The expression "¡Vivan las cadenas! (Long live our chains!) is associated with the return of despotic rule by Fernando VII after
the defeat of Napoleon. The majority of Spaniards wanted a strong, despotic monarch even after having tasted a more liberal, democratic state for the first time.
The reason for this desire to return the absolutism is because the monarchies in the Iberian Kingdoms (Portugal and Spain), was connected to the concept of religious representation, I mean, the King was part of God's will. Spaniards were not used to understand a liberal government, and the idea of self-government was strange.
I would say that "half" is the best option: UK and Spain were never conquered for example, but France, Denmark and Norway were, and so were the Benelux and Austria.
