Charles II of Spain

Charles II^[a] (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700) became the last Habsburg ruler of Spain at the age of three in 1665. Now best remembered for his physical disabilities, and the War of the Spanish Succession that followed his death, his reign is generally viewed as one of managed decline. However, many of the issues pre-dated him, and the Spanish Empire remained largely intact at his death.

Charles II
Portrait of Charles II by Juan Carreño de Miranda, c. 1685
King of Spain (more...)
Reign	17 September 1665 – 1 November 1700
Predecessor	Philip IV
Successor	Philip V
Regent	Mariana of Austria (1665–1675)
Born	(1661-11-06)6 November 1661 Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain
Died	1 November 1700(1700-11-01) (aged 38) Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain
Burial	Monasterio del Escorial
Spouses	Marie Louise d'Orléans ​ ​ (m. 1679; died 1689)​ Maria Anna of Neuburg ​ ​ (m. 1689)​
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip IV of Spain
Mother	Mariana of Austria
Religion	Catholicism
Signature

For reasons that are still debated, Charles experienced extended periods of ill health throughout his life, and although twice married, neither union produced children. As a consequence, the question of his inheritance was a prominent consideration in European politics from the moment he became king. Historian John Langdon-Davies wrote that "...from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death".^[1]

The choice of his successor lay between Austrian Habsburg Archduke Charles, and 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Maria Theresa of Spain and Louis XIV of France. Acquisition of the Spanish Empire by either potentially threatened to alter the European balance of power in favour of France or Austria. Shortly before his death in November 1700, Charles named Philip his heir, and failure to resolve the issues arising through diplomacy led to war in 1701.

Personal details

Born on 6 November 1661, Charles was the only surviving son of Philip IV of Spain and Mariana of Austria, who were uncle and niece. While European nobility commonly married within the same extended family to retain property, the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were unusual in the extent to which they followed this policy. Of eleven marriages contracted by Spanish monarchs between 1450 and 1661, the vast majority contained some element of consanguinity, while Philip and Mariana were one of two unions between uncle and niece.^[2][b] One suggestion is this policy may have been partially driven by Spanish limpieza de sangre or "blood purity" statutes enacted in the early 16th century, which remained in use until the 1860s.^[3]

 

Charles as a child, c. 1673

Inter-marriage accentuated the so-called 'Habsburg jaw', a physical characteristic common in both Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs. One contemporary reported this was so pronounced in Charles that he swallowed his food without thoroughly chewing, leading to frequent stomach problems.^[4] A 2019 study based on an analysis of Habsburg portraits concluded this feature was likely due to a recessive trait; however, in the absence of genetic material, such claims remain speculative.^[5]

In reality, whether his ill-health resulted from inbreeding remains disputed. Neither his elder sister Margaret Theresa of Spain, or Maria Antonia, daughter of the marriage to her uncle Leopold, had similar issues. Based on an analysis of contemporary accounts, modern researchers speculate Charles may have had combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis.^[6] However, other studies argue his issues were more likely due to a herpetic infection incurred as an infant, while his autopsy report showed symptoms associated with hydrocephalus.^[7]

After his birth, he was entrusted to the royal governess Mariana Engracia Álvarez de Toledo Portugal y Alfonso-Pimentel.^[8] Under her careful supervision, he survived childhood attacks of measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, any one of which was then potentially fatal.^[9] He also had rickets, which left him unable to walk unaided until he was four and compelled him to wear leg braces until the age of five.^[10][c] Suggestions he was largely uneducated until his teens appear to be incorrect; Ramos del Manzano, a professor at the University of Salamanca and legal expert, was appointed his tutor when he was six.^[12] From the age of 12, he received lessons in music from Juan del Vado and in mathematics by Jose Zaragoza, Professor at the Colegio Imperial de Madrid, whom he later commissioned to carry out a number of engineering projects in Spain.^[13]

