Abdication
Abdicates in favour of Joseph Bonaparte
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1808 in Spain
Explore 32 historical events and records for Spain in 1808.
Historical records for Spain in 1808
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 32 of 32 unique records.
32Unique records
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14Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
5Places on this page
May
Abdication
Ferdinand VII is forced to abdicate by Napoleon. Abdication of his father, Charles IV. 18 Supreme Governing Juntas are established in the provinces ruling in the name of Ferdinand VII
Constitution of Spain
18 Supreme Governing Juntas are established in the provinces ruling in the name of Ferdinand VII
Supreme Governing Juntas
18 Supreme Governing Juntas are established in the provinces ruling in the name of Ferdinand VII
June
Battle of Baylen
General Castanos, commanding the Spanish field army at San Roque, and General von Reding, Governor of Malaga, travelled to Seville to negotiate with the Seville Junta, a patriotic assembly committed to resisting the French incursions, and to turn the provinces combined forces against the French
July
Battle of Baylen
Between 16 and 19 July, Spanish forces converged on the French positions stretched out along villages on the Guadalquivir and attacked at several points, forcing the confused French defenders to shift their divisions.
Battle of Baylen
Caught between Castanos and Reding, Dupont attempted vainly to break through the Spanish line at Baylen in three bloody and desperate charges, losing more than 2,500 men.
Battle of Baylen
With Castanos pinning Dupont downstream at Andujar, Reding successfully forced the river at Mengibar and seized Baylen, interposing himself between the two wings of the French army.
Battle of Baylen
1st setback for Napoleon who calls Spain, "The Spanish ulcer".
Battle of Baylen
Spain successfully revolts against French domination.
Battle of Baylen
The Battle of Baylen is fought by the Spanish Army of Andalusia, led by Generals Francisco Castanos and Theodor von Reding.
Battle of Baylen
The heaviest fighting takes place near Baylen, a village by the Guadalquivir river in southern Spain.
Battle of Baylen
and the Imperial French Armys II corps dobservation de la Gironde under General Pierre Dupont de lÉtang.
September
Constitution of Spain
The Supreme Central Governing Junta is established, ruling in the name of Ferdinand VII
President of Spain
Appointed President of Spain, President of the Supreme Central Governing Junta
President of Spain
Appointed President of Spain, President of the Supreme Central Governing Junta
Supreme Central Governing Junta
The Supreme Central Governing Junta is established, ruling in the name of Ferdinand VII
Supreme Central Governing Junta
Appointed President of Spain, President of the Supreme Central Governing Junta
Supreme Central Governing Junta
Appointed President of Spain, President of the Supreme Central Governing Junta
October
Battle of Pancorbo
Marshal Lefebvres IV Corps fall upon Blakes 19,000 men at Pancorbo, turning back the hesitant Spanish advance. Blake retreats swiftly and in good order, preventing Napoleon's planned envelopment & annihilation of the Spanish flank
November
Battle of Valmaceda
Blake surprises his enemies again when, at Valmaceda, he suddenly turns about & attacks the French vanguard, inflicting a stinging defeat
Battle of Espinosa
A well-coordinated French attack shatters Blakes centre & drives his army from the field in a rout
Other events (month unknown)
Abdication
Charles IV is forced to abdicate
Abdication
Ferdinand VII is forced to abdicate by Napoleon
Abdication
Abdication of his father, Charles IV
Abdication
Ferdinand VII is forced to abdicate by Napoleon
Arrest of Ferdinand VII
Ferdinand VII is arrested by Napoleon, 1808-14
Battle of Medina del Rio Seco
Blake & Cuesta are defeated at Medina del Rio Seco
Commander of Supreme Juntas Army Galicia
Appointed Commander of the Supreme Juntas Army of Galicia (a force of 43,000 holding the Spanish left wing along the Cantabrian mountains) during the French invasio
Invasion of Spain
Appointed Head of the Supreme Juntas Army of Galicia (a force of 43,000 holding the Spanish left wing along the Cantabrian mountains) during the French invasion
Invasion of Spain
Corrupt Prime Minister of Spain, his plotting & negligence enables French armies to seize control of the country virtually without opposition
Succession
Succeeds as King of Spain
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.