Charles IV of Spain

Charles IV of Spain (1748-1819), King of Spain (1788-1808). He was the son of Charles III. His wife, Princess Maria Louisa of Parma, and ministers, especially Manuel de Godoy, his wife's paramour, profoundly influenced Spanish foreign policy during his reign. Consequently, Spain became involved disastrously in the Wars of the French Revolution (1792-1795) and was forced to cede (1800) to France the territory of Louisiana in America. In addition, the Spanish navy was destroyed (1805) at Trafalgar, and the French under Napoleon invaded Spain two years later. In 1808 Napoleon deposed Charles and made Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain. Charles spent the rest of his life in Rome.