The burden of power often turns out to be an unbearable burden even for the chosen ones of fate. This happened with the Spanish king Charles IV. The lethargic and weak-willed king gave all the levers of power to his favorite Manuel Godoy, who took possession of not only the country, but also Queen Maria Louise of Parma …
It is known that nature rests on the children of geniuses. Charles III, of course, is difficult to call a genius, but under him Spain developed by leaps and bounds. Perhaps that is why his son, who grew up in the shadow of an imperious and active father, was completely indifferent to state affairs and was afraid of any decisions like fire. But this "small" drawback was easily compensated by his wife Maria Louise. She possessed not only a decisive character, but also an unlimited sexual temperament. This is thanks to her, first in the royal bedroom, and then in the office of the prime minister, an unknown young man who ruled Spain for many years reigned.
Palace Guard Friend
Manuel Godoy was only 17 years old when he first appeared in the royal palace as a guard. In modern terms, an ordinary security guard. Born in 1767, Godoy could not boast of any nobility of his kind or the thickness of his wallet. And the position of the royal guard was a gift for him, otherwise he would have stretched his legs out of hunger. But Godoy was phenomenally ambitious and quite attractive.
Although for almost a whole year the Infanta Maria Louise did not notice the young handsome man, who often came across to her in the corridors of the palace. The Infante, a rude and frankly depraved woman, probably had someone to share a matrimonial bed with besides the king. But in 1785, she suddenly noticed a stately, attractive guard and was eagerly eager. Godoy was invited into the bedroom and passed the exam with flying colors. And then the queen introduced him … to her husband. Yes, Charles IV was an unusual spouse - he did not care who his wife slept with. And with Godoy, everything turned out as well as possible - the young man liked the king. And I liked it so much that they became friends with the king, had long sincere conversations and even retired in secluded palace nooks. Their connection was so close that many a question arose - was there an intimate relationship between them?
There is no direct evidence of this. And yet the future king was too gentle and considerate with his wife's lover. Which leads to all sorts of bad thoughts. The heir and the young guardsman (Godoy was 16 years younger than Maria Louise, and the future king by 19) understood each other so well that even the Infanta's bedroom took turns. And it suited everyone. And most of all - the unbridled Maria Louise. With her husband, she discussed family and state affairs, and with Godoy indulged in carnal pleasures.
But in December 1788, the situation changed: Charles III died, and a new king ascended the throne. Charles IV did not want this very much, but such a position is not chosen.
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For a year he was in the same status for some time, but after a while he became capricious and hinted that he deserved more.
The favorite comes into force
In 1791, 24-year-old Manuel Godoy received a high rank: the king conferred on him the rank of Adjutant General of the Life Guards. You can imagine what was going on in the soul of the guardsman! To become a general at this age is an unthinkable achievement for a poor provincial who recently did not know how to feed himself. But that was only the beginning: in 1792 he was given the first public office - Manuel became Minister of Foreign Affairs. The minister did not have time to get used to his new position, as a new appointment awaited him, perhaps the highest in the Spanish court - Godoy became prime minister.
Unlike the king, who did nothing but hunting, Godoy loved and wanted to lead. There is no unequivocal opinion about whether he had talent. Although many agree on one thing: Godoy's position at the Spanish royal court resembled the position of Catherine's favorite Platon Zubov. But with a slight difference: Zubov was absolutely incapable of running the state. But Godoy, despite the lack of experience and education, was an administrator, if not outstanding, then no worse than others.
But Manuel fell into the orbit of big politics at the wrong time. The era of revolutionary wars began, and politicians had to look for non-trivial solutions, and the situation changed too often.
Year with ardor took up work. His predecessors in this post - José Floridablanca and Pedro Aranda - were quite active and energetic. They managed to transform Spain, and Godoy, despite the support of the royal couple, had to act with an eye to the previous prime ministers.
However, along the way, he faced more failures than acquisitions. As soon as he got the post, he launched a tireless activity to save Louis XVI. But there was a failure. Louis was executed, and then revolutionary France, outraged that Spain had entered into a coalition with England, Russia and Austria, declared war on her. The first setbacks forced Godoy to seek an armistice with France. But he was even more afraid of England, his ally, which at any moment could swat Spain. They had to conclude a separate peace with France, as a result of which Spain destroyed the anti-French coalition. Plus she lost Santo Domingo (a colony in Haiti).
All this caused a stormy discontent among the Spaniards, although at court the treaty was recognized as a great diplomatic success. The benefactors of the Spanish prime minister specially for him invented a new title "Prince of Peace", which Manuel was very proud of - after all, only he had such a title.
Loyalty to the grave
Unsuccessful steps Godoy in the public arena caused ridicule of both ordinary Spaniards and eminent persons. The prime minister's abilities were especially poorly assessed by foreign partners.
The French ambassador Alquier wrote to Paris: "The first minister of Spain has mainly two qualities - complete ignorance and a tendency to lie." Another ambassador - by the way, the adopted son of Napoleon Bonaparte, Eugene de Beauharnais - said that Godoy is "a voluptuous, lazy and coward, and takes bribes for all appointments to government posts."
When it comes to bribes, Godoy had no equal in this matter. He took from everyone and from everywhere. And this despite the fact that he had a lot of money and many different titles: marquis, duke de Alcudia, grand I class, generalissimo of land and sea forces.
This greed for rank and money was known to everyone, and the king, no longer able to listen to the complaints of others about the bribery and self-interest of the first minister, in 1798 dismissed him.
True, he was not removed from the palace - Godoy was something like the third member of the royal family. And this closeness played a role: in 1801 Godoy again became prime minister.
The second coming to power was even more difficult than the first. In France, Napoleon Bonaparte was now the First Consul. A smart and sophisticated diplomat, he repeatedly deceived Godoy by paying him large bribes. So France for a song took over Louisiana and forced Spain to go to war with England. All this ended with the Battle of Trafalgar and the complete loss of the fleet. But even after the humiliating defeat, Godoy continued to play his games and again believed Bonaparte. This time, the insidious Frenchman promised that he would give Godoy a part of Portugal, where he would become the sole ruler. The deal was backed up by another bribe.
The Spaniards let the French troops into Portugal. And when the invaders occupied all the most important fortresses, they provoked a revolution. Godoy fled, but Charles IV, frightened by popular indignation, arrested the favorite and imprisoned him. All his wealth and possessions were confiscated. It was going to be executed, but soon after that the king himself lost his throne: Charles IV was forced to abdicate. The royal couple and Godoy were exiled to France, after which they moved to Rome.
To Godoy's credit, after his renunciation, he did not abandon his benefactors and lived with them until the death of both. This strange triple alliance broke up only in 1819, when Maria Louise died, and a couple of weeks later, the king himself.
Manuel Godoy moved to Paris in 1830. He died in 1851, having outlived Charles and Louise by more than 30 years.
Dmitry Kupriyanov