The Queen Of Spain. The most famous Queen of Spain

Spain emerged on the world map only in the late fifteenth century, after the Castilian-Aragonese Union 1479. And before then in the Iberian Peninsula there were several individual States. Even though they were fairly closely linked, but each of them had their own kings and Queens. Spain as such did not exist.

Princess Isabella of Castile

In fact, it is the first and is still extremely revered Queen of Spain. Isabella was born in 1451 and was the daughter of Juan II, and sister of Enrique IV. She grew up away from the Palace, in the wilderness of Arevalo, where he was brought up in piety.

In his youth, Isabella I never thought about the Royal power, as the land was ruled by her older brother Enrique, legally took the throne, when the sister was only three years. Besides, the Royal family was another child, whose name was Alfonso. Only being a teenager, the girl was able to appear in the Palace. Gossip, squabbles and intrigues that prevailed there, was alien to her – she preferred to pray to God, not to give orders to subordinates.

Power Struggle

I Must say that the Royal brother of Isabella, Henry IV, had the nickname “El Impotent". And, as they say, not without reason. In 1462, his wife Juan Portuguese gave birth to a daughter, and almost all were convinced that the child's father was her lover, beltrán de La Cueva, Duke of Albuquerque.

This circumstance greatly influenced the further political developments in 1468 the fact that at that time suddenly your brother die Isabella and Enrique, Alfonso, who just turned 14 years old. Immediately the question arose: who will be the next heir to the throne of Castile?

Recommended

"Knowledge is light and ignorance is darkness": the value, meaning and alternatives

There are some sayings that would seem to need no explanation, such as “teaching & ndash; light and ignorance – darkness”. But some still do not understand their meaning. But not only for such people is written by our article. I...

What was invented by Mendeleev for the army. The history and fate of the invention

D. I. Mendeleev was a brilliant Russian scientist-polymath, who made many important discoveries in various fields of science and technology. Many people know that he is the author of “Fundamentals of chemistry" and the periodic law of chem...

The origin of the Slavs. The influence of different cultures

Slavs (under this name), according to some researchers, appeared in the story only in 6 century ad. However, the language of nationality bears the archaic features of the Indo-European community. This, in turn, suggests that the origin of the Slavs h...

By law, the crown was due to inherit the daughter of Enrique IV of Juan Beltranena. But the opposition, consisting of the higher nobility, the head of which was the Archbishop of Toledo, and didn't want to hear about the illegitimate Royal offspring, preferring thus the Princess Isabella.

The Marriage of a Princess

After the sudden death of Alfonso under pressure of the nobility, Enrique was forced to sign a contract with his sister Isabella, according to which it was to be his heir. But the king pushed the Princess one condition – she could not marry without his consent. This contract he actually confirmed the betrayal of his wife, thereby removing his only daughter Joan from the succession. However, the wife of the king was not going to give up so easily and was eager to rehabilitate himself as to her husband and courtiers, and to the people. Conflict was brewing.

He broke out in 1469, before Isabella decided to secretly marry Ferdinand II of Aragon. Then again, Enrique IV declared his own daughter Joan his heiress, accusing her sister in violation of the agreements. Such resentment of the king was caused by the refusal of Isabel to marry the Portuguese king Afonso V, the brother of his wife Juans.

The First Queen of Spain

After the death of Henry IV broke out in the country a real civil war – the supporters of Juana Beltraneja and Isabel of Castile fought for life and death. The culmination of this confrontation is the battle of Toro, which was held in 1479, After it was signed by the Castilian-Aragonese Union, which was erected by Isabella I to the Spanish throne.

During his reign literally for some 20-30 years, she along with her husband Ferdinand II managed to unite almost all the Spanish land. In 1492, took place the conquest of Granada and conquest of the Canary Islands, called once Happy. With the support of Queen Isabella I Columbus went in search of new lands and discovered America. Contemporaries, and in particular Hernando del Pulgar noted her quiet nature, gentleness and cheerfulness, but she could give tough orders and to make sudden and accurate decisions.

