Carlotism facts for kids
Carlotism was a political idea in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (a big Spanish colony in South America) between 1808 and 1812. The goal was to make Carlota Joaquina the queen of this territory. She was a Spanish princess and the wife of the King of Portugal.
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Why Carlota?
In 1808, a powerful French leader named Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain. He forced Carlota's younger brother, Fernando VII, to give up his throne. Napoleon then made his own brother, Joseph Bonaparte, the new King of Spain.
Many people in Spain did not think Joseph Bonaparte was the rightful king. Carlota was a very ambitious woman. She seemed like a good choice to keep the royal family in power, even if it was in the Americas.
Carlota in Brazil
Carlota was living in Brazil at this time. The royal family of Portugal had moved there. They fled from Portugal because Napoleon had invaded their country too. This meant Carlota was already in the Americas, close to the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
Who Supported and Opposed Carlotism?
The idea of Carlotism faced a lot of opposition. Many groups did not want Carlota to become queen:
- The viceroys, who were the Spanish rulers in the colonies.
- Other Spanish officials in the Americas.
- Some of the Criollos, who were people of Spanish descent born in the Americas.
- The British government, who had their own interests in the region.
What Happened Next?
Because of all this resistance, the plans to make Carlota queen never worked out. The movement slowly faded away. However, many people who had supported Carlotism later changed their focus. They began to support the idea of the colonies becoming completely independent from Spain. This eventually led to the Spanish American wars of independence.
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