The sad story of the Spanish king Charles II — the ugliest monarch of Europe

King Charles II Enchanted was the last representative of the dynasty of Habsburg on the Spanish throne. His 35-year reign was marked by many challenges — defeats in wars, the heyday of embezzlement and bribery, the loss of international prestige and influence of Spain. It was not the less sad — bloody 12-year War of the Spanish succession. The only reason Charles II was known for is his incredible ugliness that has become a legend.

Formal portraits of Charles II did not reflect the full extent of his ugliness, from old Spanish and French paintings looks too cute blond with a distinctive elongated jaw, which became the visiting card of the dynasty and was even given the name "Habsburg". In fact, the monarch was frighteningly ugly and the appearance of an untrained person were shocking.

The sad thing is is that he, Charles II was to blame for his ugliness him he had inherited, as a result of family incest 16 generations! The Habsburg dynasty was from Austria, but his representatives had an enormous ambition and thirst for power.

Over the long history of the Habsburg dynasty ruled France, Netherlands, Belgium, different kingdoms and principalities of Germany, Spain and really wanted to own the whole of Europe. The kings and princes of ancient Austrian family centuries played a key role in European history and most of all was afraid to admit to the authorities of someone outside who can challenge their monarchical law.

Therefore, the marriages, the Habsburgs had made with their relatives and their family tree looks confusing and absurd. For example, the mother of Charles II had his father's niece, and his grandmother at the same time he had another and aunt. This shocking combination no one was surprised in the Royal families of Europe, but the Habsburgs very "too much" and cost virtually no "fresh blood".

In addition to the "Habsburg" jaws, born November 6, 1661 Charles II of Habsburg got malocclusion, causing his teeth meshed. The king almost couldn't chew food, so simple and stomach problems. His tongue was abnormally large and occupied a large part of the oral cavity, so the monarch spoke with difficulty, and very indistinctly.

Everything else Carl was stooped and had a heavy body on thin legs and a huge, disproportionate head. His growth was 192 cm, but for all his problems, it can hardly be considered a plus. Add to epilepsy and kidney problems, and then get a rough picture of the health of the king. In the childhood and youth of Charles was surrounded by the dwarfs and people with other disabilities, to feel less miserable.

When walking legs of Charles II often slurred and he was falling. Because of this, almost to the age of the monarch is not allowed to move independently — the life and health of the last Spanish Habsburg cherished as he could. The king took care of so much that can't even be bothered to give him education was not only ugly, but also foolish king, who could not even read.

To the Spanish throne, the ugly, the monarch of Europe had entered very early — at 4 years. To 14 years Regent for him was his mother, who was actually in charge of the Kingdom. The monarch showed no interest to the government, even when the power concentrated in his hands. Courtiers and officials mocked behind his back and pitied the poor fellow, while frantically plundered the Treasury and shamelessly took bribes.

In 1699, on the advice of the court physicians, the king began to expose the systematic rites of exorcism, hoping to expel from it the spirits of darkness and heal from illnesses. Of course, this doesn't help, but to the name of Charles II sharp tongue they added the nickname Enchanted. Contemporaries wrote about the king like this:

On 19 November 1679, Charles II was married to Marie-Louise of Orleans — the niece of Louis XIV. Soon, the French Ambassador reported in Versailles that, from the point of view of the execution of marital debt, the family of the king of Spain, the situation is worse. Maria Luisa is afraid of his ugly wife and procreation in this case is uncertain.

Later it turned out that Carl still suffered from impotence, and in addition was absolutely barren. The marriage lasted 10 years, and in 1689, Maria Luisa died at the age of 27, most likely, from appendicitis, and not giving the Spanish throne to the heir. Charles II, and who was constantly depressed after his wife's death and is depressed and his health deteriorated even more.

The enchanted king was married again a year later after the death of Marie-Louise. The new king's wife is German Maria Anna of the Palatinate-Neuburg's had 22 brothers and sisters, so there was hope that the marriage will be fruitful. In may 1690 22-year-old beauty Mary was married to 29-year-old ugly king Charles.

The wedding ceremony took place in the vicinity of Valladolid, in Northwest Spain and was very curvy. But all those present noticed that the bride absolutely no interest in his bride, and she reciprocates his feelings. Still heartbroken after the death of his first wife, Charles was lost in thought, very much been eating. The impression was that the wedding he came for cakes and eclairs.

The second marriage of the king, as you already understood, also proved fruitless. It was rumored that the sex life of the spouse have not lived at all. Even on your wedding night king and his young wife wandered through the bedroom and was sleeping separately. The new Queen, came from a wealthy German family, shamelessly robbed by her husband.

Maria Anna secretly transported to Ingolstadt priceless paintings and sculptures of the palaces of the Spanish crown, and in addition sheltered in the Spanish court a lot of relatives. But, you have to give her credit, she was sorry for his spouse with a disability. One day, when the Treasury didn't have no money the king is in desperate panic, Maria laid their family jewels.

The king of Spain, Charles II Enchanted died on 1 November 1700 at the age of 38 years. Given the state of his health — it was the venerable age, because, as we know, to ease the monarch with a whole bunch of hereditary diseases, some Psalms and Holy water. After the death of the last Spanish Habsburg Spanish throne was left without an heir and the country was governed by appointed Carl the day before the death of the Regent, Archbishop of Toledo, cardinal Luis de Portocarrero.