The Parmesan princess Maria Luisa, wife of Charles IV, was characterised as a woman who was active in the political affairs of the kingdom. Her attitude contrasted sharply with the indolent disposition of Charles IV, who lacked his father’s political disposition. In fact, if we look at Goya’s work (The Family of Charles IV, 1800), we can see the importance of the queen, whom the painter places at the centre of the composition on account of her political power and influence. Her vicissitudes and involvement in the politics of the kingdom were linked to her alliance with Godoy, who was Charles IV’s favourite. The enormous power that Godoy was accumulating thanks to the favour of Charles III and Maria Luisa was a cause for suspicion on the part of the pretender to the throne Ferdinand. His party, the Fernandine party, made up mainly of his confessor and other courtiers, decided to slander the queen. It was suggested that she was having an affair with Godoy, which gradually tarnished her image, although to this day there is no proof that such an affair ever existed.

Collection: Texts

Chronology: XVIII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://rua.ua.es/dspace/bitstream/10045/28460/1/RHM_28.pdf

Resource type: Historical source

Source: La Vauyugon à Montmorin. Madrid, le 31 Decembre 1788. Archives des Affaires Étrangères,Correspondance politique. Espagne, 625

Language: Spanish

Date: /1788)

Owner: Djebril Bouzidi (Modernalia)

Identifier: La Vauyugon à Montmorin. Madrid, le 31 Decembre 1788. Archives des Affaires Étrangères, Correspondance politique. Espagne, 625

Abstract: Letter in which La Vauyugon expresses to Montmorin the new political panorama that opens up with the death of Charles III and the ascendancy of Marie-Louise of Parma in the politics of the kingdom