Carlotism

Carlotism, also known as Carlotism in Brazil, refers to a historical movement and political ideology primarily centered around the proposal to enthrone Carlota Joaquina, the Spanish-born wife of King John VI of Portugal (and later Brazil), as the Queen Regent of the Rio de la Plata region in the early 19th century. This region encompassed present-day Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Bolivia.

The movement arose amidst the political instability and power vacuum created by the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. With the Spanish monarchy under the control of Napoleon Bonaparte, various factions in the Spanish colonies of South America sought alternative forms of governance.

Supporters of Carlotism believed that Carlota Joaquina, as a Bourbon princess and the senior-most Bourbon figure in the Americas at the time, held a legitimate claim to rule the region in the absence of a Spanish king. They saw her as a potential unifying figure who could maintain order and prevent the colonies from falling into the hands of other European powers, or succumbing to revolutionary chaos.

However, the Carlotist movement was fractured and faced significant opposition. Key figures like Manuel Belgrano and Cornelio Saavedra initially considered supporting Carlota, but ultimately became disillusioned. Many criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the Americas) feared that Carlota's rule would merely replace Spanish colonial authority with Portuguese influence, perpetuating a foreign-dominated regime. Other factions preferred outright independence.

Carlota Joaquina herself was an ambitious and controversial figure. While she entertained the idea of ruling the region, she was also perceived as being self-serving and distrusted by many. Her court in Rio de Janeiro was the center of various intrigues and conspiracies related to the possible regency.

Ultimately, the Carlotist movement failed to gain widespread support and did not succeed in establishing Carlota Joaquina as the ruler of the Rio de la Plata. The region eventually moved towards independence under various leaders, leading to the formation of the independent nations of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Carlotism is therefore remembered as a complex and ultimately unsuccessful episode in the early history of South American independence movements.