MARRIAGE OF CHARLES II OF SPAIN TO MARIA ANNA OF PFALZ-NEUBURG

VISMARA, Giovanni: Spain, ca.1689, Bronze, 70 mm
Obv: Bust of Charles II (r)    CAROLVS II HISP. REX
Rev: Bust of Maria Anna    MARIA ANNA VXOR. II (Maria Anna, Second Wife).
Ref: Ex. Samml Fallot, #193;  Europese Penningen # 999; Weiss BW380

Charles II (1661-1700), King of Spain from 1665, was the second son of Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665) and Maria Anna, the daughter of the Emperor Ferdinand III. He was weak, indolent and mentally disabled from birth. He was brought up by his Austrian mother, who was later exiled from court by Don John of Austria, a natural son of Philip IV.  In 1679, Charles married Maria Louisa of Orleans. On her death, in 1689 Charles married Maria Anna von Pfalz-Neuburg, the event commemorated by this medal. 

Maria Anna of Pfalz-Neuberg (1667-1740) was the daughter of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt.  Her elder sister Eleonora was the wife of Emperor Leopold I. The marriage of Maria Anna to Charles II of Spain thereby further cemented the ties between the Spanish and Austrian branches of the Habsburgs.  However, under pressure from the cardinal archbishop of Toledo, Portocarrero, Charles  bequeathed his dominions to Philip, Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV.  This led to the War of the Spanish Succession and ended the inglorious line of the Spanish Habsburgs.

LINK to biography and portraits of Charles II (from Wikipedia)

LINK to biography and portraits of Maria Anna (from Wikipedia)

HOME PAGE