Her Indomitable spirit evident in the time she accompanied her spouse during the invasion of Spanish troops to Granada in 1491, She experienced all the vicissitudes of war and went with her husband in a conquered capital. By the way, in Granada, the Royal chapel, and was buried the couple.

Queen Isabella I of Spain gave birth to seven children. Most of them she survived for a few years. The latest and most severe blow to her in 1497 resulted in the death of her son and heir to the throne don Juan of Asturias. Isabella died in 1504 at the age of 53 years. Its successor was the daughter of Juan, later called the Mad, which during the life of the Queen traced a very unbalanced character. Given this fact, a will was made a few special conditions.

Isabella Portuguese

Her husband Charles V of Habsburg even more firmly together all the Spanish land, and after declaring him ruler of the Holy Roman Empire Isabella becomes Queen of Italy, Germany, Sicily and Naples and the Duchess of Burgundy. For many years she remained Regent of Spain, as her husband was often absent, being engaged in important public Affairs outside the home.

Isabella – the Queen of Spain, was born on 24 October 1503, She was the eldest daughter in a family of Portugueseking Manuel I and his second wife-the Infanta Maria of Castile and Aragon. Spouse Charles V had her cousin. Their Union was signed in November, 1525, for political reasons, but despite this, he later became a marriage of love. As noted by her contemporaries, Isabella was extremely smart and beautiful.

She was when She died in Toledo in early may, 1539, ill or flu, or pneumonia. At the time Isabella was pregnant for the sixth time. The Emperor was not close, but her sudden death struck him to the core. After this tragedy, he never married and all the rest of her life she wore only black clothes.

Elizabeth French (Valois)

She was born April 2, 1545 Elizabeth was a representative of the famous dynasty of Valois. Her father – king Henry II of France and mother – Catherine de Medici. Despite the fact that the Princess was originally betrothed to another Spanish Prince don Carlos, her married to another.

So it was that the peace Treaty signed in Kato-Cambrésis in 1559, on the occasion of the end of the war between Spain and France had one paragraph where the precondition of the conclusion was the marriage of Princess Elisabeth and king Philip II. It was then just a teenager when she had to get used to a new life away from home. Contemporaries noted that Elizabeth – the Queen of Spain could not fail to fascinate with its beauty, fashionable clothes and elegant manners. She conquered not only her husband and his courtiers, but all the people.

The fact that her husband loved and cherished her, says the following fact: when a young Queen is taken ill with smallpox, Philip II almost did not depart from his wife and selflessly cared for her. Despite the risk of Contracting the most! As you know, the king was very unwelcoming, cold and calculating, but after his marriage, he became a loving husband and cheerful person.

This Queen of Spain five times she was pregnant, but she was unable to give her husband the heir to the throne. The first time Elizabeth gave birth to a son, but he died just a few hours. Following the birth was premature, as her health was very weak. But in 1566, she gave birth to daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia, and a year – Catalina Micaela. In 1568, during the next pregnancy and childbirth failed, she died at the age of 23 years. Soon the monarch married for the fourth time. The choice of the king was his own niece, Anne of Austria, who gave him a son, the long-awaited heir to the throne.

A History of Spain knows a lot of Queens that are worth telling in detail, but in one article it is impossible. So let's talk about living.

Sofia Greek and Danish

She was born in Athens on 2 November 1938, Sofia – a representative of the house of Glucksburg. Her mother – Princess Frederica of Hanover, and his father – king Paul I. in addition, she is a relative of the Russian Imperial family Romanov and we have a great-granddaughter of Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna, who became Queen of Greece, she was married to George I.

Sofia was the oldest child in the family. Besides her, there was a brother, who after the death of his father the king of Greece, Constantine II, who in 1967 was dethroned, and a younger sister, Irena. After the country adopted a new Constitution, the Royal titles have completely lost their value.

In mid-may 1962 Sofia Greek and Danish married the Spanish Prince Juan Carlos. She had to renounce Christianity and to adopt the faith of his wife – Catholicism. In late November, 1975, immediately after the death of the dictator Franco, Juan Carlos proclaimed king. So Greek Princess became Queen of Spain. To the present time the Royal couple has three children and eight grandchildren.

