Which of Napoleon's brothers became King of Spain?
Answer
Joseph Bonaparte
Answer
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s older brother, became King of Spain. Napoleon installed him on the Spanish throne in 1808 after forcing the Bourbon royal family to abdicate during the crisis known as the Abdications of Bayonne.
Joseph had already ruled as King of Naples from 1806 to 1808, but Napoleon transferred him to Spain and gave Naples to Joachim Murat. Joseph reigned as Joseph I of Spain, although his authority depended heavily on French military power and was resisted by large parts of the Spanish population.
His arrival helped ignite the Peninsular War, a long conflict involving Spanish guerrillas, British and Portuguese forces, and the French army. Opponents derisively called him “Pepe Botella,” accusing him of drinking heavily, although the popular nickname was not a reliable description of his habits.
Joseph’s Spanish reign ended in 1813 after French defeats, including the Battle of Vitoria. Napoleon’s other brothers held different positions: Louis became King of Holland, Jérôme became King of Westphalia, and Lucien never became a king.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026