.. in 1808, Joseph Bonaparte was replaced of his Kingdom in Rome by his brother Napoleon I who wanted him to go to Spain and make the same reforms and progress. He put Joachim Murat in his place in Italy. Napoleon was trying to keep Joachim and his wife, Napoleon’s little sister, separated. (discussed previously)
Joseph was immediately and intensely hated by the Spanish who called him “Joe Bottle” (“Pepe Botella”) for alleged heavy drinking, even though Joseph didn’t drink.
The Spanish did not like his anti-Catholic views and what he had done to the Roman monks in taking away their money and property.
Joseph willingly abdicated the Spanish throne. Napoleon made him go back, but he finally left to return to Paris.
(portrait: Joseph’s daughter by his mistress, Catherine Charlotte Savage)
