For your consideration is a rare and important hand-signed antique Royal 1698 manuscript document / letter / commission / appointment / order / decree / edict by HRH King Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700). The subject matter of this rare royalty document is concerning. Doubled due to lost office that was given to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, general treasurer of the Crown of Aragon, freeing him 50362 and a half and 11 maravedis from the Regesta de la Bailía de Valencia for the expenses of the treasury of this present year of 1696. Hand-signed autograph “Yo el Rey” (I THE KING) in iron gallic ink by King CARLOS II Spain, in Madrid, dated December 22, 1696. Manuscript laid-paper document bearing stamped Royal Crown of Carlos II. One thousand six hundred and ninety-six. Measures 210 x 285mm. The condition of this specific document is as pictured in the 12 images provided. Document has been subject to toning, stains, folds, tears, rips, missing pieces, wormholes, etc. 16th century period document on laid paper (watermarked). Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), also known as El Hechizado or the Bewitched, was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. He is best remembered for his alleged physical disabilities, and the war that followed his death. Charles suffered ill-health throughout his life; from the moment he became king at the age of four in 1665, the succession was a prominent consideration in European politics. The historian John Langdon-Davies summarised this as follows: “Of no man is it more true to say that in his beginning was his end; from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death”. Despite two marriages, he remained childless. When he died in 1700, his heir was 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV and his first wife, Charles’s elder half-sister, Maria Theresa. However, the succession of Charles was less important than the division of his territories, and the failure to resolve that question led to war in 1701. For political reasons, marriages between Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were common; Philip and Mariana were uncle and niece, making Charles their great-nephew and first cousin once removed respectively. All eight of his great-grandparents were descendants of Joanna and Philip I of Castile. The best-known consequence of such inbreeding is the’Habsburg jaw’, a physical characteristic shared by many Habsburgs, including Charles. However, despite what is often claimed, the extent to which this inbreeding was responsible for his numerous health issues is unclear, and disputed; Margaret Theresa, his elder sister, did not have the same issues. Based on contemporary accounts of his symptoms, he may have suffered from combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis. If correct, these would be indicative of rare genetic disorders, possibly caused by inbreeding. However, in the absence of genetic material, they remain speculation; even a 2019 study by the same team on the Habsburg jaw, based on analysis of portraits, could only conclude a genetic link was’highly likely’. Another suggestion is his health problems derived from a herpetic infection shortly after birth, while his autopsy report indicates hydrocephalus. Regardless of the cause, Charles suffered physical ill-health throughout his life, as well as depression; by the age of six, he had had measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, each of which was then potentially fatal. His Habsburg jaw was so pronounced he spoke and ate only with difficulty, and did not learn to talk until the age of four. However, it was Mariana who insisted he be carried everywhere until he was eight, and left uneducated, to reduce the’strain’ on his body and mind. Although prone to illness, contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting. In reality, very little is known for certain, and much of what is suggested unproved, or incorrect. One famous example of his alleged mental problems is that he slept with his father’s body; while true, it was done under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help him produce an heir. Reports from his council and foreign ambassadors indicate his mental capacities remained intact. Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. While the Spanish Empire, or’Monarchy’, remained an enormous global confederation, its economic supremacy was challenged by the Dutch Republic, and increasingly England, while Europe was destabilized by French expansion under Louis XIV. Managing these issues was damaged by Mariana’s power struggle with Charles’s illegitimate half-brother, John of Austria the Younger. Administrative reforms were complex, since the Kingdom of Spain was a personal union of the two Crowns of Castile and Aragon, each with very different political cultures and traditions. As a result, government finances were in perpetual crisis; the Crown declared bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1661 and 1666. However, the 17th century was a period of economic crisis for many European states, and Spain was not alone in facing these problems. Infighting between those who ruled in Charles’s name did little to help, but it is debatable how far they or he can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The Monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact. Mariana followed this precedent, her first choice being her Austrian personal confessor, Father Juan Everardo Nithard; modern assessments of her competence are often based on reports by contemporaries, who generally believed women were incapable of exercising power on their own. The costs of the Portuguese Restoration War, and the War of Devolution with France, forced the Crown to declare bankruptcy in 1662 and 1666, making reductions in expenditure urgent. The 1668 treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon ended the war with France, and accepted Portuguese independence. John forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. The regency was dissolved when Charles became a legal adult in 1675, then restored in 1677 on the basis of his health. The 1672 Franco-Dutch War dragged Spain into another war with France over the Spanish Netherlands, placing additional strain on the economy. The 1683-84 War of the Reunions with France was followed in 1688 by the Nine Years’ War. Shortly afterwards, Marie Louise died in February 1689; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe her illness was almost certainly appendicitis. In August, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690; after his mother died on 16 May 1696, he ruled in his own name, although Maria Anna played a significant role due to his ill-health and her control over access to Charles. It was clear Charles’s health was finally failing and agreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years’ War showed France could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick was the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis’s search for allies in anticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Austrian Habsburg Emperor Leopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly did so in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities. One of John’s last acts was arranging Charles’s marriage in 1679 to Marie Louise, eldest daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While the French ambassador wrote’… He is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill’, it was considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Marie Louise was blamed for the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gave her severe intestinal problems. There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles was impotent, and if so, the cause; reports provided by Marie Louise indicate he may have suffered from premature ejaculation. The suggestion it was the result of inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies dispute any linkage between fertility and consanguinity. After she died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg, one of the twelve children of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and sister-in-law to Emperor Leopold. Although partly selected because her family was famous for its fertility, she proved no more successful in producing an heir than her predecessor. By this stage, Charles was almost certainly impotent; his autopsy revealed he had only one atrophied testicle. As the Crown of Spain passed according to cognatic primogeniture, it was possible for a woman, or the descendant of a woman, to inherit the crown. To prevent Spain’s acquisition by France, Maria Theresa renounced her inheritance rights; in return, Louis was promised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid. In 1685, Leopold and Margaret’s daughter Maria Antonia married Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, Britain and the Dutch Republic attempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain and Austria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made Joseph Ferdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish Monarchy, with France gaining the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Leopold’s younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria’s southern border. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish objected to their Empire being divided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided Spanish Monarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcement allegedly received by the Spanish councilors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand’s death in 1699 ended these arrangements. It also left Louis XIV’s eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heir to the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. In March 1700, France, Britain and the Dutch agreed an alternative; Archduke Charles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe split between France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favor of Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independent Spanish Monarchy. Most of the Spanish nobility disliked the Austrians, and Maria Anna, and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure their independence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September he was no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favor of Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. He died five days before his 39th birthday on 1 November 1700; Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16th, and the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. The autopsy records his body did not contain a single drop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water. As suggested previously, these are indicative of hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one of many illnesses suffered by Charles.
