Person
Austria, Margarita de (1584-1611, reina consorte de España)Other forms
Graz (Estiria, Austria) 1584-12-25 - San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid, España) 1611-10-03
She was born in Graz (actual Austria) on December 25, 1584 and died in El Escorial (Spain) on October 3, 1611. Queen Consort of Spain (1598-1611). Daughter of Archduke Charles II Francis of Austria and Archduchess Maria Anna of Bavaria, in 1599 she married Philip III of Spain with the purpose of consolidating the alliance between the Spanish branch and the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs. This marriage was celebrated by powers in Ferrara, St Leopold's day, patron of Habsburg Spain, to be later confirmed in Madrid. At the same time the marriage of Isabella Clara Eugenia, youngest daughter of Philip II of Spain, and Archduke Albert of Austria was agreed. On February 3, 1599 they went to Genoa, where the Admiral of Castile, Andrea Doria, awaited them with an armada of forty galleys. On the 10th they started they journey to Valencia. Lope de Vega mentions these weddings in his comedy "El catalán valeroso." After the festivities the King and the Queen travelled to Barcelona, where they reunited Cortes. In Zaragoza the king swore the Fueros (regional codes of laws) and freedom was given to the family of Antonio Pérez. In 1600, on the advice of the Duke of Lerma, the court moved to Valladolid and the King and the Queen settled in the palace of the Duke of Benavente. Nevertheless, the official services did not fit in the city and were scattered; in fact, the chancery was set up in Medina del Campo and the fair was moved to Burgos. In 1606 the king decided to return to Madrid. Already as Queen of Spain, Margaret of Austria faced the Duke of Lerma, supporter of her husband, because of the great influence he had on the kingdom's affairs. In retaliation, Lerma caused that his German servants were fired and succeeded in getting Margaret not to receive memorials or petitions, which diminished her influence in the court. Margaret, supported by the royal confessor Fray Luis de Aliaga, promoted the prosecution (because of corruption) of several of Lerma's trusted men, among them Rodrigo Calderón, who was acquitted. Throughout her life, the Queen expressed interest in the spiritual life; she had conversations and epistolary exchanges with significant religious personalities within Spain, such as Sister Mariana de San José, founding nun of La Encarnación convent, foundational work to which Queen Margaret provided art works and monetary resources. She was also a reader of works by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Teresa of Jesus, or Saint John of God. Margaret and Philip had eight children, but some of them did not reached adulthood; Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII of France; the future Philip IV; Infanta Maria Anna of Spain, wife of Ferdinand III and Charles and Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand. The Queen died because of complications of her eighth labour.
Hija del archiduque Carlos II de Estiria y de María Ana de Baviera.
Ferrera Cuesta, Carlos: Diccionario de Historia de España.-Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2005.
RUBIO ARAGONÉS, M.J. Reinas de España: las Austrias. Siglos XV-XVIII, de Isabel la Católica a Mariana de Neoburgo.-Madrid, La Esfera de los Libros, 2010
PÉREZ MARTÍN, M.J. Margarita de Austria, reina de España. Espasa Calpe.-Madrid, 1961.
GARCÍA CUESTA, T. Doble homenaje tributado a la Reina Doña Margarita de Austria en Palencia.
MORATA PÉREZ, J.M. Las honras granadinas en la muerte de la Reina Margarita de Austria (1611).