What No One Told You About Carlos II, the Bewitched: The Last Spanish Habsburg Who Couldn’t Have Children
In the shadows of the Habsburg palaces, where power and decay intertwine, rises the tragic figure of Carlos II, known as The Bewitched. This monarch, who reigned from 1665 to 1700, was not only the last Spanish Habsburg but is also remembered for his inability to leave heirs. His story is one of palace intrigues, curses, and a fate that carries the weight of a dynasty on the brink of collapse. Join us in uncovering the secrets surrounding the life of this king marked by misfortune and mystery.
A Birth Surrounded by Omens: The Fate of Carlos II
Carlos II was born on November 6, 1661, in the Royal Palace of Madrid, the son of Philip IV of Spain and Mariana of Austria. From his birth, the omens were not favorable. Throughout his childhood, he was attributed with physical and mental defects that many chroniclers of the time associated with the famous "Habsburg curse," a result of centuries of inbreeding within the royal family. His mother, Mariana, came to be seen as a tragic figure, trapped in a marriage seemingly destined to produce an heir but which only brought misfortune.
The theories about his condition varied. Some sources spoke of his inability to speak clearly, his abnormal physical development, and a series of illnesses that would plague him throughout his life. Historical documents indicate that Carlos II suffered from hydrocephalus and other anomalies that made him appear as a king who, in the end, could not fulfill his most basic duty: to leave an heir to perpetuate the Habsburg line.
The Spell of a Monarch: Intrigues and Power at the Spanish Court
The court of Carlos II became a battlefield of political struggles and intrigues. With the king unable to govern...