The extent of his alleged physical and mental disabilities is hard to assess, since very little is known for certain and much of what is suggested is either unproved or incorrect. While prone to illness, he was extremely active physically and contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting.^[14] One often cited example of his alleged mental incapacity is the period he spent sleeping with his father's disinterred body; this was in fact done under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help him produce an heir.^[15] Although reputedly subject to bouts of depression, his participation in government and reports from his council and foreign observers such as the French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquess of Torcy, indicate his mental capacities remained intact.^[16]

This is confirmed by a 1691 report submitted by an envoy from Ismail Ibn Sharif, Sultan of Morocco; sent to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, he was received by Charles himself, who played a full part in the discussions.^[17] Costanzo Operti, a Savoyard diplomat who held regular audiences with Charles during the Nine Years' War, described him as affable and generous but shy and lacking self-confidence, characteristics noted by other foreign diplomats.^[18]

Reign

 

Mariana of Austria by Diego Velázquez, c. 1656, Regent for Charles during his minority

Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. The Spanish Empire remained an enormous global confederation, but its economic supremacy was increasingly challenged by the Dutch Republic and England, and its position in Europe destabilised by the expansionist policies of Louis XIV of France.

Her ability to respond effectively to the challenges facing the Empire was hampered by an ongoing power struggle with Don Juan José de Austria, Charles's older illegitimate half-brother. In addition, enacting essential reforms was complicated since Spain was a personal union between the Crown of Castile and Crown of Aragon, each with very distinct political cultures and traditions.^[d][19] Infighting between those who ruled in Charles's name during his regency did little to help, but it is debatable how far they can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact.^[20]

However, government finances were in perpetual crisis, the Crown declaring bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1662, and 1666.^[21] Following the policy established by her husband Philip, Mariana ruled through a "valido",^[e] the first being her personal confessor and fellow Austrian, Juan Everardo Nithard.^[22] His most urgent task was to end the costly wars with France and Portugal, achieved in the 1668 treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon. Despite acknowledging their necessity, Don Juan forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. A member of the lower hidalgo class, his appointment was deeply resented by the Grandees who normally filled such positions.^[23]

In 1673, Spain was drawn into the Franco-Dutch War, placing additional strain on the economy and Don Juan renewed his efforts to remove Mariana as Regent. At his urging, Charles sent him an official summons in October 1675, a month before he reached the age of fourteen and became an adult; this instructed his brother to report to his chambers on 6 November and indicated his intention to take control of government. When the Regency Council and Mariana requested a two-year extension of the regency on 4 November, Charles refused but was then pressured into accepting and forced to issue a Royal Decree ordering Don Juan to leave Madrid.^[24]

 

Charles's illegitimate half-brother, Don Juan José de Austria, whose political feud with his mother undermined the stability of his regime

Don Juan finally gained control of the government in January 1678 and exiled Valenzuela to the Philippines. His first action was to make peace with France in the 1678 Treaties of Nijmegen, with Spain ceding Franche-Comté and areas of the Spanish Netherlands returned in 1668.^[25] Seeking to minimise future conflict between the two countries, in August 1679 Don Juan brokered a match between Charles and the 17-year-old Marie Louise of Orléans, eldest niece of Louis XIV and daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While the French ambassador wrote "... he is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill", it was considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Arranging the marriage was Don Juan's last significant act; he died shortly before it took place in November 1679.^[26]

In February 1680, the Duke of Medinaceli became the new valido. He clashed with Marie-Louise over the alleged influence exerted over her by the French ambassador, Pierre de Villars, who was expelled from Madrid in 1681, badly affecting the relationship between the two.^[27] Medinaceli was further undermined by economic problems and the loss of Luxembourg following the 1683 War of the Reunions. In June 1684, he sought to bolster his support by appointing the Count of Oropesa as President of the Council of Castile, the second most powerful position in the state. However, continuing ill-health led him to resign in April 1685, with Oropesa taking over as de facto valido.^[28] He retained this position until 1690.^[29]

