Marriage plans for Infante Carlos, brother of Felipe IV of Spain?

Might be titled weird but anyway, I'm trying to find out if there was ever any marriage plans for Don Carlos, the eldest brother Spain's Felipe IV. Carlos is one of the most mysterious and unknown members of the Spanish Habsburg branch and I would love to find out more about him. He was heir presumptive to his brother for some years and yet I can find no plans for his marriage nor even any hints of marriage negotiations. So were there any plans for this lost Infante or no? If the former, who were the candidates? And if the later, why?
 
Might be titled weird but anyway, I'm trying to find out if there was ever any marriage plans for Don Carlos, the eldest brother Spain's Felipe IV. Carlos is one of the most mysterious and unknown members of the Spanish Habsburg branch and I would love to find out more about him. He was heir presumptive to his brother for some years and yet I can find no plans for his marriage nor even any hints of marriage negotiations. So were there any plans for this lost Infante or no? If the former, who were the candidates? And if the latter, why?

Simply put, Olivares convinced Felipe IV to be dependent on him and only him, to view his brothers with suspicion (the reason why Felipe hamstrung the Cardinal-Infante in the Netherlands) since their only goal was to depose Felipe to become king themselves. IIRC there was a plot shortly before or shortly after Baltasar Carlos was born that the Infante Carlos was involved in, and one of the cornerstones was that he would marry the Queen Dowager and beget more kids for the succession, but he died so suddenly after it was exposed that there were the rumors of poison - whether from Felipe, Olivares or even the Queen (Élisabeth de Bourbon, for all intents and purposes, seems to have been good for Felipe as well as a competent regent (she donated her own jewels in order to get the nobility to likewise contribute to the war effort when Portugal went into rebellion) compare her successor) in spite of being rather frivolous).

That said, the only marriage candidates - outside of perhaps an Italian - that I can think of, would be one of Ferdinand II's daughters. Both only married in the mid-late 1630s after Carlos was dead, so there exists the possibility that Ferdinand was considering that (although admittedly it's interpreting lack of evidence as evidence).

*My info from the first paragraph comes from a book on Velasquez describing the Spanish court in which he featured, as well as from Hume(?)'s 'Queens of Old Spain'
 
Simply put, Olivares convinced Felipe IV to be dependent on him and only him, to view his brothers with suspicion (the reason why Felipe hamstrung the Cardinal-Infante in the Netherlands) since their only goal was to depose Felipe to become king themselves. IIRC there was a plot shortly before or shortly after Baltasar Carlos was born that the Infante Carlos was involved in, and one of the cornerstones was that he would marry the Queen Dowager and beget more kids for the succession, but he died so suddenly after it was exposed that there were the rumors of poison - whether from Felipe, Olivares or even the Queen (Élisabeth de Bourbon, for all intents and purposes, seems to have been good for Felipe as well as a competent regent (she donated her own jewels in order to get the nobility to likewise contribute to the war effort when Portugal went into rebellion) compare her successor) in spite of being rather frivolous).

That said, the only marriage candidates - outside of perhaps an Italian - that I can think of, would be one of Ferdinand II's daughters. Both only married in the mid-late 1630s after Carlos was dead, so there exists the possibility that Ferdinand was considering that (although admittedly it's interpreting lack of evidence as evidence).

*My info from the first paragraph comes from a book on Velasquez describing the Spanish court in which he featured, as well as from Hume(?)'s 'Queens of Old Spain'

I didn't realize that there was a real plot by Carlos to kill/depose Felipe IV. I always thought that it was a made up thing that Olivares used to strengthen his hold over the King. Though that does explain the why quite a bit. The only bridal candidates that I found are Margherita de' Medici, OTL Duchess of Parma, Maria Caterina Farnese, OTL Duchess of Modena and potentially Anna Constance Vasa of Poland and Claude Françoise de Lorraine, OTL Duchess of Lorraine . As to the Archduchesses, I'm skeptical. Ferdinand seemed to have been waiting for Elector Maximilian's wife to die so Anna Maria could marry him (see her age and the swiftness of the wedding after Elisabeth of Lorraine's death). Not sure about Cecilia Renata though.

Do you think that a domestic match could be in the cards? I mean it would no doubt give Felipe IV and Olivares aneurysms but if it happens secretly and is presented as a fait accompli, then they wouldn't be in a position to oppose. Sure they could petition the Pope to annul the marriage, but on what grounds? Were there any available Spanish heiresses at the time? Even better, were there any titled Spanish heiresses (like the Duchess of Alba, for example)? Could be very interesting and act as the beginnings of a collateral branch of the Spanish Habsburgs.
 
