became the bride of her cousin, the future emperor Ferdinand III. She was instructed by her brother Philip IV to become his «greatest ambassadress» at the imperial court, thus giving birth to a very original political setting. The Spanish King relied on an ordinary and an extraordinary ambassador in Vienna, but this role of mediation was supplemented by Maria Ana and her household. This paper analyses the development of these spaces of political communication from two different angles: firstly, the impact of a Spanish royal household in Vienna, its degree of integration and its success in providing a spiritual, artistic and social influence. Secondly, it is explored the individual role of Empress Maria Ana as adviser of her husband and broker of her Spanish relatives. A final question arises: to what extent did Maria Ana act as a spokeswoman of Philip IV or as an independent figure on her own?
The simultaneous unity and division into several branches of the
House of Austria offered a challenging situation in the case of the fifteen
sons and daughters of Emperor Maximilian II (1527–76) and his wife — and
cousin — Maria of Austria (1528–1603). As nephews of King Philip II of
Spain, even as his possible heirs, these children enjoyed his powerful uncle’s
protection and acknowledged the Spanish legacy of the dynasty. By analysing
their different education, role-holding and circulation within Europe, we
reflect on how these individuals were pivotal to spread Philip II’s interests
and how dynastic formation intertwined with national constructions.
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