Economy

The so-called "Little Ice Age" of the 17th century was a period of crisis throughout Europe, leading to poor harvests and economic decline.^[30] Spain was especially affected, due in part to the parlous economic situation, particularly in Castille, where the population dropped from 6.5 million in 1600 to less than 5 million in 1680, while figures for Spain as a whole were 8.5 to 6.6 million.^[31] This was exacerbated by a series of wars with France and the need to defend the Empire, which were a constant drain on public expenditure. In 1663, Philip IV had converted state debt into government bonds, or juros, but a history of default required high rates of interest, meaning taxes were often assigned to creditors years in advance to pay current liabilities. Although silver bullion imports from the Americas increased, the vast majority went to paying off foreign debtors.^[32]

One less obvious side effect of this globalisation of the Spanish trading system was that its opponents had the most to lose from its collapse. By the 1670s, foreign trade was controlled by Dutch and English merchants, while the domestic economy relied on French labour and imported wheat. The Marqués de Varinas, a senior colonial official, observed in 1687 that the Empire continued to exist in its present form "only because it enables the English, Dutch and French to exploit [it] more cheaply".^[33] In the 1680s, Spanish officials took steps to restore faith in the currency and issued a series of drastic deflationary decrees, revaluing the coinage at 25% of its previous value.^[34] The immediate impact was the total disruption of commerce and collapse of financial credit; in response, debtors were given three months to repay government debts using the existing rate, later extended to six months. Having stabilised the position, in 1686, the coinage was readjusted to a more favourable rate and thereafter left unaltered.^[35]

Succession

 

Marie Louise of Orléans, Charles's first wife

The domestic political situation was transformed when Marie-Louise died in February 1689, shortly after the outbreak of war with France; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe her illness was almost certainly appendicitis.^[f][36] In August, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690. Mariana died on 16 May 1696 and Maria Anna took control of access to Charles.^[36]

It was now clear Charles's health was finally failing, and agreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years' War showed France could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick was the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis's search for allies in anticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Emperor Leopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly did so in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities.^[37]

Although Charles was reportedly devoted to her, Marie Louise was blamed for the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gave her severe intestinal problems.^[38] There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles was impotent, and if so, the cause; based on private interviews with Marie Louise, he may have experienced premature ejaculation. The suggestion this resulted from inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies dispute any linkage between fertility and consanguinity.^[39] After Marie Louise died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg, daughter of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and sister-in-law to Emperor Leopold, who was selected partly because her family was famous for its fertility.^[40]

Despite these hopes, Maria Anna was no more successful in producing an heir than her predecessor, almost certainly because Charles was by now physically incapable of doing so; his autopsy later revealed his sole remaining testicle was atrophied.^[41] The question of the succession became increasingly urgent; since the Crown of Spain passed according to cognatic primogeniture, it could be inherited through the female line. This enabled Charles's sisters Maria Theresa (1638–1683) and Margaret Theresa to pass their rights to the children of their marriages with Louis XIV and Emperor Leopold. However, to prevent a union between Spain and France, Maria Theresa had renounced her inheritance rights on her marriage; in return, Louis was promised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid.^[42]

In 1685, Leopold and Margaret's daughter Maria Antonia married Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, England and the Dutch Republic attempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain and Austria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made Joseph Ferdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish monarchy, with France gaining the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Leopold's younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria's southern border.^[43]

 

Maria Anna of Neuburg, Charles's pro-Austrian second wife

The Spanish objected to their empire being divided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided Spanish monarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcement allegedly received by the Spanish councillors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand's death in 1699 ended these arrangements.^[44] It also left Louis XIV's eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heir to the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. In March 1700, France, England and the Dutch agreed an alternative; Archduke Charles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe split between France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favour of Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independent Spanish monarchy.^[45]

Most of the Castilian nobility disliked Maria Anna and her German courtiers and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure their independence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September he was no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favour of Louis XIV's grandson, Philip of Anjou.^[46] He died on 1 November 1700, five days before his 39th birthday. The autopsy records his "heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water."^[47] As suggested previously, these are indicative of hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one of many illnesses contracted by Charles.^[7]

Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16 November 1700, and the War of the Spanish Succession formally began on 9 July 1701.^[48]

Spanish Inquisition

 

Charles and Mariana preside over an auto-de-fé, Madrid, 30 June 1680.

