Journal 14th January, 2013

Hi! Today Monday, at first, Paqui has asked what day the people preferred to do the make-up exam. They have decided to do this exam on Friday the 26^th. 

Godoy

Then, Paqui has asked about the Aranjuez Mutiny’s consequences. And these were that, Charles IV abdicated on his son, who became Ferdinand VII, to save Godoy’s life and Godoy was fired. Godoy and Charles IV were good friends and Godoy was the lover of Charles IV’s wife. So the people have started asking Paqui that if they were friends why this happened. She has explained that on this period the marriages weren’t by love they were marriages of convenience. And it was normal that both had lovers, and that they knew that. She has also said that we have the idea of cinema, we believe in fidelity and real love   and it wasn’t like this.

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Link

Paqui has explained what happened after this and this was that Charles IV regretted his decision and sent a letter to Napoleon asking for his help to get the crown back. And she has asked us what we think that Napoleon did with this situation, and of course the answer has been that he thought: What are these stupid people doing? And he took advantage of this to take the control of Spain and called Charles and Ferdinand to Bayonne, but also other people went to Bayonne, like other members of the royal family, servants...

The Executions of the Third of May, 1808 - Goya

So, as this happened, Paqui has said that the people in Madrid thought that the monarchs were being abducted by the French soldiers and they attacked the French. This was on the 2^nd of May 1808, and it was the beginning of the Spanish Peninsular War, because the revolt was strongly repressed and protests extended to all the country. We have seen on the presentation some Francisco de Goya’s paintings. He was a witness of the events in Madrid and he reflected them on his paintings. 

Joseph I

We have continued with the events which occurred in Bayonne on the 5^th of May 1808. Paqui has explained us that Napoleon threatened Ferdinand VII and obliged him to give the crown back to his father Charles IV. But Charles IV didn’t keep the crown, he gave it to Napoleon, who appointed his brother Joseph I. Joseph I didn’t have much support in Spain. Only the Francophiles supported him and he couldn’t control all the country and make that this orders and reforms were obeyed. 

Paqui has tried to do a small theatre with Fernando, Juan, Ángel, Javi and Enrique to explain us the Abdications of Bayonne. In Bayonne Napoleon obliged Ferdinand VII to give the crown of Spain back to his father Charles IV. Charles IV gave it to Napoleon and Napoleon gave the crown to his elder brother, Joseph, who became Joseph I. And I say try, because, during this theatre, people have started talking a lot. And Paqui has said that this is a chaos because we talk while she’s explaining. And it’s true; I think that some people have to improve their behavior in class.

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And that’s all; I have said all what I remember. For homework we have to do exercises 16 and 17 on page 22. Don’t forget!

And to finish, these are the words I have added to my glossary:

-          To regret – Lamentar

-          To take advantage of – Aprovechar

-          To escort – Escoltar

-          To abduct – Secuestrar

-          To kidnap – Secuestrar (but when the people who take someone ask for an arson)

-          Arson – Rescate

-          Hostage – Rehén

-          To threaten – Amenazar

-          Coward – Cobarde

-          Francophiles / Frenchified – Afrancesados

     So tell me, what do you think about my journal? Do you think I have to add something important? Do I have a lot of mistakes?

Bye guys! :D