Napoleon and Ferdinand VII | Napoléon et Ferdinand VII

For Napoleon, Fernando was an enemy by the simple fact of being a Bourbon king. Moreover, Napoleon hardly knew about Fernando until the incidents of El Escorial revealed to him he was a coward and an easy to deceive. The ease with which Fernando fell in the trap of Bayona and his little resistance to his requirements confirmed the Emperor of his opinion. In this way, Napoleon in disdain, kept humiliating him by exasperated by the servility he demonstrated. The military situation in 1813 obligated Napoleon to negotiate with Fernando and even to suggest a marriage with his niece, Zenaide. However, his hatred was such that, as soon as the circumstances permitted, he was determined to dethrone the king. | Para Napoleón, Fernando era un enemigo por el mero hecho de ser un Borbón. Además, no sabía casi nada de él cuando los acontecimientos de El Escorial le revelaron que era cobarde y fácil de engañar. La facilidad con la que le atrajo a Bayona y la poca resistencia a sus exigencias, le confirmaron en su opinión, negándose a reconocerlo como rey. Con lo cual, lleno de menosprecio, no cesó de humillarle, exasperándose del servilismo que Fernando le manifestó. La situación militar de 1813 obligó al Emperador a negociar con Fernando e incluso a proponerle la mano de su sobrina Zénaïde. Pero su odio era tal que estaba decidido, en cuanto lo permitieran las circunstancias, a volver a arrebatarle el trono que se veía obligado a devolverle.