Charles' reign saw the final political eclipse of the Spanish Inquisition, whose involvement in the succession struggle negated attempts to rebuild its former influence. This included holding a large public auto-da-fé in Madrid on 30 June 1680. When Charles changed his will in favour of Philip in 1700, the Inquisitor General Baltasar de Mendoza y Sandoval, an ally of Maria Anna, arrested his personal confessor Froilán Díaz on a charge of 'bewitching' the king. When Díaz was found not guilty, Mendoza attempted to arrest those who voted for his acquittal, resulting in the establishment of a Council to investigate the Inquisition; although it survived until 1834, its influence had ended.^[49]

Legacy

The 35-year reign of Charles II has traditionally been viewed as one of decline and decay; in 1691, a foreign ambassador commented that "it is incomprehensible how this monarchy survives".^[33] More recent studies have criticised these views, historian Luis Ribot arguing "both the myth of decline and an incapable king are simplistic and inexact".^[50] Others attest his reign was crucial for the clearest signs of demographic recovery after decades of crisis, the first major attempts to reform peninsula trade, and the beginning of a more open approach to European thought and science.

Although both the Spanish state and economy relied on silver and gold mined in the Americas, this had been the case since the 16th century, while bullion imports reached historic highs between 1670 and 1700.^[51] Despite their disastrous short-term impact, the financial measures ended the chronic instability which had affected the Spanish currency throughout the 17th century and helped drive sustainable economic growth.^[52] Many of the commercial and political policies initiated under Charles formed the basis for reforms enacted by his Bourbon successors.^[53]

 

Charles II adores the Holy Eucharist, one of the last and most significant examples of Spanish Baroque painting

Though not as fond of the arts as his father, Charles employed artists like the Italian painter Luca Giordano and Claudio Coello to decorate the Escorial. In 1690, the latter created one of the last and most significant examples of Spanish Baroque painting, Charles II adores the Holy Eucharist.^[54]

On 7 November 1693, a Royal Decree provided sanctuary in Spanish Florida for escaped slaves from the nearby colony of South Carolina.^[55] Despite its relative poverty, Spanish Florida provided protection from storms in the Gulf of Mexico for Spanish merchant shipping; the decree was intended to bolster its population, while undermining the neighbouring colony, which claimed the Spanish capital of St. Augustine.^[56] Formalised in 1733 by Philip, it led to the founding in 1738 of Santa Teresa de Mose, the first legally sanctioned free black town in the present-day United States.^[57]

The Caroline Islands and the town of Charleroi in modern Belgium were named after him in 1666 and 1686 respectively.^[58] Decrees were also issued in his name approving universities in South America which still exist. In Peru, they include San Cristóbal, established in 1680, and the National University; in Guatemala, the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, the fourth-oldest university on the continent. Others include Santo Tomas Aquino in 1688, now part of the Central University of Ecuador, and finally in 1694 the Universidad de San Nicolás de Mira in Bogotá, Colombia.^[59]