For your consideration is a rare and important hand-signed antique Royal 1694 manuscript document / letter / commission / appointment / order / decree / edict by HRH King Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700). Hand-signed autograph “Yo el Rey” (I THE KING) in iron gallic ink by King CARLOS II Spain, in Madrid, dated August 20, 1694. Manuscript laid-paper document bearing stamped Royal Crown of Carlos II. One thousand six hundred and ninety-four. Measurements: 223 x 210 mm. The condition of this specific document is as pictured in the 12 images provided. Document has been subject to toning, stains, folds, tears, rips, missing pieces, wormholes, etc. 16th century period document on laid paper (watermarked). Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), also known as El Hechizado or the Bewitched, was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. He is best remembered for his alleged physical disabilities, and the war that followed his death. Charles suffered ill-health throughout his life; from the moment he became king at the age of four in 1665, the succession was a prominent consideration in European politics. The historian John Langdon-Davies summarised this as follows: “Of no man is it more true to say that in his beginning was his end; from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death”. Despite two marriages, he remained childless. When he died in 1700, his heir was 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV and his first wife, Charles’s elder half-sister, Maria Theresa. However, the succession of Charles was less important than the division of his territories, and the failure to resolve that question led to war in 1701. For political reasons, marriages between Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were common; Philip and Mariana were uncle and niece, making Charles their great-nephew and first cousin once removed respectively. All eight of his great-grandparents were descendants of Joanna and Philip I of Castile. The best-known consequence of such inbreeding is the’Habsburg jaw’, a physical characteristic shared by many Habsburgs, including Charles. However, despite what is often claimed, the extent to which this inbreeding was responsible for his numerous health issues is unclear, and disputed; Margaret Theresa, his elder sister, did not have the same issues. Based on contemporary accounts of his symptoms, he may have suffered from combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis. If correct, these would be indicative of rare genetic disorders, possibly caused by inbreeding. However, in the absence of genetic material, they remain speculation; even a 2019 study by the same team on the Habsburg jaw, based on analysis of portraits, could only conclude a genetic link was’highly likely’. Another suggestion is his health problems derived from a herpetic infection shortly after birth, while his autopsy report indicates hydrocephalus. Regardless of the cause, Charles suffered physical ill-health throughout his life, as well as depression; by the age of six, he had had measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, each of which was then potentially fatal. His Habsburg jaw was so pronounced he spoke and ate only with difficulty, and did not learn to talk until the age of four. However, it was Mariana who insisted he be carried everywhere until he was eight, and left uneducated, to reduce the’strain’ on his body and mind. Although prone to illness, contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting. In reality, very little is known for certain, and much of what is suggested unproved, or incorrect. One famous example of his alleged mental problems is that he slept with his father’s body; while true, it was done under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help him produce an heir. Reports from his council and foreign ambassadors indicate his mental capacities remained intact. Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. While the Spanish Empire, or’Monarchy’, remained an enormous global confederation, its economic supremacy was challenged by the Dutch Republic, and increasingly England, while Europe was destabilized by French expansion under Louis XIV. Managing these issues was damaged by Mariana’s power struggle with Charles’s illegitimate half-brother, John of Austria the Younger. Administrative reforms were complex, since the Kingdom of Spain was a personal union of the two Crowns of Castile and Aragon, each with very different political cultures and traditions. As a result, government finances were in perpetual crisis; the Crown declared bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1661 and 1666. However, the 17th century was a period of economic crisis for many European states, and Spain was not alone in facing these problems. Infighting between those who ruled in Charles’s name did little to help, but it is debatable how far they or he can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The Monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact. Mariana followed this precedent, her first choice being her Austrian personal confessor, Father Juan Everardo Nithard; modern assessments of her competence are often based on reports by contemporaries, who generally believed women were incapable of exercising power on their own. The costs of the Portuguese Restoration War, and the War of Devolution with France, forced the Crown to declare bankruptcy in 1662 and 1666, making reductions in expenditure urgent. The 1668 treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon ended the war with France, and accepted Portuguese independence. John forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. The regency was dissolved when Charles became a legal adult in 1675, then restored in 1677 on the basis of his health. The 1672 Franco-Dutch War dragged Spain into another war with France over the Spanish Netherlands, placing additional strain on the economy. The 1683-84 War of the Reunions with France was followed in 1688 by the Nine Years’ War. Shortly afterwards, Marie Louise died in February 1689; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe her illness was almost certainly appendicitis. In August, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690; after his mother died on 16 May 1696, he ruled in his own name, although Maria Anna played a significant role due to his ill-health and her control over access to Charles. It was clear Charles’s health was finally failing and agreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years’ War showed France could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick was the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis’s search for allies in anticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Austrian Habsburg Emperor Leopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly did so in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities. One of John’s last acts was arranging Charles’s marriage in 1679 to Marie Louise, eldest daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While the French ambassador wrote’… He is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill’, it was considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Marie Louise was blamed for the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gave her severe intestinal problems. There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles was impotent, and if so, the cause; reports provided by Marie Louise indicate he may have suffered from premature ejaculation. The suggestion it was the result of inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies dispute any linkage between fertility and consanguinity. After she died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg, one of the twelve children of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and sister-in-law to Emperor Leopold. Although partly selected because her family was famous for its fertility, she proved no more successful in producing an heir than her predecessor. By this stage, Charles was almost certainly impotent; his autopsy revealed he had only one atrophied testicle. As the Crown of Spain passed according to cognatic primogeniture, it was possible for a woman, or the descendant of a woman, to inherit the crown. To prevent Spain’s acquisition by France, Maria Theresa renounced her inheritance rights; in return, Louis was promised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid. In 1685, Leopold and Margaret’s daughter Maria Antonia married Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, Britain and the Dutch Republic attempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain and Austria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made Joseph Ferdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish Monarchy, with France gaining the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Leopold’s younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria’s southern border. