The Bewitched King - Spain's Charles II at the End of an Era

In this episode, we dive into one of the most tragic and consequential figures in European history: King Charles II of Spain. Often remembered by his haunting moniker, El Hechizado (The Bewitched), Charles II’s life was a crossroads of genetic misfortune, political instability, and a looming dynastic vacuum that would eventually set the entire continent ablaze.

We begin by exploring the physical and mental toll of generations of Habsburg inbreeding. Charles II was the culmination of a "family circle" rather than a family tree. With a coefficient of inbreeding higher than that of siblings born to unrelated parents, the King suffered from debilitating health issues, including the famous "Habsburg jaw" which made eating and speaking a struggle. We discuss how his perceived "bewitchment" was actually the cruel reality of genetic decay.

How do you govern a global empire when your own body is failing you? We analyze Charles II’s tenure as a leader. While often dismissed as incompetent, Charles reigned during a period of agonizing transition for the Spanish Empire. We look at the power struggles within the court, the influence of his mother, Mariana of Austria, and the valiant—yet often futile—efforts of his ministers to stave off the economic collapse of a superpower in decline.

The most pressing shadow over Charles’s reign was his lack of an heir. Despite two marriages, the King remained childless, sparking a decades-long diplomatic chess match among the royal houses of Europe. We explore the tension of a court obsessed with the King’s fertility and the frantic search for a successor that turned Spain into a playground for foreign interests.

Charles II’s death in 1700 was not just the end of a life; it was the end of the Spanish Habsburg line. His final will, naming Philip of Anjou as his successor, triggered the War of the Spanish Succession. We conclude by discussing how the vacuum left by Charles II reshaped the borders of Europe, ended Spanish hegemony, and birthed the modern balance of power that would define the 18th century.

Tune in as we unmask the man behind the legend and discover why the story of Charles II is essential to understanding the world we live in today.

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