Ferdinand VII
(El Escorial (Madrid), 1784 - La Granja (Segovia), 1833)
The ninth of fourteen children born to Charles IV (1748-1819) and Maria Luisa of Parma (1751-1819), the future Ferdinand VII was sworn in as Prince of Asturias before the Cortes on 23rd September 1789, following the successive deaths of his older brothers. The Prince’s early years were spent under the tutelage of his caretaker, the Marquess of Santa Cruz, and his successive tutors, of whom the best known were Canon Escóiquiz and his teacher, Father Cristóbal Bencomo. As part of his education, Prince Ferdinand studied philosophy, grammar and Latin, as well as being introduced to music and drawing, the latter being taught by the painter Antonio Carnicero.
Married four times, Ferdinand VII's wives were Princess María Antonia of Naples and...