sábado, 15 de marzo de 2014

Princess of Eboli.

Anne of Mendoza, Princess of Eboli, Duchess of Pastrana and Countess of Melito (1540 - 1592) was a Spanish aristocrat.

Anne belonged to one of the most powerful of the time Spanish families: Mendoza. Only daughter between Diego Hurtado of Mendoza, Viceroy of Aragon, and Mary Catherine of Silva, married at the age of twelve years (1552) with Ruy Gómez de Silva, on the recommendation of Prince Philip, the future King Philip II of Spain, her husband was the prince of Eboli (city in the Kingdom of Naples) and minister of the king. Ruy commitments forced him to travel to England for five years, so the couple just made ​​3 months together.

She was one of the most talented women of her time, and though she lost an eye during a training fencing was one of the most beautiful ladies of the Spanish court. Among the theories being considered on the loss of her right eye, the most supported is what ensures that the princess was damaged by the tip of a foil driven by a page in childhood. However this is not clear. In any case, no physical defect remained beauty to his face, her lofty character and love of luxury became her best display label, and she had a great influence in court.

During the period of their marriage, Anne's life was stable. They had ten children:

- Diego. Died in infancy.
- Anne. Duchess of Medina Sidonia.
- Rodrigo. Duke of Pastrana.
- Peter. Died in infancy.
- Diego. Marquis of Alenquer and Duke of Salinas.
- Ruy. Count of Castañeda.
- Ferdinand. Archbishop of Zaragoza.
- Mary and Maria Manuela. Twins. Died in infancy.
- Anne. Who accompanied her mother on her years of confinement.

She asked, along with her husband, two nunneries (Order of the Discalced Carmelites) in Pastrana. She hindered the work because she wanted convents are so constructed according to her dictates, which caused numerous conflicts with nuns, monks, and, above all, with St. Teresa, founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Her husband made ​​peace, but when he died back problems since the princess wanted to be a nun and her maids were all too. This wish was granted reluctantly by St. Teresa and placed her in an austere cell. The princess soon tired of cell nun and moved to a house in the garden of the convent with her ​​maids. There she would wardrobes for clothes and jewelry, in addition to having direct communication with the street and get out at will. Given this rudeness, and by order of St. Teresa, the nuns left the convent and left the city of Pastrana. The princess was forced to return to her palace in Madrid, but not before posting a distorted biography of St. Teresa, which scandalized the Inquisition, who banned the literary work for 10 years.

After the sudden death of her husband, Anna was forced to manage her vast heritage and, for the rest of her life, had a troubled existence. Thanks to her influential names secured a comfortable position for her children.

Due to her high position, she had close ties to the then Prince (and later King) Philip II, which encouraged several nobles to catalog her as a lover of the king, mainly during his marriage with the young Princess Elizabeth of Valois, of which was close friend. What seems certain is that once stood illicit relations with widow said Antonio Perez, secretary of the king. This illicit relationship was discovered by Juan de Escobedo, secretary of John of Hapsburg (illegitimate son of King Charles I of Spain), who also maintained contact with the Dutch rebels. The lover of the princess, fearing that reveal the secret, he denounced the young infant secretary having had severe political maneuvering and Escobedo dawned dead lunges. The reasons of intrigue that led to the murder of Escobedo and princess fall are unclear.

The princess was imprisoned by Philip II in 1579, first in the Tower of Pinto, then the strength of Santorcaz and deprived of the custody of her children and the administration of his property, to be moved in 1581 to her Ducal Palace of Pastrana, where he attended perish by his younger daughter (Ana) and three servants. It is well known that the lattice palace balcony overlooking Time Square, where the princess was leaning in a melancholy countenance. After the flight of Antonio Perez to Aragon, in 1590, King Philip II ordered put bars on the doors and windows of the Ducal Palace.

It is also unclear why the cruel attitude of Philip II for Princess Anne, who in her letters called him "cousin" and called him one of them "to protect her like a gentleman." Philip II referred to her as "female". Curiously, while the attitude of Philip II to the princess was harsh and disproportionate always protected and cared for the children of this and of his late friend Ruy. She died in the town of Pastrana, being buried next to her husband in the Collegiate Pastrana.



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