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MARRIAGE OF CHARLES II OF SPAIN TO MARIA ANNA OF PFALZ-NEUBURG VISMARA, Giovanni: Spain, ca.1689, Bronze, 70 mm 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, daughter of Philipp Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg, the event commemorated by this medal. 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. |
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