An interesting choice would be Maria Gonzaga, which might give him a new foothold in Italy later, if he survives.

Not sure if she would be possible, as her marriage to Charles Gonzaga was arranged to ensure the smooth succession of the next Gonzaga branch. I can't see her uncles deciding to marry her to a Spanish Prince and risk a Habsburg succession when they clearly wanted to see their House continue on the throne.
 
Not sure if she would be possible, as her marriage to Charles Gonzaga was arranged to ensure the smooth succession of the next Gonzaga branch. I can't see her uncles deciding to marry her to a Spanish Prince and risk a Habsburg succession when they clearly wanted to see their House continue on the throne.

If we had a brother born who dies shortly after the wedding, that'd make it possible. idk
 
I didn't realize that there was a real plot by Carlos to kill/depose Felipe IV. I always thought that it was a made up thing that Olivares used to strengthen his hold over the King. Though that does explain the why quite a bit. The only bridal candidates that I found are Margherita de' Medici, OTL Duchess of Parma, Maria Caterina Farnese, OTL Duchess of Modena and potentially Anna Constance Vasa of Poland and Claude Françoise de Lorraine, OTL Duchess of Lorraine . As to the Archduchesses, I'm skeptical. Ferdinand seemed to have been waiting for Elector Maximilian's wife to die so Anna Maria could marry him (see her age and the swiftness of the wedding after Elisabeth of Lorraine's death). Not sure about Cecilia Renata though.

Do you think that a domestic match could be in the cards? I mean it would no doubt give Felipe IV and Olivares aneurysms but if it happens secretly and is presented as a fait accompli, then they wouldn't be in a position to oppose. Sure they could petition the Pope to annul the marriage, but on what grounds? Were there any available Spanish heiresses at the time? Even better, were there any titled Spanish heiresses (like the Duchess of Alba, for example)? Could be very interesting and act as the beginnings of a collateral branch of the Spanish Habsburgs.

Likewise, I haven't seen proof that it was made up or not, Hume seems to write in such a way that he believes that it was, while the Velasquez book leaves it more open to question as to whether there was actually a plot. That said, depending on when the marriage occurs, Maria Renata of Bavaria-Leuchtenberg (b.1616) could be considered as a decent candidate - she's niece of the Bavarian and sister of the Colognese electors, would be heiress to Leuchtenberg after her brothers' death. Or perhaps the Habsburgs have an interest in Lorraine - the younger daughter of Henri II of Lorraine married in 1634 to someone who needed to be released from his cardinalate due to her sister's marriage being childless.

Cecilia Renata's only other marriage proposal I can find is listed in D.R. Watson's biography of Charles I of England, where it is mentioned that James VI wanted her for a match to his grandson, the Hereditary Prince Friedrich Heinrich of the Palatinate - (which in and of itself could be interesting: her married to the Electoral Prince, while the Electoral Prince's sister married to Wladyslaw IV (just think, if the Vasa marriage produces an heir with Wlad's craftiness and Elizabeth of Bohemia's kids talent, could make for fun and games) - but only if the Spanish king didn't have a daughter available.

As to Spanish heiresses, I'm not really sure who would be on the cards. Maybe a descendant of the Segorbe line? Or, considering we would want to undermine Olivares' faction (in which the Queen and Carlos would be natural allies), why not a daughter of one of the nobles who merely don't like Olivares?
 
How about having the OTL 7th Duke of Medinaceli, Antonio de la Cerda, be born a girl instead? He was an only child and his father died shortly after his birth, so if he was born a she, it would be a perfect heiress. I could perhaps see Felipe III betroth Carlos to her at an early age, meaning that Felipe IV would likely have to allow the marriage or dishonor his father. Though I'm not sure if the Habsburgs would consider a domestic match, no matter how rich (on the other hand Medinaceli was one of Spain's oldest Dukedoms and dated back to the Catholic Monarchs). Or Luisa de Guzmán, OTL Duchess of Braganza and Queen of Portugal could be another interesting match. Finally, I like Claude Françoise de Lorraine as a way to potentially make a Habsburg branch in Lorraine (ironic enough) that would permanently secure the Spanish road. Thoughts?
 
