Doña Carlota Joaquina Teresa Cayetana was born in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez on 25 April 1775. She was the second child of Charles, Prince of Asturias and his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma.
Carlota Joaquina received a rigid and deeply Catholic education, and studied religion, geography, painting and riding. The closed and austere temperament of the Spanish monarchy imposed on the family and the court rigid norms of behaviour and etiquette. King Charles III was a reserved man, devoted to his family rather than the animations of the courtesan life, where his daughter in law, Maria Luisa, took part. Carlota Joaquina's mother assumed the organisation of the court's entertainments, with luxurious parties where morals were easily forgotten. Soon, Maria Luisa's image would be linked to that of a promiscuous woman who betrayed her husband. Not even the successive pregnancies and the birth of a long-hoped living male heir saved Maria Luisa from the contempt of the population. She would go down in history as one of the most unpopular Queens of Spain, and her bad reputation affected her children, especially Carlota Joaquina.
Carlota Joaquina's marriage was arranged by King Charles III and his sister, Mariana Victoria, Dowager Queen of Portugal. Carlota Joaquina was to marry Infante João, Duke of Beja and Infante Gabriel of Spain was to marry Infanta Mariana Victoria of Portugal.
Carlota Joaquina's marriage was arranged by King Charles III and his sister, Mariana Victoria, Dowager Queen of Portugal. Carlota Joaquina was to marry Infante João, Duke of Beja and Infante Gabriel of Spain was to marry Infanta Mariana Victoria of Portugal.
Carlota Joaquina's apprenticeship would be tested when she underwent a series of public examinations in front of the Spanish court and Portuguese ambassadors sent by Queen Maria I of Portugal to evaluate the qualities of the princess. In October 1785, the Gazeta of Lisbon published an account of the tests: Everything has satisfied so completely that one can not express the admiration which such a vast instruction ought to cause at such a tender age: but...the decided talent with which God has endowed this most serene Lady, her prodigious memory, understanding and that everything is possible, especially with the awakening and capacity with which the above-mentioned master promotes such useful and glorious applications.
Once the talent of the bride was proven, there was no impediment to the union. So, on 8 May 1785, a proxy marriage was celebrated; three days later, on 11 May, 10-year-old Carlota Joaquina left Spain for Lisbon. The official wedding ceremony between Infante João and Carlota Joaquina took place on 9 June 1785 - she was only 11 years old while her husband was 18. Due to Carlota Joaquina's young age, the consummation was delayed until 9 January 1790, when she was able to conceive and bear children.
The climate in the Braganza court differed in many aspects from that of the Spanish court. While in other parts of Europe they represented a mark of a new society based on the Age of Enlightenment principles, in Portugal the Catholic Church imposed norms prohibiting all types of amusement. The dramatization of comedies was banned, including the performance of dances and parties. The reign of Maria I was marked by the rise of a conservative group of the nobility and clergy of Portugal - an extremely boring environment, as defined by Dowager Queen Mariana Victoria. So, Carlota Joaquina found herself in the midst of a very religious and austere environment, in contrast to the extravagance and luxury to which she was used to. Despite this, her relationship with Maria I was very tender; the joy and vivacity of Carlota Joaquina were responsible for the rare hours of relaxation of the Queen.
Her more liberal habits and customs differed in many ways from those of other women at court. Quite traditional in relation to female behaviour, Portuguese men disapproved of the ease with which Carlota Joaquina transited in public space, her performance in the political field and her distemper in the family routine. Since most Portuguese women were deprived of social life, Carlota Joaquina's "offending" behaviour allowed some malicious rumours about her in the court. Some of them were prejudiced, like the Duchess of Abrantès, wife of the French General Junot. While in Lisbon, Madame Junot had ridiculed Carlota Joaquina both for her manner of acting and for her dressing, and she had slain her as an extremely ugly woman.
In 1788, José, Prince of Brazil died and his younger brother, Infante João became the first in line to his mother's throne. Soon, he received the titles of Prince of Brazil and 15th Duke of Braganza. Between 1788 and 1816, Carlota Joaquina was known as Princess of Brazil as the wife of the heir to the throne.
