archaeogeek
Banned
Indeed, proposals for autonomous monarchies in America had been floated for decades. Godoy proposed that Louisiana should become a kingdom with a Spanish prince in 1797, and in 1806 Carlos IV considered the establishment of New World kingdoms in New Spain, New Granada, Peru, and Rio de la Plata. It resurfaced after Ferdinand's restoration as well, at least in the New World.
So, thoughts?
Godoy's predecessor, Aranda, wanted not 4 but three crowns (and the Indies would have stayed Spanish) - I'm not sure the 1806 proposal by the king would have had four (although in 1806 Rio de la Plata was more solidly established it always sort of felt as "Peru-bis", plus finding the Bourbon dynasts to bear the crowns, in 1806, was more difficult than it seems at first sight). I've also read up on the Prince of Salerno and it seemed his father had huge ambitions for him - ambitions cut short when the british arrested him on the way to Mexico. The thing I'm writing on that starting point is probably going to get interesting right around the death of Carlos IV as I made him king of Granada >.>