How about having the OTL 7th Duke of Medinaceli, Antonio de la Cerda, be born a girl instead? He was an only child and his father died shortly after his birth, so if he was born a she, it would be a perfect heiress. I could perhaps see Felipe III betroth Carlos to her at an early age, meaning that Felipe IV would likely have to allow the marriage or dishonor his father. Though I'm not sure if the Habsburgs would consider a domestic match, no matter how rich (on the other hand Medinaceli was one of Spain's oldest Dukedoms and dated back to the Catholic Monarchs). Or Luisa de Guzmán, OTL Duchess of Braganza and Queen of Portugal could be another interesting match. Finally, I like Claude Françoise de Lorraine as a way to potentially make a Habsburg branch in Lorraine (ironic enough) that would permanently secure the Spanish road. Thoughts?

The problem with the Habsburgs is that they might frown upon what they would see as a morganatic marriage. That the title went all the way back to pre-Habsburg Spain would've mattered little. So the marriage might be dynastic in Spain and its realms (they didn't recognize morganatic marriages for royalty before the Bourbons AFAIK), but no way are those little tykes going to have the rank of archduke of Austria etc.

As to the Lorrainer match, I don't see why not - someone had already insisted on dredging up the fraudulent Testament of King René, in order to prevent a French annexation of Lorraine via Henri IV's plan to betrothe Louis XIII to Claude's elder sister, and I've often wondered, that if one of Albert and Isabella's sons were to survive, and marry Claude, how things would progress for the Spanish Netherlands (in my idea they don't get the Imperial throne due to the princes preferring Ferdinand of Inner Austria as German, as opposed to half-Spanish).
 
The problem with the Habsburgs is that they might frown upon what they would see as a morganatic marriage. That the title went all the way back to pre-Habsburg Spain would've mattered little. So the marriage might be dynastic in Spain and its realms (they didn't recognize morganatic marriages for royalty before the Bourbons AFAIK), but no way are those little tykes going to have the rank of archduke of Austria etc.

As to the Lorrainer match, I don't see why not - someone had already insisted on dredging up the fraudulent Testament of King René, in order to prevent a French annexation of Lorraine via Henri IV's plan to betrothe Louis XIII to Claude's elder sister, and I've often wondered, that if one of Albert and Isabella's sons were to survive, and marry Claude, how things would progress for the Spanish Netherlands (in my idea they don't get the Imperial throne due to the princes preferring Ferdinand of Inner Austria as German, as opposed to half-Spanish).

Maybe, maybe not. There's no history of morganatic marriages in Spain at this time, so its technically fine there. As for Austria, chances are they'll accept the match if its arranged by the King of Spain and considered equal in Madrid. Though I think your right that, realistically, such a marriage wouldn't happen. I'd guess that Claude Françoise de Lorraine would be the best match (I did find a vague reference to a suggested marriage between Carlos and her sister Nicola in the 1610s, so clearly a Lorrainer match wasn't outside the realm of possibility). Even better, the two had little blood connections to each other (their closest ancestor being Emperor Ferdinand I as far as I can tell), so the Habsburgs have an opportunity to get some new blood.
 
Maybe, maybe not. There's no history of morganatic marriages in Spain at this time, so its technically fine there. As for Austria, chances are they'll accept the match if its arranged by the King of Spain and considered equal in Madrid. Though I think your right that, realistically, such a marriage wouldn't happen. I'd guess that Claude Françoise de Lorraine would be the best match (I did find a vague reference to a suggested marriage between Carlos and her sister Nicola in the 1610s, so clearly a Lorrainer match wasn't outside the realm of possibility). Even better, the two had little blood connections to each other (their closest ancestor being Emperor Ferdinand I as far as I can tell), so the Habsburgs have an opportunity to get some new blood.

Out of curiosity, were Nicole's lack of children due to her own problems? Or due to her husband? Since hubby had three children by his second wife, Béatrice de Cusance, as well as a bastard son. So, if she was the problem, perhaps Claude would remain the better choice - since despite marrying relatively late, she still managed five kids before she died.
 
Out of curiosity, were Nicole's lack of children due to her own problems? Or due to her husband? Since hubby had three children by his second wife, Béatrice de Cusance, as well as a bastard son. So, if she was the problem, perhaps Claude would remain the better choice - since despite marrying relatively late, she still managed five kids before she died.

For Nicole its hard to say. She and Charles IV separated shortly after he deposed her, so it the lack of children could just as easily be due to estrangement between the two.
 
For Nicole its hard to say. She and Charles IV separated shortly after he deposed her, so it the lack of children could just as easily be due to estrangement between the two.

Fair enough. Would Carlos marry Nicole then as her first husband? And how would the French react to the Spanish house of Habsburg (indeed, any branch of the house of Habsburg) having a claim to the duchy of Lorraine? Especially since the Habsburgs AFAIK dug up the Testament of René in the first place to prevent France annexing Lorraine by marriage between Louis XIII and Nicole.
 
