EMPRESS MARGARET THERESA (SPAIN) - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 53431

HOLY ROMAN EMPRESS MARGARET THERESA
The future Holy Roman Empress expresses how much she misses her young brothers, Prince Philip Prospero and Infante Ferdinand Thomas, in letter to her governess, the Countess of Salvatierra
Autograph letter signed: "Margarita Maria" in brown ink. 1 page, 12x8¼. No date. Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Addressed to her governess, the Countess of Salvatierra. Roughly translated: Expression of pleasure to hear of the Countess' good health, with enquires after the health of her brothers and mention of her loneliness for them. Holy Roman Empress Margaret Theresa (1651-1673) was born Margarita Maria Teresa, Infanta of Spain, the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and his second wife Queen Mariana of Austria. Unlike her older half-sister Maria Teresa (Queen of France), Philip IV wished for his younger daughter to keep her line of Spanish succession when she married her Uncle/cousin, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. Betrothed to Emperor Leopold as a child, it was at the age of 15 when, saddened by her father's death, Margarita left Spain for Austria where she was married on December 12, 1666. Despite an eleven year age difference, the couple was very happy together and had four children (only one who survived till adulthood); it was after the fourth birth, and after being weakened with many miscarriages, that Margarita died at the age of twenty-one. After the death of her physically and mentally disabled brother King Charles II of Spain in 1700, Margarita's descendant, her daughter Maria Antonia's son Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria was a prime candidate for Spanish throne and was a preferable choice in the War of Spanish Succession as he was neither a Austrian Hapsburg nor a French Bourbon, although he unfortunately died at the age of six. Beyond politics, Margarita is immortalized in many paintings by Spanish artist Diego Velazquez, including his most famous work Las Meninas, which has been called one of the most important paintings in Western art history. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Corners and edges worn. Light surface creases. Small ink stains throughout. Small tears along edges. Otherwise, fine condition.