History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)Southey, Robert
History
History of the Peninsular War, Volume 1 (of 6)
Southey, Robert
Peninsular War, 1807-1814
The preamble to the treaty of resignation stated, that the object of
the two contracting princes was to save Spain from the convulsions of
civil and foreign war, and to place it in the only position, which,
under its present extraordinary circumstances, could maintain its
integrity, guarantee its colonies, and enable it to unite all its means
to those of France, for the purpose of obtaining a maritime peace. By
the first article, Charles ceded all his rights to the throne of Spain
and the Indies, having only had in view, he said, during his whole
life, the happiness of his subjects, and constantly adhering to the
principle, that all the acts of the sovereign ought to be directed to
that object solely. This cession was represented as the only means
which could re-establish order; and it was covenanted, 1. that it took
place only on condition that the integrity of the Spanish kingdom
should be maintained; that the prince whom it might please the Emperor
to place on the throne should be independent; and that the limits of
Spain were to undergo no alteration: 2. that the Catholic, Apostolic,
and Roman religion, should be the only one in Spain; no reformed
religion should be tolerated, still less should infidelity: these
things were to be prevented or punished according to the established
usage. 3. All property confiscated since the revolution at Aranjuez
should be restored; and all decrees which had been passed against the
friends of Charles were declared null and void. 4. Charles having thus
secured the prosperity, the integrity, and the independence of his
kingdom, (such was the monstrous language of this convention!) the
Emperor engaged to grant an asylum in his states to him, the Queen,
the Prince of the Peace, and such of their servants as might choose
to follow them, who should enjoy in France a rank equivalent to that
which they possessed in Spain. 5, 6, 7, 8. The palace of Compeigne,
with its parks and forests, should be at the disposal of King Charles
during his life, and a civil list of 80,000,000 _reales_ should be
paid him in monthly payments; after his death the Queen should have a
revenue of 2,000,000 for her dowry. An annual rent of 400,000 _livres_
should be granted to each of the Infantes, in perpetuity, reverting
from one branch to another, in case of the extinction of one, according
to the civil law, and to the crown of France, in case of the extinction
of all the branches. It was to be understood that this civil list
and these rents were to be looked for exclusively from the treasury
of France. The Infantes were, however, by a subsequent article, to
continue to enjoy the revenues of their commanderies in Spain. 9, 10.
The Castle of Chambord, with its parks, forests, and farms, was given
by the Emperor to King Charles, in full property, being in exchange
for all the allodial and particular property appertaining to the crown
of Spain, but possessed personally.... This convention was signed by
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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