Anita Arnon

Mad, isn't it?

And you put your brother on the throne, you're going to send your troops to support him.

So French troops pour into Spain under the pretext of what they say is going to be a joint invasion of Portugal because Portugal is a troublesome entity and Spain has rubbed up against it for some time.

We're going to come in and we're going to help you take over and send all our military garrisons in and we're going to sort that out for you.

No declaration of war.

But Spain and France supposedly allies, but suddenly, you know, you've got a French occupation of Spain.

So under the guise of let's help you with Portugal, they basically flood the place with French soldiers.

And it is absolutely bonkers for a while because you've got one crown and three heads effectively claiming to be king.

And so, you know, the realignment of powers in Europe makes this all the more complicated.

And you have, you know, different local junters who say, you know, we don't like the French being here.

We want them to be out in the name of this king.

Which king?

Oh, that king.

Well, that's not our king.

So, you know, you just have this kind of fragmentation within the country as well.

The colonies, they're like, who is our king at the moment?

You know, what is going on?

Right.

So, yeah, if you don't know who's in charge, you kind of start running the shop yourself because all of those people that have been appointed who are answering to Spain, they're not getting very clear instruction because who are they getting instructions from?

Who do they sympathize with?