Between Horowski and this book I'm reading on the War of the Spanish Succession, he's come onto my radar. (If I get through the book without being distracted by a return to German, I will try to do a write-up on the war.)
We can add him to our very short list of monarchs who were sexually faithful to their wives (FW, George III, Louis XVI). And for the same reasons as FW: extreme piety and refusal to have extramarital sex. He was married twice, both times to intelligent and energetic women who were actively involved in running the country. He slept in the same bed with his wives, which, as we know from MT and FS, was highly unusual.
I don't know enough to say if he had good marriages from the wives' perspectives. Wikipedia and Horowski tell me that he and his first wife were in love, and he fell in love with his second wife promptly as well. Incidentally, both sources claim that his second marriage, since he had heirs by his first marriage, was driven by his sexual needs, since non-marital sex was a no-no.
Second wife, Isabella Farnese, had to run Spain while he was incapable because of bipolar disorder. In his depressive episodes, which seem to have predominated over his manic episodes, he spent all of his time in bed, not shaving or getting dressed, and sleeping all day and staying awake at night. His wife had to adopt a nocturnal schedule in order to manage state affairs by telling him what he should do and having him sign off on her ideas. (Apparently, after her husband died, she had trouble adjusting her sleep schedule to her stepson's court and lost her political influence. I commiserate, Isabella.)
Halfway through his forty-five year reign, Philip V decided to abdicate. He'd been wanting to do it for a long time, but he'd always been talked out of it. Wikipedia says the reasons are debated. Horowski says that he was convinced that all his and his country's misfortunes were due to God's displeasure at him taking the throne (this will come up in my hypothetical write-up on the War of the Spanish Succession; suffice it to say that there was a war on the Spanish succession that resulted in Philip V taking the throne), and that he should renounce it in favor of his son.
Finally he does. Seven months later, his son dies of smallpox.
This convinces Philip V that he had been wrong to give up the throne, and that his innocent son's death was a sign of God's displeasure, and he reluctantly reascended it and ruled another 20 years (by which we mean largely stayed in bed and let Isabella run the show).
I find it interesting enough that at some point I might see if I can find a book on the subject of 18th century Spain, but for now I've got Horowski, Wikipedia, and this book on the War of the Spanish Succession that occasionally acknowledges Philip V exists (and at least situates him with respect to European politics of the time).
Disclaimer that this is more subject to errors than usual, because I'm writing largely from my memories of Horowski 6-8 weeks ago, and I can't skim the relevant pages quickly to review, because they're in German. :P (One day!)
Oh, and I forgot to give you his dates, duh. 1700-1746, so Relevant to Our InterestsTM. Seven-month abdication in 1724. War of the Spanish Succession is 1701-1714.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Philip V of Spain
Date: 2021-02-20 10:59 pm (UTC)We can add him to our very short list of monarchs who were sexually faithful to their wives (FW, George III, Louis XVI). And for the same reasons as FW: extreme piety and refusal to have extramarital sex. He was married twice, both times to intelligent and energetic women who were actively involved in running the country. He slept in the same bed with his wives, which, as we know from MT and FS, was highly unusual.
I don't know enough to say if he had good marriages from the wives' perspectives. Wikipedia and Horowski tell me that he and his first wife were in love, and he fell in love with his second wife promptly as well. Incidentally, both sources claim that his second marriage, since he had heirs by his first marriage, was driven by his sexual needs, since non-marital sex was a no-no.
Second wife, Isabella Farnese, had to run Spain while he was incapable because of bipolar disorder. In his depressive episodes, which seem to have predominated over his manic episodes, he spent all of his time in bed, not shaving or getting dressed, and sleeping all day and staying awake at night. His wife had to adopt a nocturnal schedule in order to manage state affairs by telling him what he should do and having him sign off on her ideas. (Apparently, after her husband died, she had trouble adjusting her sleep schedule to her stepson's court and lost her political influence. I commiserate, Isabella.)
Halfway through his forty-five year reign, Philip V decided to abdicate. He'd been wanting to do it for a long time, but he'd always been talked out of it. Wikipedia says the reasons are debated. Horowski says that he was convinced that all his and his country's misfortunes were due to God's displeasure at him taking the throne (this will come up in my hypothetical write-up on the War of the Spanish Succession; suffice it to say that there was a war on the Spanish succession that resulted in Philip V taking the throne), and that he should renounce it in favor of his son.
Finally he does. Seven months later, his son dies of smallpox.
This convinces Philip V that he had been wrong to give up the throne, and that his innocent son's death was a sign of God's displeasure, and he reluctantly reascended it and ruled another 20 years (by which we mean largely stayed in bed and let Isabella run the show).
Re: Philip V of Spain
Date: 2021-02-21 12:47 am (UTC)Re: Philip V of Spain
Date: 2021-02-21 12:51 am (UTC)Re: Philip V of Spain
Date: 2021-02-21 02:14 am (UTC)Re: Philip V of Spain
Date: 2021-02-21 02:22 am (UTC)