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish objected to their Empire being divided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided Spanish Monarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcement allegedly received by the Spanish councilors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand’s death in 1699 ended these arrangements. It also left Louis XIV’s eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heir to the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. In March 1700, France, Britain and the Dutch agreed an alternative; Archduke Charles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe split between France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favor of Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independent Spanish Monarchy. Most of the Spanish nobility disliked the Austrians, and Maria Anna, and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure their independence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September he was no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favor of Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. He died five days before his 39th birthday on 1 November 1700; Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16th, and the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. The autopsy records his body did not contain a single drop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water. As suggested previously, these are indicative of hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one of many illnesses suffered by Charles.
For your consideration is a rare and important hand-signed antique Royal 1692 manuscript document / letter / commission / appointment / order / decree / edict by HRH King Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700). The subject matter of this rare royalty document is concerning. Carlos II, Valencia, D. Francisco de Cardona, Order of Montesa, General Dance of Valencia, Alonso Lajara. Letter addressed to D. Francisco de Cardona, of the Order of Montesa, General Dance of Valencia, in which it is stated that children and members of the Council of Ministers are paid three hundred ducats.. Hand-signed autograph “Yo el Rey” (I THE KING) in iron gallic ink by King CARLOS II Spain, in Madrid, dated November 30, 1692. Manuscript laid-paper document bearing stamped Royal Crown of Carlos II. One thousand six hundred and ninety-two. Measures 210 x 285 mm. The condition of this specific document is as pictured in the 12 images provided. Document has been subject to toning, stains, folds, tears, rips, missing pieces, wormholes, etc. 16th century period document on laid paper (watermarked). Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), also known as El Hechizado or the Bewitched, was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. He is best remembered for his alleged physical disabilities, and the war that followed his death. Charles suffered ill-health throughout his life; from the moment he became king at the age of four in 1665, the succession was a prominent consideration in European politics. The historian John Langdon-Davies summarised this as follows: “Of no man is it more true to say that in his beginning was his end; from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death”. Despite two marriages, he remained childless. When he died in 1700, his heir was 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV and his first wife, Charles’s elder half-sister, Maria Theresa. [2] However, the succession of Charles was less important than the division of his territories, and the failure to resolve that question led to war in 1701. For political reasons, marriages between Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were common; Philip and Mariana were uncle and niece, making Charles their great-nephew and first cousin once removed respectively. All eight of his great-grandparents were descendants of Joanna and Philip I of Castile. The best-known consequence of such inbreeding is the’Habsburg jaw’, a physical characteristic shared by many Habsburgs, including Charles. However, despite what is often claimed, the extent to which this inbreeding was responsible for his numerous health issues is unclear, and disputed; Margaret Theresa, his elder sister, did not have the same issues. Based on contemporary accounts of his symptoms, he may have suffered from combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis. If correct, these would be indicative of rare genetic disorders, possibly caused by inbreeding. However, in the absence of genetic material, they remain speculation; even a 2019 study by the same team on the Habsburg jaw, based on analysis of portraits, could only conclude a genetic link was’highly likely’. Another suggestion is his health problems derived from a herpetic infection shortly after birth, while his autopsy report indicates hydrocephalus. Regardless of the cause, Charles suffered physical ill-health throughout his life, as well as depression; by the age of six, he had had measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, each of which was then potentially fatal. His Habsburg jaw was so pronounced he spoke and ate only with difficulty, and did not learn to talk until the age of four. However, it was Mariana who insisted he be carried everywhere until he was eight, and left uneducated, to reduce the’strain’ on his body and mind. Although prone to illness, contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting. In reality, very little is known for certain, and much of what is suggested unproved, or incorrect. One famous example of his alleged mental problems is that he slept with his father’s body; while true, it was done under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help him produce an heir. Reports from his council and foreign ambassadors indicate his mental capacities remained intact. Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. While the Spanish Empire, or’Monarchy’, remained an enormous global confederation, its economic supremacy was challenged by the Dutch Republic, and increasingly England, while Europe was destabilized by French expansion under Louis XIV. Managing these issues was damaged by Mariana’s power struggle with Charles’s illegitimate half-brother, John of Austria the Younger. Administrative reforms were complex, since the Kingdom of Spain was a personal union of the two Crowns of Castile and Aragon, each with very different political cultures and traditions. As a result, government finances were in perpetual crisis; the Crown declared bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1661 and 1666. However, the 17th century was a period of economic crisis for many European states, and Spain was not alone in facing these problems. Infighting between those who ruled in Charles’s name did little to help, but it is debatable how far they or he can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The Monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact. Mariana followed this precedent, her first choice being her Austrian personal confessor, Father Juan Everardo Nithard; modern assessments of her competence are often based on reports by contemporaries, who generally believed women were incapable of exercising power on their own. The costs of the Portuguese Restoration War, and the War of Devolution with France, forced the Crown to declare bankruptcy in 1662 and 1666, making reductions in expenditure urgent. The 1668 treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon ended the war with France, and accepted Portuguese independence. John forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. The regency was dissolved when Charles became a legal adult in 1675, then restored in 1677 on the basis of his health. The 1672 Franco-Dutch War dragged Spain into another war with France over the Spanish Netherlands, placing additional strain on the economy. The 1683-84 War of the Reunions with France was followed in 1688 by the Nine Years’ War. Shortly afterwards, Marie Louise died in February 1689; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe her illness was almost certainly appendicitis. In August, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690; after his mother died on 16 May 1696, he ruled in his own name, although Maria Anna played a significant role due to his ill-health and her control over access to Charles. It was clear Charles’s health was finally failing and agreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years’ War showed France could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick was the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis’s search for allies in anticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Austrian Habsburg Emperor Leopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly did so in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities. One of John’s last acts was arranging Charles’s marriage in 1679 to Marie Louise, eldest daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While the French ambassador wrote’… He is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill’, it was considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Marie Louise was blamed for the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gave her severe intestinal problems. There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles was impotent, and if so, the cause; reports provided by Marie Louise indicate he may have suffered from premature ejaculation. The suggestion it was the result of inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies dispute any linkage between fertility and consanguinity. After she died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg, one of the twelve children of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and sister-in-law to Emperor Leopold. Although partly selected because her family was famous for its fertility, she proved no more successful in producing an heir than her predecessor. By this stage, Charles was almost certainly impotent; his autopsy revealed he had only one atrophied testicle. As the Crown of Spain passed according to cognatic primogeniture, it was possible for a woman, or the descendant of a woman, to inherit the crown. To prevent Spain’s acquisition by France, Maria Theresa renounced her inheritance rights; in return, Louis was promised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid. In 1685, Leopold and Margaret’s daughter Maria Antonia married Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, Britain and the Dutch Republic attempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain and Austria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made Joseph Ferdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish Monarchy, with France gaining the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Leopold’s younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria’s southern border. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish objected to their Empire being divided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided Spanish Monarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcement allegedly received by the Spanish councilors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand’s death in 1699 ended these arrangements. It also left Louis XIV’s eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heir to the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. In March 1700, France, Britain and the Dutch agreed an alternative; Archduke Charles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe split between France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favor of Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independent Spanish Monarchy. Most of the Spanish nobility disliked the Austrians, and Maria Anna, and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure their independence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September he was no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favor of Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. He died five days before his 39th birthday on 1 November 1700; Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16th, and the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. The autopsy records his body did not contain a single drop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water. As suggested previously, these are indicative of hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one of many illnesses suffered by Charles.
Tsar Czar King Alexander I Autograph Signed Signature Yugoslavia Serbia Croatia. Alexander Karadordevic was born on 16 December 1888 in the Principality of Montenegro as the fourth child (second son) of Petar Karadordevic (son of Prince Alexander of Serbia who thirty years earlier in 1858 was forced to abdicate and surrender power in Serbia to the rival House of Obrenovic) and Princess Zorka of Montenegro (eldest daughter of Prince Nicholas of Montenegro). Despite enjoying support from the Russian Empire, at the time of Alexander’s birth and early childhood, the House of Karadordevic was in political exile, with different family members scattered all over Europe, unable to return to Serbia, which had recently been transformed from a principality into a kingdom under the Obrenovices, who ruled with strong support from Austria-Hungary. The antagonism between the two rival royal houses was such that after the assassination of Prince Mihailo Obrenovic in 1868 (an event Karadordevices were suspected of taking part in), the Obrenovices resorted to making constitutional changes, specifically proclaiming the Karadordevices banned from entering Serbia and stripping them of their civic rights. Alexander was two when his mother Princess Zorka died in 1890 from complications while giving birth to his younger brother Andrija, who also died only 23 days later. Alexander spent his childhood in Montenegro; however, in 1894 his widower father took the four children, including Alexander, to Geneva where the young man completed his elementary education. Alongside his older brother George, he continued his schooling at the imperial Page Corps in St Petersburg, Russian Empire. In 1903 while young George and Alexander were in school, their father Petar along with a slew of conspirators managed to pull off a bloody coup d’état in the Kingdom of Serbiaknown as the May Overthrow in which King Alexander I Obrenovic and his consort Queen Draga were murdered and viciously dismembered. The House of Karadordevic thus retook the Serbian throne after forty five years and Alexander’s 58-year-old father became King Peter I of Serbia, prompting George’s and Alexander’s return to Serbia to continue their studies. Despite enjoying support from the Russian Empire, at the time of Alexander’s birth and early childhood, the House of Karadordevic was in political exile, with different family members scattered all over Europe, unable to return to Serbia, which had recently been transformed from a principality into a kingdom under the Obrenovice.
