The 1808 Móstoles Proclamation That Called Spain to Arms

The 1808 proclamation by the mayors of Móstoles is a call to military action against the French troops, set at the start of the Peninsular War (Spain's War of Independence).

## The Spark of the Uprising

On **9 September 1808**, the mayors of **Móstoles**, **Andrés Torrejón** and **Simón Hernández**, issued a proclamation that has become a symbol of Spanish resistance. The text, addressed to the local authorities, describes a state of emergency: the presence of French troops near **Ceuta** and blood being shed inside the city. The rhetoric is clear: it appeals to patriotism and the need to defend the homeland against an enemy that, under the guise of friendship, seeks to impose a "heavy yoke". The mention of the "august person of the Dog" is a veiled reference to **Fernando VII**, whose forced abdication in favour of **Napoleon Bonaparte** was one of the triggers of the conflict.

## A Call to Arms

The proclamation does not stop at merely describing the threat. It urges readers to "take active measures to punish such treachery", a clear call to mobilisation and armed confrontation. It stresses the need to come to the aid of **Ceuta** and other towns, seeking to awaken a sense of unity and courage among the Spanish. The closing line, "there are no forces that can prevail against one who is loyal and brave, as the Spanish are", seeks to instil courage and confidence in the people's ability to repel the invasion. Beyond its historical value, this document is an example of how communication and propaganda played a crucial role in the outbreak of the **Peninsular War**.