Leader of Spain in the late 18th century born in Castuera, Spain, who as minister and advisor to Carlos IV, who with his disastrous foreign policy caused the king's downfall and the occupation of the country by troops Napoleons. Descendant of a traditional but impoverished Spanish family in Extremadura, he was the son of an army colonel, went to Madrid (1784) and joined the royal guard. Introduced the following year to the future kings of Spain, the princes of Asturias, he won their friendship. With a reputation for seducer and calculation, he became the mistress of the wife of the heir to the throne, Maria Luisa de Parma, and began a career in which love and a diplomatic vocation led him to high positions.
With the accession of princes to the throne (1788), his career progressed rapidly. He was promoted to colonel of cavalry (1789), and field marshal (1791), being already commander of the order of Santiago. That same year he became a Gentleman of the Chamber, was promoted to Lieutenant General, and was given the title of Duke of Alcudia. At age 25 (1792) he was appointed prime minister. In office he unsuccessfully tried to save King Louis XVI from the guillotine. He signed the peace of Basel, with the French republicans, which earned him the title of Prince of Peace, previously reserved for members of the royal house. Through the Treaty of Saint Ildefonso (1796), he allied with France and declared war on the United Kingdom. The British response was not delayed and the Spanish fleet was destroyed in the battle of Cabo de São Vicente (1797).
For not having supported the long-awaited Franco-Spanish invasion of Portugal, D. João granted him the title of Count of Évora-Monte (1797), but was forced by Napoleon to accept the the division of Portugal and the entry of the French into Spain, as well as resigning from all positions (1798). He returned (1801) with the support of Napoleon Bonaparte, with whom he signed the 2nd Treaty of Saint Ildefonso, but a series of military and loss of territories undermined his prestige and during the revolt against Charles IV he was arrested (1808) and sentenced to confinement for forty years old. Rehabilitated (1849) by Isabel II, daughter of Ferdinand VII, titles and some properties were restored to him, he died in Paris. In his life as don Juan, it is said that he married (1797) Maria Teresa de Borbon y Vallariga (1780-1828), Countess of Chichón, with whom he had a daughter, Carlota, and widower, married for the second time with his mistress since still single (1796), Pepita Tudó (1779-1869), made Countess of Castillofiel.
Source: Biographies - Academic Unit of Civil Engineering / UFCG
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COSTA, Keilla Renata. "Manuel de Godoy y Alvarez"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/manuel-de-godoy-y-alvarez.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.