For your consideration is a rare and important hand-signed antiqueRoyal 1698 manuscript document / letter / commission / appointment / order /decree / edict by HRH King Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November1700). The subject matter of this rare royalty document isconcerning: Duplicated due to the loss of the office in which the willsof D. Joseph de Molina 306666 and 16 monies of double Castilian silver werereleased on the receipt of the General Bailiwick of Valencia. ” Hand-signed autograph “Yo el Rey (I THE KING) in irongallic ink by King CARLOS II Spain, in Madrid, dated March 30, 1698. Manuscriptlaid-paper document bearing stamped Royal Crown of Carlos II. Onethousand six hundred and ninety-eight. The condition of this specific document is as pictured inthe 12 images provided. Document has been subject to toning, stains, folds, tears, rips, missing pieces, wormholes, etc. 16th century perioddocument on laid paper (watermarked). Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), also known as El Hechizado or the Bewitched, was the last Habsburg ruler of theSpanish Empire. He is best remembered for his alleged physical disabilities, and the war that followed his death. Charles suffered ill-health throughout his life; from themoment he became king at the age of four in 1665, the succession was aprominent consideration in European politics. The historian John Langdon-Daviessummarised this as follows: “Of no man is it more true to say that in hisbeginning was his end; from the day of his birth, they were waiting for hisdeath”. Despite two marriages, he remained childless. When he diedin 1700, his heir was 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV andhis first wife, Charles’s elder half-sister, Maria Theresa. [2] However, thesuccession of Charles was less important than the division of his territories, and the failure to resolve that question led to war in 1701. For political reasons, marriages between Spanish andAustrian Habsburgs were common; Philip and Mariana were uncle and niece, makingCharles their great-nephew and first cousin once removed respectively. Alleight of his great-grandparents were descendants of Joanna and Philip I ofCastile. The best-known consequence of such inbreeding is the’Habsburg jaw’, a physical characteristic shared by many Habsburgs, includingCharles. However, despite what is often claimed, the extent to which thisinbreeding was responsible for his numerous health issues is unclear, anddisputed; Margaret Theresa, his elder sister, did not have the same issues. Based on contemporary accounts of his symptoms, he may have suffered fromcombined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis. If correct, these would be indicative of rare geneticdisorders, possibly caused by inbreeding. However, in the absence of geneticmaterial, they remain speculation; even a 2019 study by the same team on theHabsburg jaw, based on analysis of portraits, could only conclude a geneticlink was’highly likely’. Another suggestion is his health problems derivedfrom a herpetic infection shortly after birth, while his autopsy reportindicates hydrocephalus. Regardless of the cause, Charles suffered physicalill-health throughout his life, as well as depression; by the age of six, hehad had measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, each of which was thenpotentially fatal. His Habsburg jaw was so pronounced he spoke and ate onlywith difficulty, and did not learn to talk until the age of four. However, itwas Mariana who insisted he be carried everywhere until he was eight, and leftuneducated, to reduce the’strain’ on his body and mind. Although prone toillness, contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting. In reality, very little is known for certain, and much ofwhat is suggested unproved, or incorrect. One famous example of his allegedmental problems is that he slept with his father’s body; while true, it wasdone under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help himproduce an heir. Reports from his council and foreign ambassadors indicate hismental capacities remained intact. Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. While the Spanish Empire, or’Monarchy’, remained an enormous globalconfederation, its economic supremacy was challenged by the Dutch Republic, andincreasingly England, while Europe was destabilized by French expansion underLouis XIV. Managing these issues was damaged by Mariana’s power struggle withCharles’s illegitimate half-brother, John of Austria the Younger. Administrative reforms were complex, since the Kingdom ofSpain was a personal union of the two Crowns of Castile and Aragon, each withvery different political cultures and traditions. As a result, governmentfinances were in perpetual crisis; the Crown declared bankruptcy nine timesbetween 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1661 and 1666. However, the 17th century was a period of economic crisisfor many European states, and Spain was not alone in facing these problems. Infighting between those who ruled in Charles’s name did little to help, but itis debatable how far they or he can be held responsible for long-term trendspredating his reign. The Monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charlesdied, remained largely intact. Mariana followed this precedent, her first choice being her Austrianpersonal confessor, Father Juan Everardo Nithard; modern assessments of hercompetence are often based on reports by contemporaries, who generally believedwomen were incapable of exercising power on their own. The costs of the Portuguese Restoration War, and the War ofDevolution with France, forced the Crown to declare bankruptcy in 1662 and1666, making reductions in expenditure urgent. The 1668 treaties ofAix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon ended the war with France, and accepted Portugueseindependence. John forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, whoreplaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. The regency was dissolved whenCharles became a legal adult in 1675, then restored in 1677 on the basis of hishealth. The 1672 Franco-Dutch War dragged Spain into another warwith France over the Spanish Netherlands, placing additional strain on theeconomy. The 1683-84 War of the Reunions with France was followed in1688 by the Nine Years’ War. Shortly afterwards, Marie Louise died in February1689; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe herillness was almost certainly appendicitis. In August, Charles married MariaAnna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690; afterhis mother died on 16 May 1696, he ruled in his own name, although Maria Annaplayed a significant role due to his ill-health and her control over access toCharles. It was clear Charles’s health was finally failing andagreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years’ War showedFrance could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswickwas the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis’s search for allies inanticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Austrian Habsburg EmperorLeopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly didso in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities. One of John’s last acts was arranging Charles’s marriage in1679 to Marie Louise, eldest daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While theFrench ambassador wrote’… He is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill’, itwas considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Marie Louise was blamedfor the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gaveher severe intestinal problems. There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles wasimpotent, and if so, the cause; reports provided by Marie