Hi I am Anne of Austria I was Queen of France with my husband King Louis XIII in 1610-1643. I was the oldest daughter of Philip III of Spain, my father ruled Spain from 1598-1621. After my husband had passed away I became a ruler of my country in 1643-1654. I was a minority of my son Louis XIV, he ruled from 1643-1671. My future showed how difficult the life of an early modern princess was. My wedding to King Louis XIII was a political symbol used to strengthen the political and religious ties between the Spaniards and the French. I married when I was barely fourteen years old my husband and I were not even compatible in the beginning. When I became pregnant in 1622, my husband and I became much closer. Unfortunately I lost my first child from my clumsiness from running. My husband later became suspicious of me. As we continued to do our political and religious duties we had a married life. We had other miscarriages and finally I had given birth to two sons. Even though I never won the trust of my beloved husband and his principal minister, Cardinal Richelieu (1624-1642). Things got worse when the duke of Buckingham fell in love with me. My husband became outrages and decreed that no man could enter my quarters unless he was there. My husband started to take control of my followers. I was a Spanish princess and was outraged by the anti-Hapsburg policy of Louis and Richelieu. France and Spain were at war but I established a secret agreement with my brother King Philip of Spain (1621-1665). I gave birth to my first son on September 5 1638. My first concern changed when I had my son. Two years later I had my second son Phillip. I was scared I was going to deprive my sons’ care so I decided to grow closer to the policies and I had finally adopted my husband’s government. When Louis XIII was neared his death he tried to limit her grip on power. When my husband died, I had his will broken by the Parliament of Paris. For the next ten years I governed France with the help of Cardinal Jules Mazarin (1602-1661). I had inherited a disastrous financial situation. I had to face political crisis as many aristocrat had fled the absolute rule of the previous government came back to France. The minister had to satisfy their pleas to return to some benefits while satisfying as well the demands of those who had served my husband. A movement called “cabal of the important” loudly voiced the danger of its advocate. I reacted quickly by arresting its leader duke of Beaufort. I demonstrated that I had strong willed and I had intended to keep France on track. Spanish ministers and my Italian ministers continued the financial and political policies of Louis XIII and Richelieu. Everyone prayed for a peace with Spain. I wasn't ready to sacrifice my son’s interests in favor of my Spanish relatives. A period of the civil wars was known as the Fronde plagued the kingdom from 1648-1652. My enemies didn’t spare me. The return of peace within the kingdom allowed me to educate my son politically and the war with Spain finally came to an end in 1659. I distilled in my son’s mind the idea of King. I had a shaky marriage to a man who was different than me. I had to face many difficulties in Fronde. I never failed France. This didn't prevent me from passing France’s heritage to the Sun King.
http://www.louis-xiv.de/index.php?id=64
http://www.louis-xiv.de/index.php?id=64
Anne, wife of King Louis XIII, I am here to give my last part of speech for I feel quite ill. I would like your husband and you to take care of my trained successor Mazarin. He is still young and would be unable to make some of the important decisions. I hope your husband and you would be able to guide him during his stay at France. Next, I would like you to give my thanks to Louis XIII. I am very grateful for him in taking care of me as well as governing the country. That is all. Please transfer my message since I am unable to find Louis XIII at the moment.
ReplyDelete--Cardinal Richelieu of France