Family tree of claimants to the Spanish throne following the death of Charles II

Philip III King of Spain 1578–1621 Margaret of Austria 1584–1611 Ferdinand III Holy Roman Emperor 1608–1657 Maria Anna of Spain 1606–1646 Anne of Austria 1601–1666 Elisabeth of France 1602–1644 Philip IV King of Spain 1605–1665 Mariana of Austria 1635–1696 Louis XIV King of France 1638–1715 Maria Theresa of Spain 1638–1683 Charles II King of Spain 1661–1700 Margaret Theresa of Spain 1651–1673 Leopold I Holy Roman Emperor 1640–1705 Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg 1655–1720 Louis Grand Dauphin of France 1661–1711 Maria Antonia of Austria 1669–1692 Charles VI Holy Roman Emperor 1685–1740 Louis Petit Dauphin of France 1682–1712 Philip V King of Spain 1683–1746 Charles Duke of Berry 1686–1714 Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria 1692–1699 Notes Potential heirs are shown with a golden border. In cases of second marriages, the earlier spouse is to the left and the later to the right. References Durant, W.; Durant, A. (2011). The Age of Louis XIV: The Story of Civilization. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781451647655. Kamen, H. (2001). Philip V of Spain: The King Who Reigned Twice. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300180541.

Heraldry

Heraldry of Charles II of Spain
Coat of arms as King of Spain (1665–1668) Coat of arms as King of Spain (1668–1700) Coat of arms as King of Naples & Sicily (1665–1700) Coat of arms as Duke of Milan (1665–1700)         Lesser coat of arms as King of Naples (1665–1668) Coat of arms as King of Naples & Sicily (1665–1700) Coat of arms as King of Navarre (1665–1700) Coat of arms as King of Galicia (1665–1700)

Ancestry

v t e Ancestors of Charles II of Spain
Philip I of Castile^[i]^[ii]^[iii] 1478–1506 Joanna of Castile^[i]^[ii]^[iii] 1479–1555 Isabella of Portugal^[iv]^[v] 1503–39 Charles V Holy Roman Emperor^[iv]^[v] 1500–58 Ferdinand I Holy Roman Emperor^[vi]^[vii]^[viii] 1503–64 Anna of Bohemia and Hungary^[vi]^[vii]^[viii] 1503–47 Isabella of Austria^[ix] 1501–26 Christian II of Denmark^[ix] 1481–1559 Maria of Spain^[x] 1528–1603 Maximilian II Holy Roman Emperor^[x] 1527–76 Anna of Austria^[xi]^[xii] 1528–90 Albert V Duke of Bavaria^[xi]^[xii] 1528–1579 Christina of Denmark^[ix] 1522–90 Francis I Duke of Lorraine^[ix] 1517–45 Philip II of Spain^[xiii] 1527–98 Anna of Austria^[xiii] 1549–80 Charles II Archduke of Austria^[xiv]^[xv] 1540–90 Maria Anna of Bavaria^[xiv]^[xv] 1551–1608 William V Duke of Bavaria^[xvi] 1548–1626 Renata of Lorraine^[xvi] 1544–1602 Philip III of Spain^[xvii]^[xviii] 1578–1621 Margaret of Austria^[xvii]^[xviii] 1584–1611 Ferdinand II Holy Roman Emperor^[xix] 1578–1637 Maria Anna of Bavaria^[xix] 1574–1616 Maria Anna of Spain^[xix] 1606–46 Ferdinand III Holy Roman Emperor^[xix] 1608–57 Philip IV of Spain^[xx] 1605–65 Mariana of Austria^[xx] 1634–96 Charles II of Spain 1661–1700
Notes: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor at the Encyclopædia Britannica Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Joanna" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1860). "Habsburg, Elisabeth (eigentlich Isabella von Oesterreich)" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 6. p. 167 – via Wikisource. Kurth, Godefroid (1911). "Philip II" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Maria von Spanien" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 19 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1860). "Habsburg, Karl II. von Steiermark" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 6. p. 352 – via Wikisource. Press, Volker (1990), "Maximilian II.", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 16, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 471–475; (full text online) Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1860). "Habsburg, Anna von Oesterreich (1528–1587)" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 6. p. 151 – via Wikisource. Cartwright, Julia Mary (1913). Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan and Lorraine, 1522-1590. New York: E. P. Dutton. pp. 536–539. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1860). "Habsburg, Anna von Oesterreich (Königin von Spanien)" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 6. p. 151 – via Wikisource. Sigmund Ritter von Riezler (1897), "Wilhelm V. (Herzog von Bayern)", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 42, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 717–723 Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Maria von Bayern" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 20 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Philipp III." . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 120 – via Wikisource. Eder, Karl (1961), "Ferdinand II.", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 5, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 83–85; (full text online) Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Margaretha (Königin von Spanien)" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 13 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Maria Anna von Bayern" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 23 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Maria Anna von Spanien" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 23 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Philipp IV." . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 122 – via Wikisource. Wurzbach, Constantin von, ed. (1861). "Habsburg, Maria Anna (Königin von Spanien)" . Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich [Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire] (in German). Vol. 7. p. 24 – via Wikisource. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Charles II. (King of Spain)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Male-line family tree