Louise indicate hemay have suffered from premature ejaculation. The suggestion it was the resultof inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies disputeany linkage between fertility and consanguinity. After she died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Annaof Neuburg, one of the twelve children of Philip William, Elector Palatine, andsister-in-law to Emperor Leopold. Although partly selected because her familywas famous for its fertility, she proved no more successful in producing anheir than her predecessor. By this stage, Charles was almost certainlyimpotent; his autopsy revealed he had only one atrophied testicle. As the Crown of Spain passed according to cognaticprimogeniture, it was possible for a woman, or the descendant of a woman, toinherit the crown. To prevent Spain’s acquisition byFrance, Maria Theresa renounced her inheritance rights; in return, Louis waspromised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid. In 1685, Leopold and Margaret’s daughter Maria Antoniamarried Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, Britain and the Dutch Republicattempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain andAustria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made JosephFerdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish Monarchy, with France gaining theKingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basqueprovince of Gipuzkoa. Leopold’s younger son Archduke Charles became ruler ofthe Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria’ssouthern border. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish objected to their Empire beingdivided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided SpanishMonarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcementallegedly received by the Spanish councilors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand’sdeath in 1699 ended these arrangements. It also left Louis XIV’s eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heirto the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. InMarch 1700, France, Britain and the Dutch agreed an alternative; ArchdukeCharles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe splitbetween France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favorof Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independentSpanish Monarchy. Most of the Spanish nobility disliked the Austrians, andMaria Anna, and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure theirindependence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September hewas no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favorof Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. He died five days before his 39thbirthday on 1 November 1700; Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16th, andthe War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. The autopsy records his body did not contain a singledrop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; hisintestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, andhis head was full of water. As suggested previously, these are indicativeof hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one ofmany illnesses suffered by Charles.
KING WILLIAM IV OF GREAT BRITAIN SIGNED CUT ORIGINAL 1800’S DOCUMENT CERTIFIED JSA FULL (LOA). From 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III , William succeeded his elder brother George IV, becoming the last king and penultimate monarch of Britain’s House of Hanover. He served in the Royal Navy in his youth, spending time in North America and The Islands was later nicknamed the “Sailor King”. William was succeeded by his niece VICTORIA in the United Kingdom and his brother Ernest Augustus in Hanover. Subject : King William IV. Description : Signed Cut Document. Size : 7 x 4. # of Signature : 1. Writing Implement : Dip Pen. Condition : Large and Bold, shows aging but still a looker for the age. Provenance : Doctor James M. Hare, Vero Beach, Florida (Estate). Prior Provenance : Kenneth W Rendell Inc, Newton Mass, USA. (The History of Mankind). Certification : JSA FULL LETTER #Z67194. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED HISTORICAL ROYALTY AUTOGRAPH. This item cannot be duplicated in any manner. Frolic Gallery & memorabilia Inc, is a Quebec Inc. Will also be provided. For an estimate of these charges, we suggest you contact your local post office or local Government. ALL OF OUR ITEMS ARE. AND WILL ALWAYS BE.
For your consideration is a rare and important hand-signed antique Royal 1694 manuscript document / letter / commission / appointment / order / decree / edict by HRH King Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700). Hand-signed autograph “Yo el Rey” (I THE KING) in iron gallic ink by King CARLOS II Spain, in Madrid, dated June 30, 1694. Manuscript laid-paper document bearing stamped Royal Crown of Carlos II. One thousand six hundred and ninety-four. Measurements: 223 x 210 mm. The condition of this specific document is as pictured in the 12 images provided. Document has been subject to toning, stains, folds, tears, rips, missing pieces, wormholes, etc. 16th century period document on laid paper (watermarked). Charles II of Spain (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), also known as El Hechizado or the Bewitched, was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. He is best remembered for his alleged physical disabilities, and the war that followed his death. Charles suffered ill-health throughout his life; from the moment he became king at the age of four in 1665, the succession was a prominent consideration in European politics. The historian John Langdon-Davies summarised this as follows: “Of no man is it more true to say that in his beginning was his end; from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death”. Despite two marriages, he remained childless. When he died in 1700, his heir was 16-year-old Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV and his first wife, Charles’s elder half-sister, Maria Theresa. [2] However, the succession of Charles was less important than the division of his territories, and the failure to resolve that question led to war in 1701. For political reasons, marriages between Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs were common; Philip and Mariana were uncle and niece, making Charles their great-nephew and first cousin once removed respectively. All eight of his great-grandparents were descendants of Joanna and Philip I of Castile. The best-known consequence of such inbreeding is the’Habsburg jaw’, a physical characteristic shared by many Habsburgs, including Charles. However, despite what is often claimed, the extent to which this inbreeding was responsible for his numerous health issues is unclear, and disputed; Margaret Theresa, his elder sister, did not have the same issues. Based on contemporary accounts of his symptoms, he may have suffered from combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis. If correct, these would be indicative of rare genetic disorders, possibly caused by inbreeding. However, in the absence of genetic material, they remain speculation; even a 2019 study by the same team on the Habsburg jaw, based on analysis of portraits, could only conclude a genetic link was’highly likely’. Another suggestion is his health problems derived from a herpetic infection shortly after birth, while his autopsy report indicates hydrocephalus. Regardless of the cause, Charles suffered physical ill-health throughout his life, as well as depression; by the age of six, he had had measles, chickenpox, rubella and smallpox, each of which was then potentially fatal. His Habsburg jaw was so pronounced he spoke and ate only with difficulty, and did not learn to talk until the age of four. However, it was Mariana who insisted he be carried everywhere until he was eight, and left uneducated, to reduce the’strain’ on his body and mind. Although prone to illness, contemporaries reported he spent much of his time hunting. In reality, very little is known for certain, and much of what is suggested unproved, or incorrect. One famous example of his alleged mental problems is that he slept with his father’s body; while true, it was done under instructions from Mariana, whose doctors advised this would help him produce an heir. Reports from his council and foreign ambassadors indicate his mental capacities remained intact. Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen Regent by the Council of Castile. While the Spanish Empire, or’Monarchy’, remained an enormous global confederation, its economic supremacy was challenged by the Dutch Republic, and increasingly England, while Europe was destabilized by French expansion under Louis XIV. Managing these issues was damaged by Mariana’s power struggle with Charles’s illegitimate half-brother, John of Austria the Younger. Administrative reforms were complex, since the Kingdom of Spain was a personal union of the two Crowns of Castile and Aragon, each with very different political cultures and traditions. As a result, government finances were in perpetual crisis; the Crown declared bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1661 and 1666. However, the 17th century was a period of economic crisis for many European states, and Spain was not alone in facing these problems. Infighting between those who ruled in Charles’s name did little to help, but it is debatable how far they or he can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The Monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact. Mariana followed this precedent, her first choice being her Austrian personal confessor, Father Juan Everardo Nithard; modern assessments of her competence are often based on reports by contemporaries, who generally believed women were incapable of exercising power on their own. The costs of the Portuguese Restoration War, and the War of Devolution with France, forced the Crown to declare bankruptcy in 1662 and 1666, making reductions in expenditure urgent. The 1668 treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle and Lisbon ended the war with France, and accepted Portuguese independence. John forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with Fernando de Valenzuela. The regency was dissolved when Charles became a legal adult in 1675, then restored in 1677 on the basis of his health. The 1672 Franco-Dutch War dragged Spain into another war with France over the Spanish Netherlands, placing additional strain on the economy. The 1683-84 War of the Reunions with France was followed in 1688 by the Nine Years’ War. Shortly afterwards, Marie Louise died in February 1689; based on the description of her symptoms, modern doctors believe her illness was almost certainly appendicitis. In August, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg by proxy, the formal wedding taking place in May 1690; after his mother died on 16 May 1696, he ruled in his own name, although Maria Anna played a significant role due to his ill-health and her control over access to Charles. It was clear Charles’s health was finally failing and agreeing on a successor became increasingly urgent. The Nine Years’ War showed France could not achieve its objectives on its own; the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick was the result of mutual exhaustion and Louis’s search for allies in anticipation of a contest over the Spanish throne. Austrian Habsburg Emperor Leopold refused to sign since it left the issue unresolved; he reluctantly did so in October 1697, but viewed it as a pause in hostilities. One of John’s last acts was arranging Charles’s marriage in 1679 to Marie Louise, eldest daughter of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. While the French ambassador wrote’… He is so ugly as to cause fear, and looks ill’, it was considered irrelevant to the political benefits. Marie Louise was blamed for the failure to produce an heir, while primitive fertility treatments gave her severe intestinal problems. There has been considerable debate as to whether Charles was impotent, and if so, the cause; reports provided by Marie Louise indicate he may have suffered from premature ejaculation. The suggestion it was the result of inbreeding has not been proved, while a number of scientific studies dispute any linkage between fertility and consanguinity. After she died in February 1689, Charles married Maria Anna of Neuburg, one of the twelve children of Philip William, Elector Palatine, and sister-in-law to Emperor Leopold. Although partly selected because her family was famous for its fertility, she proved no more successful in producing an heir than her predecessor. By this stage, Charles was almost certainly impotent; his autopsy revealed he had only one atrophied testicle. As the Crown of Spain passed according to cognatic primogeniture, it was possible for a woman, or the descendant of a woman, to inherit the crown. To prevent Spain’s acquisition by France, Maria Theresa renounced her inheritance rights; in return, Louis was promised a dowry of 500,000 gold écus, a huge sum that was never paid. In 1685, Leopold and Margaret’s daughter Maria Antonia married Max Emanuel of Bavaria; she died in 1692, leaving one surviving son, Joseph Ferdinand. In October 1698, France, Britain and the Dutch Republic attempted to impose a diplomatic solution to the Succession on Spain and Austria, by the Treaty of the Hague or First Partition Treaty. This made Joseph Ferdinand heir to the bulk of the Spanish Monarchy, with France gaining the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily and other concessions in Italy plus the modern Basque province of Gipuzkoa. Leopold’s younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession considered vital to the security of Austria’s southern border. Unsurprisingly, the Spanish objected to their Empire being divided by foreign powers without consultation, and on 14 November 1698, Charles II made Joseph Ferdinand heir to an independent and undivided Spanish Monarchy. Maria Anna was appointed Regent during his minority, an announcement allegedly received by the Spanish councilors in silence. Joseph Ferdinand’s death in 1699 ended these arrangements. It also left Louis XIV’s eldest son, the Grand Dauphin, heir to the Spanish throne, once again implying union between Spain and France. In March 1700, France, Britain and the Dutch agreed an alternative; Archduke Charles replaced Joseph Ferdinand, with Spanish possessions in Europe split between France, Savoy and Austria. Charles reacted by altering his will in favor of Archduke Charles, but once again stipulating an undivided and independent Spanish Monarchy. Most of the Spanish nobility disliked the Austrians, and Maria Anna, and viewed a French candidate as more likely to ensure their independence. In September 1700, Charles became ill again; by 28 September he was no longer able to eat, and Portocarrero persuaded him to alter his will in favor of Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. He died five days before his 39th birthday on 1 November 1700; Philip was proclaimed King of Spain on 16th, and the War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701. The autopsy records his body did not contain a single drop of blood; his heart was the size of a peppercorn; his lungs corroded; his intestines rotten and gangrenous; he had a single testicle, black as coal, and his head was full of water. As suggested previously, these are indicative of hydrocephalus, a disease often associated with childhood measles, one of many illnesses suffered by Charles.
