Carlota Joaquina of Spain

Carlota Joaquina of Spain, born on April twenty-fifth, seventeen seventy-five, was a prominent figure in the royal courts of Portugal and Brazil as the consort of King Don John VI. She was the daughter of King Don Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma, which positioned her within the intricate web of European royal alliances.

Despite her royal status, Carlota Joaquina faced significant disdain from the Portuguese court, earning the unflattering nickname 'the Shrew of Queluz.' Her reputation suffered further as public sentiment turned against her, with accusations of promiscuity and manipulation of her husband to advance the interests of the Spanish crown.

After the Portuguese court fled to Brazil, Carlota Joaquina's ambitions grew. She conspired against her husband, questioning his mental capacity to govern and sought to establish a regency. Her aspirations extended to the Spanish throne, which was then occupied by Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother.

Her political maneuvers intensified following the marriage of her son, Pedro, to Archduchess Leopoldina of Austria. Upon the royal family's return to Portugal in eighteen twenty-one, she supported her son Miguel's claim to the throne. However, their relationship deteriorated over time, leading to her eventual confinement in the Palace of Queluz.

Carlota Joaquina passed away on January seventh, eighteen thirty, largely abandoned by her children and political allies, leaving behind a legacy marked by ambition and controversy.