Habsburg
^[n 1]  Original line  /  Albertinian line  /  Leopoldian line   Max and Philip line  /  Spanish / Iberian line  /  Austrian / HRE line  Albert Count of Habsburg (c. 1188–1239) Rudolf I of Germany (c. 1218–1291) Albert I of Germany (1255–1308) Hartmann (1263–1281) Rudolf II Duke of Austria (1270–1290) Rudolf I of Bohemia (1281–1307) Frederick the Fair (c. 1289–1330) Leopold I Duke of Austria (1290–1326) Albert II Duke of Austria (1298–1358) Henry the Friendly (1299–1327) Otto Duke of Austria (1301–1339) John Parricida (c. 1290–1312/13) Rudolf IV Duke of Austria (1339–1365) Frederick III Duke of Austria (1347–1362) Albert III Duke of Austria (1349–1395) Leopold III Duke of Austria (1351–1386) Frederick II Duke of Austria (1327–1344) Leopold II Duke of Austria (1328–1344) Albert IV Duke of Austria (1377–1404) William Duke of Austria (c. 1370–1406) Leopold IV Duke of Austria (1371–1411) Ernest Duke of Austria (1377–1424) Frederick IV Duke of Austria (1382–1439) Albert II of Germany (1397–1439) Frederick III HRE (1415–1493) Albert VI Archduke of Austria (1418–1463) Sigismund Archduke of Austria (1427–1496) Ladislaus the Posthumous (1440–1457) Maximilian I HRE (1459–1519) Philip I of Castile (1478–1506) Charles V HRE (1500–1558) Ferdinand I HRE (1503–1564) Philip II of Spain (1527–1598) Maximilian II HRE (1527–1576) Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria (1529–1595) Charles II Archduke of Austria (1540–1590) Carlos Prince of Asturias (1545–1568) Philip III of Spain (1578–1621) Rudolf II HRE (1552–1612) Ernest of Austria (1553–1595) Matthias HRE (1557–1619) Maximilian III Archduke of Austria (1558–1618) Albert VII Archduke of Austria (1559–1621) Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria (1561–1578) Andrew Margrave of Burgau (1558–1600) Charles Margrave of Burgau (1560–1618) Ferdinand II HRE (1578–1637) Maximilian Ernest of Austria (1583–1616) Leopold V Archduke of Austria (1586–1632) Charles of Austria (1590–1624) Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) Charles of Austria (1607–1632) Ferdinand of Austria (1609–1641) John-Charles of Austria (1605–1619) Ferdinand III HRE (1608–1657) Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (1614–1662) Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria (1628–1662) Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria (1630–1665) Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias (1629–1646) Charles II of Spain (1661–1700) Ferdinand IV King of the Romans (1633–1654) Leopold I HRE (1640–1705) Charles Joseph of Austria (1649–1664) Joseph I HRE (1678–1711) Charles VI HRE (1685–1740)
Notes: "Habsburg family tree". Habsburg family website. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

Notes

1. Spanish: Carlos II also known as the Bewitched (Spanish: El Hechizado)
2. Avunculate marriage, those between uncle and niece, or aunt and nephew, were unusual but not unknown; examples from this period include Maximilian of Bavaria and his niece Maria Anna in 1635, Prince Maurice of Savoy and Princess Luisa Cristina of Savoy in 1642, while Charles's sister married her uncle Leopold in 1666. It remains legal in states including Norway, Chile, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Russia
3. Rickets was common in the 17th century, even among the aristocracy; other examples include Charles I of England ^[11]
4. The Crown of Aragon was divided into the Kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, the Principality of Catalonia, and the Marquisate of Malta.
5. Its literal translation is "favourite", but more properly refers to a chief minister
6. Despite contemporary suggestions of poison, this claim was extremely common in an era when many illnesses were poorly understood, particularly since it could rarely be disproved.

