QUEEN MARIANA OF AUSTRIA (SPAIN) - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/10/1659 CO-SIGNED BY: COUNTESS OF SALVATIERRA (ANTONIA MARCELA DE ACUÑA Y GUZMAN) - HFSID 53414

QUEEN MARIANA OF AUSTRIA (SPAIN) and COUNTESS OF SALVATIERRA (ANTONIA MARCELA DE ACUÑA Y GUZMAN)

Queen Mariana of Austria responds to a letter sent by the Countess of Salvatierra (signing with old Spanish signature), who informs the Queen about the good spirits of her son Prince Philip Prospero who was accompanied by Friar Antonio and mentioning King Philip IV. The Queen responds pleasantly, grateful for the good news and assuring good health. She also expresses her desire to have good weather on the day the Prince has to visit El Retiro

Autograph Letter Signed: "Yo La Reyna" and "La condesa de Salbatiera" in iron gall ink. 2p, 12¼x8¼. In Spanish, translated in full: "It seems the weather is getting worst, the rain does not stop and is very cold. So, if it is the same way there, I think Your Majesty won't be able to enjoy the zone, and I am very sorry about it because also Your Majesty won't see these gentlemen (May God give them countless years of life). The prince has been very entertained in his room with Friar Antonio, and has not gotten out from there due to the air. Regardless what the doctors said, the king Our Lord ordered me to take the Prince to El Retiro this wednesday, and I do not have any other option but to obey and I am excited for that day to come so I can kiss Your Majesty's hand, all the others and the ladies of Your Majesty and the maid of His Highness kiss Your Majesty's feet. I beg Your Majesty to give my regards to everyone from the room. May God give Your Majesty many years of life. Palace, may 9, 1659. The Countess of Salbatiera/ This morning I happily received your letter with the good news about my son. I hope God it won't be bad for my son to go to El Retiro and that there is going to be good weather on that day. Thank God I am fine, there is going to be a branding today, and I hope it is a good one. May God protect you. Aranjuez, May 10, 1659. I, The Queen." Daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinard III, Queen Mariana of Austria (1634-1696) was destined to continue the tradition of intermarriage between the two branches of the Habsburg family. Accordingly, she became the second wife of King Philip IV of Spain, marrying him in 1649 at the young age of 14. In 1621, the King had inherited a declining throne with economic woes caused by lengthy wars. Mariana successfully produced an heir for King Philip, Charles II (1661-1700). Upon Philip's death in 1665, Mariana served for a decade as regent for their small son Charles. During her regency, she recognized Portugal's independence (1668) and renewed war with France (1673-1675) despite the fact that her stepdaughter Maria Teresa was married (1660) to King Louis XIV as part of a peace treaty with the French. The sickly and weak-minded Charles could not produce an heir, and his death caused the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713), which resulted in Maria's grandson Philip of Anjou inheriting the Spanish Crown. Prince Philip Prospero (1657-1661), Prince of Asturias was Philip IV's son with his second wife Queen Mariana of Austria, and the long-awaited male heir to the throne since the death of Philip's son Balthasar Charles eleven years before. Prince Philip was never in good health, most likely due to a defective immune system as a result years of Hapsburg inbreeding, so his life was subjected to a lot of fervent and anxious prayers on behalf of declining Spanish influence in the world. Infante Ferdinand  Thomas (1658-1659) was Philip Prospero's baby brother, who was also sickly and didn't live to see his first birthday. Normal mailing folds. Lightly toned. Corners and edges worn. Light surface creases. Small ink stains throughout. Small tears along edges. Otherwise, fine condition.