Carlota Joaquina's husband was good-natured, indolent, corpulent, and almost as ugly as she was. His religious observances bored her, and they were quite incompatible. Nevertheless, she gave birth to nine children: Maria Teresa, Francisco António, Maria Isabel, Pedro, Maria Francisca, Isabel Maria, Miguel, Maria da Assunção and Ana de Jesus Maria. Because they were all handsome (debatable, I say), it was rumoured that especially the younger ones had a different father.
Once the talent of the bride was proven, there was no impediment to the union. So, on 8 May 1785, a proxy marriage was celebrated; three days later, on 11 May, 10-year-old Carlota Joaquina left Spain for Lisbon. The official wedding ceremony between Infante João and Carlota Joaquina took place on 9 June 1785 - she was only 11 years old while her husband was 18. Due to Carlota Joaquina's young age, the consummation was delayed until 9 January 1790, when she was able to conceive and bear children.
The climate in the Braganza court differed in many aspects from that of the Spanish court. While in other parts of Europe they represented a mark of a new society based on the Age of Enlightenment principles, in Portugal the Catholic Church imposed norms prohibiting all types of amusement. The dramatization of comedies was banned, including the performance of dances and parties. The reign of Maria I was marked by the rise of a conservative group of the nobility and clergy of Portugal - an extremely boring environment, as defined by Dowager Queen Mariana Victoria. So, Carlota Joaquina found herself in the midst of a very religious and austere environment, in contrast to the extravagance and luxury to which she was used to. Despite this, her relationship with Maria I was very tender; the joy and vivacity of Carlota Joaquina were responsible for the rare hours of relaxation of the Queen.
Her more liberal habits and customs differed in many ways from those of other women at court. Quite traditional in relation to female behaviour, Portuguese men disapproved of the ease with which Carlota Joaquina transited in public space, her performance in the political field and her distemper in the family routine. Since most Portuguese women were deprived of social life, Carlota Joaquina's "offending" behaviour allowed some malicious rumours about her in the court. Some of them were prejudiced, like the Duchess of Abrantès, wife of the French General Junot. While in Lisbon, Madame Junot had ridiculed Carlota Joaquina both for her manner of acting and for her dressing, and she had slain her as an extremely ugly woman.
In 1788, José, Prince of Brazil died and his younger brother, Infante João became the first in line to his mother's throne. Soon, he received the titles of Prince of Brazil and 15th Duke of Braganza. Between 1788 and 1816, Carlota Joaquina was known as Princess of Brazil as the wife of the heir to the throne.
Carlota Joaquina's husband was good-natured, indolent, corpulent, and almost as ugly as she was. His religious observances bored her, and they were quite incompatible. Nevertheless, she gave birth to nine children: Maria Teresa, Francisco António, Maria Isabel, Pedro, Maria Francisca, Isabel Maria, Miguel, Maria da Assunção and Ana de Jesus Maria. Because they were all handsome (debatable, I say), it was rumoured that especially the younger ones had a different father.
After Maria I became insane in 1792, João took over the government in her name, even though he only took the title of Prince Regent in 1799. This change in events suited Carlota Joaquina's ambitious and sometimes violent nature. In the court, she would interfere in matters of state, trying to influence the decisions of her husband. These attempts to meddle in politics displeased the nobility and even the population.
Because she was excluded from the government decisions many times, Carlota Joaquina organised a plot with the intention to take the reins of power from João, arresting him and declaring that he was incapable of rule like his mother. In 1805, this plot was discovered. The Count of Vila Verde proposed the opening of an investigation and the arrest of all those involved. However, Carlota Joaquina was saved because her husband, wishing to avoid a public scandal, opposed to her arrest. He confined his wife to Queluz Palace and Ramalhão Palace, while he himself moved to Mafra Palace, effectively separating from her. At that time, Carlota Joaquina's enemies claimed that she had bought a retreat where she indulged in sexual orgies.
In 1807, the Portuguese Royal Family left for Brazil because of the Napoleonic invasions. While in Brazil, Carlota Joaquina made attempts to obtain the administration of the Spanish dominions in Hispanic America, a project known as Carlotism. Spain itself was controlled by Napoleon and its kings, her father and brother Ferdinand, were held by Napoleon in France. Carlota Joaquina regarded herself as the heiress of her captured family. Allegedly one of her plans was to send armies to occupy Buenos Aires and northern Argentina to style herself Queen of La Plata. The Portuguese-Brazilian forces, however, only managed to annex the eastern banks of the Rio de la Plata as Cisplatina, which were kept in the Empire of Brazil after 1822.