References

1. Langdon-Davies 1963, p. 3.
2. Alvarez, Ceballos & Celsa 2009, pp. 3–4.
3. Kamen 2002, pp. 344–345.
4. Stanhope 1840, p. 79.
5. Vilas 2019, pp. 553–561.
6. Callaway 2013.
7. Turliuc 2019, pp. 76–78.
8. "Mariana Engracia de Toledo Portugal y Pimentel | Real Academia de la Historia".
9. Calvo 1998, p. 6.
10. Maura 1879, p. 288.
11. Keevil 1954, pp. 407–408.
12. Lozano 2018, p. 143.
13. Bordas & Robledo 1998, pp. 392–393.
14. Mitchell 2013, p. 303.
15. Mitchell 2013, pp. 307–308.
16. Rule 2017, pp. 91–108.
17. Stanley 1868, pp. 366–367.
18. Garcia & Alvariño 2015, pp. 291–293.
19. Mitchell 2013, pp. 7–9.
20. Storrs 2006, pp. 6–7.
21. Cowans 2003, pp. 26–27.
22. Mitchell 2013, p. 234.
23. Storrs 2006, p. 155.
24. Mitchell 2014, pp. 181–182.
25. Horne 2005, p. 168.
26. Mitchell 2013, p. 269.
27. Borgognoni 2018, p. 20-24.
28. Rex, Carolvs II, Hispaniarvm Et Indiarvm (30 May 2018). "REINADO DE CARLOS II: El VIII Conde de Oropesa, una breve biografía (PARTE III)". REINADO DE CARLOS II. Retrieved 27 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
29. Testino-Zafiropaulus 2015, pp. 273–276.
30. De Vries 2009, pp. 151–194.
31. "Charles II". Britannica.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
32. Kamen 2002, pp. 431–432.
33. Kamen 2002, p. 434.
34. Darby 2014, p. 74.
35. Kamen 1964, p. 63.
36. Rule 2017, p. 97.
37. Meerts 2014, p. 168.
38. García-Escudero López et al 2009, p. 181.
39. Bittles 2002, pp. 111–130.
40. Rommelse 2011, p. 224.
41. García-Escudero López et al 2009, p. 182.
42. Wolf 1968, p. 117.
43. Ward & Leathes 2010, p. 384.
44. Ward & Leathes 2010, p. 385.
45. McKay & Scott 1983, pp. 54–55.
46. Hargreaves-Mawdsley 1979, pp. 15–16.
47. Gargantilla 2005, p. ?.
48. Falkner 2015, p. 96.
49. Kamen 1965, p. 185.
50. Ribot 2018, p. 215.
51. Kamen 2002, p. 435.
52. Villanueva 2006, pp. 14–15.
53. Fox 2013, p. 55.
54. Sullivan 1985, pp. 243–259.
55. Dubcovsky 2016, p. 114.
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Charles II of Spain House of Habsburg Born: 6 November 1661 Died: 1 November 1700
Regnal titles
Preceded by Philip IV	King of Spain, Sardinia, Naples, and Sicily; Duke of Milan, Lothier, Brabant, Limburg and Luxemburg Count of Flanders, Hainaut and Namur 1665–1700	Succeeded by Philip V
	Count Palatine of Burgundy 1665–1678	Annexed by France
Spanish royalty
Vacant Title last held by Philip Prospero	Prince of Asturias 1661–1665	Vacant Title next held by Louis Philip