain

Joseph Bonaparte, also called Joseph I of Spain, was not your typical Spanish king. He was born on January 7, 1768, in Corte, Corsica, and he was actually the older brother of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte! Joseph grew up in France, trained as a lawyer and diplomat, and spent much of his early life learning about politics and government. Little did he know that one day, he would be sent to rule a country very different from his own.

José Bonaparte - King of Spain

In 1808, Napoleon forced the Spanish king, Charles IV, and his son Ferdinand VII, to step down, and he put Joseph on the throne of Spain. Suddenly, Joseph went from a French diplomat to the king of a nation that didn’t really want him. His rule lasted until 1813, but it was a really hard time—Spain was in chaos, and the Spanish people were fighting back with the help of the British and Portuguese during the Peninsular War. Many Spaniards thought of Joseph as a foreign invader, which made his job nearly impossible.

Even though he faced so much opposition, Joseph tried to make Spain more modern. He introduced new laws, reorganized the government, and even tried to reduce the power of the Church. But because he was French and the country was at war, most people didn’t like his changes. Joseph’s time as king became a story of constant battles, both on the battlefield and with the Spanish people who wanted their old king back.

By 1813, Napoleon’s power was fading, and Joseph had to leave Spain. He spent some years living in the United States, in places like New Jersey and New York, before returning to Europe. Joseph died on July 28, 1844, in Florence, Italy. Even though he’s not well known today, Joseph’s story is a wild chapter in history—he was a king who never really fit in, trying to rule a country during one of its most chaotic and exciting times.