Person
Carlos II (1661-1700, rey de España)Other forms
Madrid (España) 1661-11-06 - Madrid (España) 1700-11-01
Charles II was King of Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia, Duke of Milan, sovereign of the Netherlands, and Count of Burgundy. He was born in Madrid on 6 November 1661 and died in the same city on 1 November 1700. Son and heir of Philip IV and Mariana of Austria, he remained under the regency of his mother until he reached adulthood in 1675. He married twice: firstly, on November 19, 1679 he married Marie Louise d'Orléans (1662-1689), niece of Louis XIV of France, although he died with no descendants; and secondly, on May 4, 1690 he married Maria Anna of Neuburg (1667-1740). They did not have children either, leading to a serious succession conflict. Given the King's lack of direct posterity, a complex network of palace intrigues began around it. This issue, which became a matter of State, consumed the efforts of European diplomacy. After the death of the agreed heir, Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria, in 1699, on 3 October 1700 King Charles II made a testament in favour of Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France and of his sister, Infanta Maria Theresa of Austria (1638-1683), eldest daughters of Philip IV. On November 6 news of the king's death reached Versailles. On the 16 of that month Louis XIV announced that he adhered to the provisions of the Spanish king's testament. Philip V of Spain travelled to Madrid, where he arrived on January 22, 1701 although this succession decision would bring the consequent conflict that led to the War of the Spanish Succession. Reign: King of Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia: 1665-1700
Hijo de Felipe IV, rey de España, y de Mariana de Austria.
BERNECKER, Walther; COLLADO SEIDEL, Carlos y HOSER, Paul (ed. dirigida)., Los reyes de España: dieciocho retratos históricos desde los Reyes Católicos hasta la actualidad.- Madrid, Siglo XXI de España, 2005, p. 113-132.
FERRERA CUESTA, Carlos., Diccionario de historia de España.- Madrid, Alianza Editorial, 2005.
RIBOT GARCÍA, Luis Antonio., "Biografías imprescindibles. nº 13. Carlos II. El monarca incapaz" en Clío: Revista de historia, Nº. 63, 2007, p. 76-89.
MAURA GAMAZO, Gabriel., Vida y reinado de Carlos II.- Madrid, Espasa-Calpe, 1942.
CONTRERAS, Jaime., Carlos II el Hechizado. Poder y melancolía en la Corte del último Austria.- Madrid, Temas de Hoy, 2003.
CALVO POYATO, José., La vida y época de Carlos II el Hechizado.- Barcelona, Ed. Planeta, 1998.
RIBOT GARCÍA, Luis Antonio (coord.)., Carlos II: el rey y su entorno cortesano.- Madrid, Centro de Estudios Europa Hispánica, 2009.