Fair enough. Would Carlos marry Nicole then as her first husband? And how would the French react to the Spanish house of Habsburg (indeed, any branch of the house of Habsburg) having a claim to the duchy of Lorraine? Especially since the Habsburgs AFAIK dug up the Testament of René in the first place to prevent France annexing Lorraine by marriage between Louis XIII and Nicole.

I'd say probably not. Female heirs, at least the few I can find in the 17th century, tend to marry a male from their own family if one is available. Probably to strengthen their claims and negate a possible challenge from a more distant but male descended branch. Plus I can't find much info about the negotiations between Madrid and Nancy. However, I'd definitely see Claude and Carlos happening, possibly before Felipe III's death, or at the least a formal betrothal. Something else to consider: I doubt that the Lorrainer estates would accept the so called testament of René II in this scenario, assuming its still dug up. No way their going to want to risk pissing off the Spanish and their Army of Flanders that's right near the border.

Also, not to sure about the Habsburgs involvement in the testament. Louis XIII married Anne of Austria in 1615, when Nicole was eight. At the time there was still cause to believe that Duke Henri II would have a son to succeed him.
 
Fair enough. Would Carlos marry Nicole then as her first husband? And how would the French react to the Spanish house of Habsburg (indeed, any branch of the house of Habsburg) having a claim to the duchy of Lorraine? Especially since the Habsburgs AFAIK dug up the Testament of René in the first place to prevent France annexing Lorraine by marriage between Louis XIII and Nicole.

France gets mad, maybe claims Lorraine for no reason other than spite. I can see the marriage coming about in this sort of scenario:

1614: Philip III of Spain, hoping to obtain the Duchy of Lorraine for his second son, the Infante Carlos de Hapsburg, contracts a marriage between him and the eldest child and daughter of the Duke of Lorraine, Nicole de Lorraine. This managed to occur due to the fear of the Duke of Lorraine that his Duchy would become a French appendage, as the King of France had attempted to contract his own marriage to the Princess of Lorraine.

1620: Having faced many years of protests and road blocks for the union from Louis XIII of France. Having managed to have it briefly possible, the 12 year old Princess of Lorraine is married to the 13 year old Infante of Spain. The Princess of Lorraine would join her husband in Madrid later that year.

1623: Hearing the Duke of Lorraine was growing sickly, the Princess of Lorraine and her Spanish husband were brought to Lorraine. Fearing his brother's growing power, the new King of Spain Philip IV refused to send a large military support with him. Louis XIII of France, hoping to create a rival to the Hapsburg-Lorraine family, married his 14 year old sister Henrietta Maria de France to Charles de Lorraine, the son of the potential rival to the Ducal Throne through the male line. A strong choice, by marrying his sister and the senior French Princess at the time Louis XIII of France had made a challenge.

1624: With the death of Henry II, Duke of Lorraine, Nicole de Lorraine and Charles de Hapsburg were jointly coronated as the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine. As their marriage had stipulated, they were not Regent and Consort, but had been crowned equally as Regents. Hearing the news, Louis XIII of France began an attack on Lorraine, sending troops against the Duchy. In response, Nicole and Charles began to set their own army on the defensive, and Charles would begin to send letters to his brother demanding support, as his father had promised in the marriage treaty.

1625: Philip IV of Spain was slow in returning his brother's letters, and only sent half the amount of troops as was promised. They did, however, turn the tide of battle. Both sides were beginning to slow, thus the fresh Spaniard troops allowed the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine to save their position. The war dragged on for another 3 months, but ultimately the French army had lost their advantage and never regained it. However, with this humiliating loss did not come recognition from Louis XIII of France. Referring to the Duke and Duchess as usurpers, he kept his sister and her husband at the court as the "true" Duke and Duchess of Lorraine. Thus, when their first child, a son, was born Louis de Lorraine, he was hailed as the heir to the Duchy of Lorraine.

1626-1629: Having kept their Duchy, the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine were not strongly suggested that the need for an heir was imperative. The birth of a second son to the opposing side in 1627 was worrying, and thus the two were put under pressure to have it be done. Unfortunately, no child would come until 1629, when the Duchess went into labour and gave birth to Charles de Lorraine, who was appropriately entitled the Prince de Lorraine.

