Ferdinand VII

Ferdinand VII. (1784-1833), King of Spain. Being opposed to the policy of the chief minister of his father Charles IV., he was arrested as a conspirator, but a rising in 1808 forced his father to abdicate in the son's favour. In the same year he was forced to abdicate to Napoleon, who put Joseph Bonaparte on the throne, and kept F'erdinand in prison till 1813. After the downfall of Napoleon he returned to his throne, but his arbitrary rule caused continual outbreaks. By a Pragmatic Sanction of 1830 he abolished the Salic law, and left the crown to his daughter Isabella, excluding his brother, Don Carlos. [Carlists.]