Madrid-born absolutist king of Spain, under whose reign Spain lost its hold on most American possessions. Son of King Carlos IV and María Luisa de Parma and heir to the throne, he took over after the Aranjuez revolt, which defeated the government of powerful Prime Minister Manuel Godoy, causing his father to abdicate in his favor and oust Godoy (1808). Shortly thereafter he was dethroned by Napoleon and the throne passed to Joseph I, brother of the French emperor. Imprisoned in the town of Valençay, France (1809-1814), he was released after the nationalist revolt that expelled Napoleon (1814) and was returned to the throne, although Charles IV was still alive.
Contrary to what his allies expected, he revoked the liberal constitution (1812), established an absolutist regime and persecuted those who had fought for his return to power. The popular feeling and the growth of the movements for the independence of the colonies in America, culminated in the victorious revolt led by Rafael de Riego (1820). This imposed the return of the old constitution (1812) and a liberal ministry. Allied with the French king, a member of the Holy Alliance, the French army invaded Spain and re-established the monarchical absolutism (1823) with the king again in power, who then developed a violent persecution of his opponents. On the American continent Spain continued to lose its possessions. With his death in Madrid, a civil war broke out.
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order F - Biography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/fernando-vii-espanha.htm
