Spain (l'Empereur Est Mort)

From Alternative History

The Kingdom of Spain is a nation in South Western Europe. Since 1808 a branch of the French Imperial Bonaparte family is on the Spanish throne.

The first Bonaparte on the Spanish throne, Joseph I (Spanish: José) was tremendously unpopular and a guerilla war to depose of him ignited soon after he took the throne. In 1814 king Joseph temporarily left the country for France after the pro-independence forces became increasingly powerfull.

After a successful French intervention two years later however Joseph re-assumed the throne to reign until 1847. Though he never became popular his reign did mark the beginning of the modernisation of the Spanish state. By the time that his eldest daughter Zénaida (French: Zénaïde) took the throne Bonapartist reign over Spain had been stabilised and she even managed to become reasonably popular in some circles.

During the civil war the Spanish colonies in the Americas took the opportunity and declared independence after initially having been loyal to the deposed house of Bourbon. And at the end of Josephs reign Spain had no more American colonies left.

Zénaida reigned for eleven years until 1858, she was succeeded by her eldest son who took the name Charles (Spanish: Carlos) to show continuity with pre-Bonapartist Spain.

Although both nations are still under the same royal house Spain is no longer a French satellite state and has over time regained its status as a fully independent country.

[edit] List of monarchs since POD

• Joseph I (1808-1847)
• Zénaida I (1847-1858)
• Charles V(1858-1888)
• Charles VI (1888-1925)
• Zénaida II (1925-1927)
• Joseph II (1949-1979)
• Charles VII (1979-1981)
• Zénaida III (2001-present)