Because she was excluded from the government decisions many times, Carlota Joaquina organised a plot with the intention to take the reins of power from João, arresting him and declaring that he was incapable of rule like his mother. In 1805, this plot was discovered. The Count of Vila Verde proposed the opening of an investigation and the arrest of all those involved. However, Carlota Joaquina was saved because her husband, wishing to avoid a public scandal, opposed to her arrest. He confined his wife to Queluz Palace and Ramalhão Palace, while he himself moved to Mafra Palace, effectively separating from her. At that time, Carlota Joaquina's enemies claimed that she had bought a retreat where she indulged in sexual orgies.
In 1807, the Portuguese Royal Family left for Brazil because of the Napoleonic invasions. While in Brazil, Carlota Joaquina made attempts to obtain the administration of the Spanish dominions in Hispanic America, a project known as Carlotism. Spain itself was controlled by Napoleon and its kings, her father and brother Ferdinand, were held by Napoleon in France. Carlota Joaquina regarded herself as the heiress of her captured family. Allegedly one of her plans was to send armies to occupy Buenos Aires and northern Argentina to style herself Queen of La Plata. The Portuguese-Brazilian forces, however, only managed to annex the eastern banks of the Rio de la Plata as Cisplatina, which were kept in the Empire of Brazil after 1822.
João and Carlota Joaquina became King and Queen of Portugal after the death of Maria I, on 20 March 1816.
When the Portuguese Royal Family returned to Portugal in 1821 after an absence of 14 years, Carlota Joaquina met a country that had changed much. In 1807, Portugal had lived stably under absolutism. Napoleonic troops and political attitudes fostered by the Cádiz Cortes in Spain had brought revolutionary ideas to Portugal. In 1820, a liberal revolution started in Porto and, in 1821, Portugal had its first constitution. Carlota Joaquina had arch-conservative positions and wanted a reactionary response. However, João did not want to renege on his vows to uphold the constitution.
When the Portuguese Royal Family returned to Portugal in 1821 after an absence of 14 years, Carlota Joaquina met a country that had changed much. In 1807, Portugal had lived stably under absolutism. Napoleonic troops and political attitudes fostered by the Cádiz Cortes in Spain had brought revolutionary ideas to Portugal. In 1820, a liberal revolution started in Porto and, in 1821, Portugal had its first constitution. Carlota Joaquina had arch-conservative positions and wanted a reactionary response. However, João did not want to renege on his vows to uphold the constitution.
Carlota Joaquina made an alliance with her son Miguel, who shared his mother's conservative views. In 1824, using Miguel's position as army commander, they took power and held the King a virtual prisoner in the palace. There, the Queen tried to make him abdicate in favour of their son Miguel. The King received British help against his wife and son, and regained power. Miguel had to leave the country, and Carlota Joaquina also had to go briefly into exile.
King João VI lived in Bemposta Palace, and Queen Carlota Joaquina lived in Queluz. Though she lived there quietly, she became decidedly extravagant in dress and behaviour. João VI of Portugal died in March 1826. Carlota Joaquina, claiming ill-health, refused to visit his deathbed and started the rumour that her husband had been poisoned by the Freemasons.
Queen Carlota Joaquina died on 7 January 1830, at the Queluz Palace. It is speculated whether she died of natural causes of if, in fact, she killed herself.
King João VI lived in Bemposta Palace, and Queen Carlota Joaquina lived in Queluz. Though she lived there quietly, she became decidedly extravagant in dress and behaviour. João VI of Portugal died in March 1826. Carlota Joaquina, claiming ill-health, refused to visit his deathbed and started the rumour that her husband had been poisoned by the Freemasons.
Queen Carlota Joaquina died on 7 January 1830, at the Queluz Palace. It is speculated whether she died of natural causes of if, in fact, she killed herself.
 |
Carlota Joaquina of Spain
Domingos Sequeira
c. 1802/6
|
Comentários
Enviar um comentário