Joseph Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, was placed as the King of Spain in a dramatic shift of power during the Napoleonic Wars. Following the Peninsular War's onset, Spanish unrest against French occupation surged, leading to Joseph's nomination by Napoleon. The Spanish royal family had been relocated to France, prompting Joseph’s ascension as he was seen as a puppet ruler by many Spaniards. He entered Madrid in June 1808 amidst chaotic resistance from the populace that viewed his rule as foreign imposition. Joseph endeavored to implement reforms while maintaining control against the backdrop of significant hostility. His reign coincided with widespread guerrilla warfare against French forces throughout Spain and was characterized by deep-seated divisions within Spanish society, with loyalists fighting against both French forces and Joseph’s authority stemming from French imperial aspirations. Many Spaniards resisted any authority not stemming from their traditional monarchy, leading to a complicated relationship with Joseph as king, as he attempted to mediate the desires for autonomy and modernization.