Social activity

Except that Sofia goes everywhere with her husband, both within the country and abroad, she is also involved in charity. She is President of a private Foundation, which in 1993 had allocated a lot of funds that contributed to the liberation and subsequent economic support to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, the now ex-Queen of Spain focused on education and support for people with disabilities. But the special attention it pays to the Fund, which was created specifically to combat addiction.

Now it's safe to say that Sofia – the Queen not only by blood but by profession, as her fragile shoulders rests the whole burden of the family problems which from time to time appear in her house. She masterfully smoothes all conflicts arising in connection with a rather violent temper of her husband.

Letizia Ortiz: a girl of the people

She was born 15 Sep 1972 in a small town, located in the North-West of Spain in the family of journalist jesús Ortiz álvarez and nurses Mary Rocasolano. Laetitia has had two sisters: older – Thelma and younger – Eric, who has long suffered from depression and in 2007 died of a drug overdose. After school, the girl went to College, organized with the University of Madrid, where he graduated, becoming a journalist.

Before he met with the heir to the Spanish crown Prince Philip and Letizia Ortiz managed to make a great career. For the first time she got married when she was 26 years old. Itlover was Alfonso pérez, a teacher of literature. This marriage did not last long and broke up a year later, the former couple parted peacefully and still maintain friendly relations.

Spanish Cinderella

Crown Prince Philippe, son of king Juan Carlos I and his wife Sofia Greek, first met Leticia Ortiz in 2003 in that time she led a journalistic investigation into the sinking of the oil tanker from the Spanish coast. Upon arrival, she hurried to take comments relating to this incident, officials. from them she learned that here arrived and Prince Philip.

It is Worth noting that to interview the Royal baby was not some great journalistic achievement - we all know, the Spaniards are no longer experiencing a particularly reverent feelings for the monarchy. In addition, it is no secret that Prince Philip is a very open person, quite willing to communicate with ordinary people. He gave an interview to Leticia, which commented on the whole situation, and then asked for her phone number. After this the lovers began to meet, but their first date was a secret because he was afraid of condemnation from their parents. A few months later, Letizia quit her job, and a few days later they announced their engagement.

The Attack on the Princess of Asturias

Needless to say that to the relatives of the groom, and the whole of Spain, such a statement was a real surprise. The future Queen and Philip were married may 22, 2004 This event was broadcast on all the major TV channels, making the ceremony were able to see more than half a million people worldwide. After the wedding, the Princess did rhinoplasty. According to the official version, Leticia already had a natural curvature of the nasal septum. However, in journalistic circles, it was rumored, alleged the operation was done because she didn't play very well in the photo, along with the Prince.

I Must say that the attacks did not end there. October 31, 2005 in a married couple was born the first daughter, Leonora, and two years later, on April 29, was born the second – Sofia. After birth, the future Queen Letizia began to lose its former shape, so she decided to go on a strict diet. As a result, within a few weeks she lost a lot of weight. Because of this, she openly accused almost in the promotion of anorexia, adding that her take the example of the young Spaniard. This wave of criticism provoked street protests. To avoid further accusations in her address, the Prince was forced to leave with his wife on vacation, where you literally forced her to eat normally.

Queen of Spain Letizia

In June 2014, 76 year old king Juan Carlos I abdicated. On his decision to the monarch declared himself in a special address to the nation. He was succeeded by son Philip, Prince of Asturias. So the former journalist became Queen of Spain. After Letitia had married a Prince, she had to abandon her favorite pant suits and to dress in more feminine clothing. In her wardrobe appeared elegant dresses and skirt sets.

Over time, journalists stopped paying attention to the scandalous episodes from the past, as, by the way, the current 43-year-old Queen of Spain is not so perfect, and increasingly began to speak of her as a worthy heir to the former spouse of the monarch, Sofia. For several years wife of Philip VI as one of the most elegant and beautiful woman in Europe. At this point, that the country received not only well prepared for the throne of the monarch, but a woman worthy to be near him, that which is former journalist and now Queen of Spain-Letizia Ortiz.