1633: Pregnant with her second child, the Duchess of Lorraine was the first to hear that the French King was once again marching troops to her country, on behalf of his brother-in-law. Once again sending requests to his brother, the Duke of Lorraine brought the Lorraine army back together and once again defended his Duchy. Giving birth in May to a Princess of Lorraine, named Philippa de Lorraine in an effort to sway to the King of Spain to help them, the Duchess traveled personally to Madrid to convince her brother-in-law to help. Being greeted by the Queen of Spain, the French Princess Elisabeth de France, Nicole de Lorraine found herself left without hope of help. Thus, once it became obvious the King of Spain would not support them, she instead traveled to Portugal. There, she found the nobility much more receptive to her, as she drew upon their lack of satisfaction with the Hapsburg rule. Thus, when she returned to Lorraine, she returned with an army led by the Duke of Braganza. Amongst the Portuguese ladies that Nicole brought with her to Lorraine was the Duke's bride, the Lady Luisa de Guzmán, who became a close friend of the Duchess. Once again, it was the fresh foriegn troops that saved the day for Lorraine, and Louis XIII of France had to admit bitter defeat. Among the casualties was the rival Duke of Lorraine, Charles de Lorraine, who left his bride a widow with five children.

1637: Hoping to end the enmity between the two rival branches of Lorraine, the Duchess of Lorraine traveled to France to broach a betrothal between the eldest of the daughters of Henrietta Maria de France and Charles of Lorraine, Elisabeth de Lorraine. A bright and able girl of 9, Nicole thought the match prudent and the union a hopeful one. Her hopes were, at the time, crushed as Louis XIII of France, speaking on behalf of his sister, announced that he did not treat with Usurpers. Furious, the Duchess would instead treat with his sister, Christine de France, recently widowed and much more independent of her brother. Thus, the Prince of Lorraine was betrothed to Luisa Cristina of Savoy.

1639: Giving birth to her third and final child, the Princess Renata de Lorraine, a Princess who would die before the year was out.

1640: Upon hearing that the Duke of Braganza had declared himself King of Portugal, the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine were left in a strange and uncomfortable position. As a cadet branch of the Spanish Hapsburgs, they theoretically should have supported Philip IV of Spain in his retaking the Portuguese Throne. However, practically, the Lorraine Hapsburg family was more closely connected to the new Braganza Portuguese royals, and there had even been talk of a marriage between the Duke's eldest son Teodósio of Braganza, who was now, if you agreed the Duke of Braganza was King, the heir to the Portuguese Throne. In contrast, attempts to have a betrothal between the Prince of Asturias and the Princess of Lorraine had failed. Thus, it was obvious as to why the Duke and Duchess of Lorraine supported the Braganza side. This did, however, create an awkward situation with France. Supporting the Braganza side had the odd effect of putting the two on the same side, against the Duke of Lorraine's brother. With this unity, the previously desired match between Elisabeth de Lorraine and Charles de Lorraine became a reality and the Savoy match was set to the side. This came as this girl's two elder brothers, Louis and Nicholas de Lorraine, both died of smallpox. Thus, Elisabeth de Lorraine was now the heir to her father's claim.

TBC
 
Unlikely that Louis XIII would waste his sister on a potential Duc de Lorraine over the possibility of her being Princess of Wales and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland. Wouldn't bring that much benefit. Second, why would the French need to invent a claimant to the ducal throne? Look at OTL history: France occupied the Duchy and de-facto annexed it for much of the 17th century. Third, I can't see Felipe IV being so petty as to ignore the strategic value of placing Lorraine under Habsburg control (it would establish permanent control over the Spanish road).
 
Unlikely that Louis XIII would waste his sister on a potential Duc de Lorraine over the possibility of her being Princess of Wales and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland. Wouldn't bring that much benefit. Second, why would the French need to invent a claimant to the ducal throne? Look at OTL history: France occupied the Duchy and de-facto annexed it for much of the 17th century. Third, I can't see Felipe IV being so petty as to ignore the strategic value of placing Lorraine under Habsburg control (it would establish permanent control over the Spanish road).

1) His other sister married the Duke of Savoy, and this would be prior to the marriage to the Prince of Wales, who was at this time attempting an alliance with Spain. Louis might see this as his chance to undermine the Hapsburgs before they make a crucial alliance with England. If you don't think it's appropriate, however, it could be a marriage to Louis XIII of France's cousin, Élisabeth de Bourbon. Younger, but it could definitely work.

2) That is true, but I was saying I could see them trying to claim the title from Nicole de Lorraine as well as the land.

3) I guess so. Then again, it seems he really did not like his brother and might have thought the effort to keep Lorraine for him was not worth the expenditure of an army twice over. I could be wrong.
 
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