Dos de Mayo Uprising (1808)

Dos de Mayo Uprising (1808)
Name	Dos de Mayo Uprising (1808)
Caption	The Third of May 1808 by Francisco Goya
Date	2 May 1808
Place	Madrid, Spain
Result	Popular resistance; harsh repression; intensification of the Peninsular War

Dos de Mayo Uprising (1808) was a popular insurrection in Madrid on 2 May 1808 against the occupation by troops of the French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte. Sparked by political crises involving the Bourbon Restoration attempts, the Abdications of Bayonne, and contested succession among members of the House of Bourbon (Spain), the revolt catalyzed the wider Peninsular War and the formation of Spanish juntas such as the Junta Suprema Central.

Background

Tensions rose after the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807) allowed French Empire forces to enter Iberian Peninsula territory ostensibly to invade Portugal. The presence of the French Army of the Gironde and later the Army of Spain (Napoleonic) led to the Abdications of Bayonne in which Charles IV of Spain and Ferdinand VII of Spain were coerced into renouncing rights, facilitating Napoleon Bonaparte's installation of his brother Joseph Bonaparte as king. In Madrid, members of the bourgeoisie and urban groups including artisans, shopkeepers, and soldiers from units like the Regimiento de Voluntarios faced increasing friction with garrisoned units such as the Old Guard (Napoleonic Wars), the Imperial Guard (Napoleonic), and detachments of the IV Corps (Grande Armée). Rumors about arrests of the Infante Antonio and conspiracies involving figures such as Manuel Godoy and factions like the afrancesados amplified unrest. The deposition sparked political mobilization across provinces with institutions such as local Juntas forming in Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona.

Events of 2 May 1808

On 2 May, mourners gathered at the Royal Palace of Madrid for the purported return of Ferdinand VII of Spain; a crowd confronted a detachment escorting members of the Spanish royal family and French officers. Skirmishes erupted in plazas including the Plaza Mayor (Madrid), near the Puerta del Sol, and along avenues like the Calle de Alcalá. Civilians fought alongside mutinous soldiers from units such as the Regimiento de Voluntarios de Madrid and irregulars from neighborhoods including La Latina and Lavapiés, using improvised weapons against infantry and cavalry from units like the 32nd Regiment (French) and squadrons of the 1st Cuirassiers (French). The French Imperial Guard and elements commanded by generals like Murat and Foy responded with artillery and cavalry charges, culminating in street executions and mass arrests.

Key Figures and Forces

Leading figures involved prior to and during the uprising included members of the Spanish Bourbons such as Ferdinand VII of Spain and Charles IV of Spain whose abdications precipitated events; French commanders such as Joachim Murat and Maréchal Lannes executed repressive measures. Spanish military leaders implicated by events or mobilization included elements loyal to General Francisco de Miranda and officers associated with the División de la Guardia Real. Civil leaders and notable participants included local notables, clergy from Madrid Cathedral, and civic militants later memorialized in biographies of activists and martyrs. Key French units included detachments of the Grande Armée, the Corps of Observation of the Ocean Coast, and regiments transferred from campaigns in the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Casualties and Immediate Aftermath

Casualty counts included hundreds killed on 2 May with subsequent executions on 3 May at sites like the Monteleón Artillery Barracks where officers such as Luis Daoíz y Torres and Pedro Velarde y Santillán became symbols after dying in combat. French reprisals involved mass arrests, deportations to military prisons and fortresses like Burgos and executions without trial. The harsh suppression on 3 May was depicted in contemporary reports arriving at provincial capitals and inspired provincial juntas in Aragon, Castile, and Andalusia to declare resistance. Casualty figures remain debated among historians studying archives in institutions like the Archivo General de Simancas and collections at the Biblioteca Nacional de España.

Political and Military Consequences

The uprising transformed localized resistance into nationwide war. Provincial juntas such as the Junta Suprema Central asserted sovereignty in the name of Ferdinand VII of Spain and coordinated irregular warfare with regular forces under commanders like Francisco Javier Castaños and The Duke of Wellington who later intervened. The revolt contributed to British diplomatic and military support under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (United Kingdom) led by figures interacting with Arthur Wellesley. The Peninsular War evolved into a protracted campaign involving sieges at Badajoz, battles such as the Battle of Bailén, and guerrilla actions linked to leaders like Juan Martín Díez (El Empecinado). Internationally, the uprising affected the Congress of Erfurt discussions and shifted Franco-Spanish relations, influencing the stability of the First French Empire.

Memory and Commemoration

Commemoration unfolded through monuments, public rituals, and historical narratives. Monuments in Madrid and plaques at sites like the Monteleón barracks honor the fallen. Annual commemorations appeared in municipal calendars and in ceremonies presided over by institutions including the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and later cultural ministries. The event entered historiography across generations—from accounts in 19th-century journals to archival studies in institutions like the Real Academia de la Historia and modern scholarship at universities such as the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

Cultural Depictions and Legacy

The uprising inspired artistic and literary works including Francisco Goya’s paintings such as The Third of May 1808 and prints in the series The Disasters of War, poems by Leopoldo Alas, and dramatic treatments on stages in Teatro Real (Madrid). Historians, novelists, and filmmakers have revisited the uprising in works produced by institutions like the Filmoteca Española and publishers in Madrid and Barcelona. It also influenced nationalist movements across Europe and contributed to the lexicon of resistance used by later 19th-century revolutions, informing studies in comparative revolutionary history at centers like the Instituto de Historia (CSIC).

Category:Peninsular War Category:1808 in Spain Category:History of Madrid