RELIQUARY KING OF SPAIN FERDINAND VII

This richly decorated reliquary in the shape of a cross is an object of great historical and spiritual value. It is made of repoussé brass , finely chiseled with elaborate baroque motifs that give it a majestic and solemn appearance.

In the center of this cross, a small cavity houses a precious relic , visible through a glass window. This relic is accompanied by a handwritten inscription that allows us to identify its origin. According to the indication given, this reliquary would contain a fragment related to King Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784-1833), a central figure in Spanish history, known for his reign marked by the struggle between absolutism and liberalism.

ANO 1824 SIENDO
REY DE ESPANA
S M.
FERNANDO VII

In the year 1824, being King of Spain, His Majesty Ferdinand VII.

The whole of this reliquary cross is an object of great importance, having been used either for private veneration or in an official setting, in order to preserve and honour the memory of the sovereign. This reliquary thus bears witness not only to a religious dimension , but also to a historical and political significance , illustrating the link between monarchical power and sacred tradition in 19th century Spain.

PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSIONS : 20 cm X 16 cm
SIZE : 7.9" X 6.3"

Ferdinand VII of Spain (1784–1833) was a king with a tumultuous reign, marked by political crises and reversals of alliances. Son of Charles IV, he ascended the throne in 1808 after plotting against his father, but was quickly deposed by Napoleon, who placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the throne. Captive in France for several years, he regained power in 1814 after the fall of Napoleon, reestablishing the absolute monarchy and abolishing the liberal Constitution of 1812. His reign was marked by conflicts between absolutists and liberals, culminating in a brief return to constitutional rule in 1820–23 under pressure from revolutionaries. With the intervention of French troops in 1823 (Spanish Expedition), he reestablished absolutism and reigned as a despot until his death. He implemented the Pragmatic Sanction in 1830, allowing his daughter Isabella II to succeed him, which led to the Carlist Wars. His reign is often criticized for its intransigence and opposition to reforms.