born May 12, 1767, Castuera, Spain
died Oct. 4, 1851, Paris, France
Spanish politician.
He entered the royal bodyguard in 1784 and soon became the lover of Maria Luisa, wife of the future Charles IV . On Charles's accession (1788) Godoy continued as a royal favourite and was made duke de Alcudia and prime minister (1792–98, 1801–08). In 1795 Godoy negotiated a favourable peace after Spain's defeat by France and was awarded the title Prince of the Peace. He allied Spain with France against England, which brought a Spanish naval defeat at Cape St. Vincent (1797) and the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Napoleon planned to seize parts of Spain in the {{link=Peninsular War">Peninsular Wars , the Spanish court tried to flee. Charles was forced to abdicate, and Godoy accompanied him into exile.