For your consideration is an exceedingly rare and important royal manuscript document hand-signed by King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Croatia, c. Bearing royal embossed Yugoslav seal with coat of arms at bottom center of the document. Royal document concerning rank promotion from Second lieutenant to First lieutenant. Size (opened, unfolded): 50 / 34.8 cm. Alexander I 16 December 1888 O. 4 December – 9 October 1934, also known as Alexander the Unifier, was a prince regent of the Kingdom of Serbia from 1914 and later a King of Yugoslavia from 1921 to 1934 (prior to 1929 the state was known as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). He was assassinated in Marseille, France, by assassin and revolutionary Vlado Chernozemski during a state visit. Alexander Karadordevic was born on 16 December 1888 in the Principality of Montenegro as the fourth child (second son) of Peter Karadordevic (son of Prince Alexander of Serbia who thirty years earlier in 1858 was forced to abdicate and surrender power in Serbia to the rival House of Obrenovic) and Princess Zorka of Montenegro (eldest daughter of Prince Nicholas of Montenegro). Despite enjoying support from the Russian Empire, at the time of Alexander’s birth and early childhood, the House of Karadordevic was in political exile, with different family members scattered all over Europe, unable to return to Serbia, which had recently been transformed from a principality into a kingdom under the Obrenovics, who ruled with strong support from Austria-Hungary. The antagonism between the two rival royal houses was such that after the assassination of Prince Mihailo Obrenovic in 1868 (an event Karadordevics were suspected of taking part in), the Obrenovics resorted to making constitutional changes, specifically proclaiming the Karadordevics banned from entering Serbia and stripping them of their civic rights. Alexander was two when his mother Princess Zorka died in 1890 from complications while giving birth to his younger brother Andrija, who also died 23 days later. Alexander spent his childhood in Montenegro; however, in 1894 his widower father took the four children, including Alexander, to Geneva where the young man completed his elementary education. Alongside his older brother George, he continued his schooling at the imperial Page Corps in St Petersburg, Russian Empire. The British historian R. Seton-Watson described Alexander as becoming a Russophile during his time in St. Petersburg, feeling much gratitude for the willingness of the Emperor Nicholas II to give him a refuge, where he was treated with much honor and respect. As a page, Alexander was described as hard-working and determined while also being a “loner” who kept to himself and rarely showed his feelings. Being a Karadordevic led to Alexander being invited by Nicholas II to dinner at the Winter Palace, where he was the guest of honor at meals hosted by the Russian imperial family, which was a great honor for a prince from Serbia’s deposed royal family. During his time in St. Petersburg, Alexander visited the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, where the abbot gave Alexander an icon of Prince Alexander Nevsky and guided him to the grave of Marshal Alexander Suvorov. After his visit to the monastery, Alexander expressed the wish to be a great general like Marshal Suvorov or Prince Alexander Nevsky, saying he wanted to be commanding either a great army or a great armada when he was a man. In 1903, while young George and Alexander were in school, their father and a slew of conspirators pulled off a bloody coup d’état in the Kingdom of Serbia known as the May Overthrow in which King Alexander and Queen Draga were murdered and dismembered. The House of Karadordevic thus retook the Serbian throne after forty-five years and Alexander’s 58-year-old father became King of Serbia, prompting George’s and Alexander’s return to Serbia to continue their studies. After Alexander’s 15th birthday, King Peter had Alexander enlisted into the Royal Serbian Army as a private with instructions to his officers to only promote his son if he proved worthy. On 25 March 1909, Alexander was suddenly recalled to Belgrade by his father with no explanation offered other then he had an important announcement for his son. One of the key moments in Prince Alexander’s life occurred on 27 March 1909 when his older brother Crown Prince George publicly renounced his claim to the throne after strong pressure from political circles in Serbia. George was long considered unfit to rule by many in Serbia including powerful political and military figures such as prime minister Nikola Pasic, as well as high-ranking officers Dragutin “Apis” Dimitrijevic and Petar Zivkovic who did not appreciate the young man’s impulsive nature and unstable, incident-prone personality. George killed his servant Kolakovic by kicking him in the stomach, which served as the final straw. It grew into a huge scandal in the Serbian public as well as in the Austro-Hungarian press, which reported extensively on it, and 21-year-old Prince George was forced into renouncing his claim to the throne. In 1910 Prince Alexander nearly died from stomach typhus and was left with stomach problems for the rest of his life. In the run-up to the First Balkan War, Alexander played the role of a diplomat, visiting Sofia to meet Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria for secret talks for a Balkan League, which was intended to drive the Ottomans out of the Balkans. Both Bulgaria and Serbia had rival claims to the Ottoman region of Macedonia, and the talks with Ferdinand, known as “Foxy Ferdinand” due to his cunning, were difficult. Together with Tsar Ferdinand’s son, Crown Prince Boris (the future Tsar Boris III), Alexander traveled to St. Petersburg to see Nicholas II to ask for Russian mediation on certain points that were dividing the Serbs and Bulgarians. In March 1912, Serbia and Bulgaria signed an alliance that was later joined by Greece. Being a Karadordevic led to Alexander being invited by Nicholas II to dinner.
