del Riego y Bustillos. On 4 September 1821, because of a failed republican revolt, he was wrongly accused of republicanism and imprisoned. However, his popularity grew, and demonstrations took place in Madrid demanding his release. In March 1822, he was elected to the Cortes Generales and eventually released from prison. In December 1822, at the Congress of Verona, the Quintuple Alliance countries decided that a Spain that was bordering on republicanism was a threat to the balance of Europe, and France was chosen to force a restoring of the absolute monarchy in Spain. On 7 April 1823, the French army crossed the borders. Riego took command of the Third Army and resisted the invaders as well as local absolutist groups. On 15 September he was betrayed and taken prisoner in a country estate near the village of Arquillos, Jaén. He was taken to Madrid. Despite asking for clemency from the King, having approached religion and repented of his "constitutional crimes" during his imprisonment, completely retracting at the last minute his political convictions to the delight of the absolutists, Riego was found guilty of high treason against altar and throne, as he was one of the members of parliament who voted in favor of taking the power from the King. On 7 November 1823, he was hanged at La Cebada Square in Madrid. Memory El Himno de Riego, a song written in honour of Riego, became the anthem of the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939). Currently his portrait is displayed in the building of the Cortes Generales. Notes 1784 births 1823 deaths People from Tineo Spanish generals Captain Generals of Galicia Spanish politicians Spanish Freemasons Executed Spanish people People executed for treason against Spain People executed by Spain by hanging 19th-century executions by Spain University of Oviedo alumni Spanish military personnel of the Napoleonic Wars