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ENCYCLOPAEDIA of Rebellions

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Aranjuez riot 1808

Synopsis
On the afternoon of March 17, 1808, there was a riot caused by many factors, such as shortage of food, economic crisis, widespread hatred against Godoy (king’s favorite and ruler of the monarchy), the distrust for the presence of French army in Spain and the plan of sending the king to America. Behind the protests hid the high nobility and Prince Fernando, heir to the throne, who sent their servants and vassals to infiltrate among the inhabitants of Aranjuez and unleash events of March 17. The riot’s objective was the resignation of Godoy. The Godoy’s house was sacked all night by a small group of inhabitants of Aranjuez. The next day Carlos IV fired Godoy, then abdicated the throne on the 19th of March, and his son, who schemed the riot, was proclaimed king as Fernando VII.
Additional info

Starting date: . Ending: . Duration: 2 days. Name in sources: Motín de Aranjuez. Location: Aranjuez Country (current): Spain. Monarchy: Spanish. Main participants: Local elites, Peasants, Soldiers. Number of participants: 250-500. Main reasons & motivations: Military issues, Others, Political. Leadership: unknown. Relevance: high.

Further reading
GODOY, Manuel (1836-1842). Cuenta dada de su vida política por Don Manuel Godoy, príncipe de la Paz; ó sean Memorias críticas y apologéticas para la historia del reinado del Señor D. Carlos IV de Borbón, Madrid, cap. XXXII. LA PARRA LÓPEZ, Emilio (2002), Manuel Godoy, la aventura del poder. Barcelona: Tusquets. MARTÍ GILABERT, Francisco (1972). El Motín de Aranjuez, Pamplona: Eunsa.
Cite this entry

Abián Cubillo, David A. (2020). "Aranjuez riot 1808", in J. V. Serrão and M. S. Cunha (coord), Encyclopaedia of Rebellions in the Early Modern Iberian World. https://mappingrebellions.com/revolt/aranjuez-riot-1808/ (accessed on 12 March 2026).