The Spanish Match: Prince Charles's Journey to Madrid, 1623Alexander Samson In the spring of 1623 Charles, Prince of Wales, the young heir to the English and Scottish thrones donned a false wig and beard and slipped out of England under the assumed name of John Smith in order to journey to Madrid and secure for himself the hand of the King of Spain's daughter. His father James I and VI had been toying with the idea of a Spanish match for his son since as early as 1605, despite the profoundly divisive ramifications such a policy would have in the face of the determined 'Puritan' opposition in parliament, committed to combatting the forces of international Catholicism at every opportunity. With the Spanish ambassador, the machiavellian Count of Gondomar's encouragement to 'mount' Spain, Charles impetuously took matters into his own hands and as the negotiations stalled he departed secretly in the guise of Mr Smith to win with his romantic and foolhardy daring what his father could not achieve through diplomacy. The eventual failure and public humiliation that followed his journey to Madrid has been cited as a major influence on Charles's subsequent development and policies as king. Until now, there has been no attempt to systematically explore the failure of the Spanish match from an interdisciplinary perspective, including what it reveals about the practice of diplomacy, the taste, art, and dress of the period, its literature and the long-term consequences for Anglo-Spanish relations. In this volume leading scholars from a variety of disciplines analyse the reactions and representations of Charles's romantic escapade and offer their insights into the affair. In doing so many traditional assumptions about the trip are overturned. By taking into account the political, social, religious and international dimensions of the event, and examining historical, literary and artistic evidence, this volume paints a rounded, lively and vivid portrait of one of the most remarkable episodes of the Jacobean age. |
Contents
Prince Charles Plays Madrid MarchSeptember 1623 | |
Political Functions | |
The Greatest News Story Since the Resurrection? Andrés de Almansa | |
Alexander Samson | |
The Spanish Literary Response to the Visit of Charles Prince of Wales | |
Charles and Henrietta Marias Romance | |
Abraham Rémys La Galatée ou les Adventures | |
Renegado 1624 and The Unnatural Combat 16245 | |
The Black Knights Festival Book? Thomas Middeltons A Game at Chess | |
The Fool and the WaterPoet | |
Diplomatic Representatives from the Hapsburg Monarchy to the Court | |
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accounts actos públicos Alcázar Almansa y Mendoza ambassador Andrés de Almansa April Archy's arrival audience August Balthazar Gerbier bullfight cañas Catholic celebrated Charles and Buckingham Charles's clothing collection Coloma colour contemporary Corte courtiers culture described diplomatic Donusa dress Earl edition England English entertainments entry festivities fiestas France Francisco French Galatée Game at Chess Gondomar Habsburg Henrietta Maria Honour Conceal'd Ibid Infanta Infanta Maria Inglaterra Jacobean James John journey Juan letter literary London Madrid Malefort March María marriage masque Massinger Massinger’s monarchy negotiations Obra periodística Olivares painting palace Palatinate Paris peace Philip Philip IV play Plaza Mayor poem political portrait Prince Charles Prince of Wales Prince's princess Príncipe de Gales printed Protestant published Queen Quevedo Redworth reference Relaciones relation religious Renegado royal Simón Díaz Spaniards Spanish court Spanish Match Stuart tapestries Taylor Theocrine Thomas Middleton Titian translation Unnatural Combat Villa Vitelli vols White