The Four Wives of Phillip II: Elizabeth of Valois: The Daughter-in-Law
This video is part 2 of our series on the Four Queens of Phillip II of Spain.
It is about Phillip II’s beautiful French wife, Elizabeth of Valois, and was initially betrothed to Don Carlos, Phillip’s son.
She was one of Phillip’s favourite wives.
Chapters
00:00 Part 1 of the Series, Mary I and Maria Manuela
00:21 Phillip II, King of Spain
01:10 Elizabeth of Valois, the Beautiful 14-years-old French Princess
02:51 Phillip’s love for Elizabeth of Valois
03:22 Their Daughters, Isabella Clara Eugenia and Catherine Michelle
In Part I of this series, we presented Phillip’s marriage to his cousin Maria Manuela and his aunt Mary I.
After the death of Mary in 1558, Phillip was a widower with only one son, Carlos.
He was once again the most eligible royal bachelor of Europe, as he had also become the King of Spain in 1556.
However, after taking over Spain, he realized that his father, Charles V, had left him with a massive debt due to Charle’s aggressive foreign policy.
From 1521, Charles V had fought four different Italian Wars against the Valois of France.
The forty years of conflicts and wars carried immense costs, and Spain was virtually bankrupt. Spain’s first debt default happened under Phillip II in 1557.
Given his financial difficulties, whom would Phillip marry next?
Elizabeth of Valois (1545-1568), the Daughter-in-Law
Less than a year after the death of Mary, Philip married the 14 years old Elizabeth of Valois in 1559.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici, the infamous Serpent Queen of France
The beautiful Elizabeth grew up among two even more women, her sister-in-law and close friend, Mary, Queen of Scots.
Secondly, her sister, Margaret of Valois, was known as the “Pearl of Valois” for her beauty.
Henry II of France initially wanted her to marry Edward VI of England, but the proposed marriage did not go ahead due to Edward’s death in 1553.
Elizabeth’s marriage to Philip ended the Italian war between the Habsburgs and the Valois in 1559.
However, the marriage did not get off to a happy start.
Elizabeth’s father, Henry II of France, died due to a jousting accident during her wedding celebrations.
Elizabeth was very close to her stepson, Carlos, as Carlos initially engaged her rather than Philip II.
She cried for days when Philip locked Carlos away due to mental instability and when Carlos died.
However, unlike the story in different plays, Elisabeth was quite pleased with Phillip II as her husband.
In letters to her mother, she proclaimed herself fortunate to have married such a charming prince.
Philip was very attached to Elisabeth, staying close by her side even when she was ill with smallpox.
Only two of her children, her daughters, Isabella Clara Eugenia and Catherine Machelle, survived childbirth.
Isabella and her husband ruled the golden age of the Spanish Netherland and were one of the most wealthy and influential women in 16th- and 17th-century Europe.
Catherine Michelle was the Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Duke Charles Emmanuel I.
In Charles Emmanuel’s absence, Catherine Michelle ruled the Duchy of Savoy capably as regent.
Both Philip II and Elizabeth were close to their daughters.
Another important person to mention in the life of Elizabeth of Valois was the lady painter Sofonisba Anguissola.
She was the top lady painter Phillip II appointed as Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting and painter.
She painted various life-like portraits of Elizabeth and her two daughters and taught the princesses how to paint.
Phillip II and Elizabeth of Valois were married for nine years, and Elizabeth of Valois died in October 1568 due to childbirth.
The Music is:
“Promenade” by Dominique Carpentier licensed via Music Vine: HPMRIBIGVZC0ZFA6
“La Plage” by Dominique Carpetier licensed via Music Vine: HUYXGDRYUKNGEIP2
#PhillipII, #ElizabethOfValois, #MeetingHistory, #HistoricalFigures, #BroughtToLife, #PhillipIIOfSpain
#HenryII, #CatherineDeMedici, #MaryI, #MariaManuela, #MaryOfScots, #QueenMargot, #MargaretOfValois