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The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated by the Cortes Generales ("General Courts"), the national legislative assembly of Spain. The Cortes were taking refuge at Cadiz from the Peninsular War, called by the Spanish the Guerra de la Independencia which began on the night of May 2, immortalized by Goya in his paintings. The war was being fought on Spanish territory between Napoleon's forces and the Spanish partisans and the Allies under the Duke of Wellington.

The opening session of the new Cortes was held on September 24, 1810. Several basic principles were soon ratified: that sovereignty resides in the nation, the legitimacy of Ferdinand VII as King of Spain, and the inviolability of the deputies. The Cortes of Cadiz worked feverishly, and the first written Spanish constitution was promulgated in the city of Cadiz on March 12, 1812. Spain had been ruled as an absolute monarchyAbsolute monarchy is an idealized form of government, a monarchy where the ruler has the power to rule his or her country and citizens freely with no laws or legally-organized direct opposition telling him or her what to do, although some religious author by the Bourbons and their HabsburgHabsburg (also spelled Hapsburg was one of the ruling houses of Europe: rulers of Austria (as dukes 1282 1453, archdukes 1453 1804, and emperors 1804 1918), kings of Bohemia 1526 1618 and 1621 1918, kings of Spain ( 1516 1700), and Holy Roman Emperors for predecessors.

When Ferdinand VII was restored in March 1814 by the Allied Powers, he promissed to uphold the new charter of Spanish government, but within a matter of weeks, encouraged by conservativesConservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. There are also a number of Conservative political parties in various countries. All of these are primarily (though not necessaril backed by the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, he repudiated the constitution ( May 4May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). There are 241 days remaining. Events 1471 Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Tewkesbury Edward IV defeats a Lancastrian Army and kills Edward, Prince of Wales. 1493 Pope Ale) and arrested the liberalLiberalism is a political current embracing several historical and present-day ideologies that claim defense of individual liberty as the purpose of government. It typically favors the right to dissent from orthodox tenets or established authorities in po leaders ( May 10May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). There are 235 days remaining. Events 1291 Scottish nobles recognize the authority of King Edward I of England. 1497 Amerigo Vespucci allegedly leaves Cadiz for his first), justifying his actions as repudiating a constitution made by the cortes in his absence and without his consent. Thus he had come back to assert the Bourbon doctrine that the sovereign authority resided in his person only.

When Ferdinand's ferocious misrule resulted in a mutiny of army officers in 1820, the Constitution of 1812 was the unifying document of the liberals, who wished to see a constitutional monarchy in Spain. After the Battle of Trocadero liberated Ferdinand in 1823, he turned on the liberals and constitutionalists with fury.

Since 1812, Spain has had a total of seven constitutions, including the one of 1978, currently in force as of 2004.

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