Catalina Micaela of Spain

Catherine Michaela
Portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola (c.1579).
Duchess consort of Savoy
Tenure	18 March 1585 – 6 November 1597
Born	10 October 1567 Madrid, Crown of Castile
Died	6 November 1597(1597-11-06) (aged 30) Turin, Duchy of Savoy
Burial	Turin Cathedral
Spouse	Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy ​ ​ (m. 1585)​
Issue more...	Philip Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy Emanuel Filibert, Viceroy of Sicily Margaret, Duchess of Mantua Isabella, Hereditary Princess of Modena Maurice of Savoy Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip II of Spain
Mother	Elisabeth of Valois

Catherine Michaela of Spain (Spanish: Catalina Micaela de Austria; 10 October 1567 – 6 November 1597) was Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. She ruled the duchy several times as regent in Charles Emmanuel's absence, notably during his campaign in 1594. She was the younger surviving daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois.

Early life

Catherine Michaela was the daughter of Philip II, ruler of the vast Spanish Empire, and his third wife, the French princess Elisabeth of Valois.

She was described as beautiful, intelligent, arrogant and well aware of her high social status. Though her father did not attend her christening and was not as rejoiced at the birth of a daughter as he had been with her elder sister, Isabella Clara Eugenia, she had a good relationship with him. Philip and Catherine Michaela exchanged letters throughout her life.

She had a close relationship with her sister. They were raised together under the care of Margarita de Cardona, the lady-in-waiting of their stepmother, Anna of Austria, and some of her mother's own ladies such as Claude de Vineulx. Her grandmother Catherine de' Medici was given regular reports of Catherine and her sister, and she had their portraits sent and put in her book of hours. She was probably named after Catherine de Medici.

Catherine and her elder sister Isabella in a 1570 portrait by Sofonisba Anguissola

Duchess of Savoy

Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy suggested that he should marry Catalina Micaela as a way of gaining Spanish support for his plans to expand Savoy on the coast of France, weakened from the Wars of Religion. The wedding took place in Zaragoza on 11 March 1585, and the couple made their entrance to Turin in Savoy on 10 August 1585. On 1 August 1591, Charles Emmanuel and Catalina Micaela appointed Tomás Fernández de Medrano as their Secretary of State and War, a move that proved pivotal for relations between the Duchy of Savoy and the Spanish Monarchs.

Catherine Michaela was initially unpopular because of her arrogance and attempts to introduce Spanish pomp, ceremony and way of dress to the court in Turin. However, she soon gained respect because of her political and diplomatic skill, which she used to defend the autonomy of Savoy against Spain. She refused the Spanish offer to install a Spanish garrison in Turin from Milan with the excuse of giving her a life guard.

She is reported to have had great influence on Charles Emmanuel I and to have reformed him for the better. She also served as regent several times during the absence of the duke on military campaigns, such as during the Lyon campaign in 1594. Catherine Michaela also benefited cultural life in Savoy, founded many new buildings including an art gallery. Due to her influence, her sons were educated in Spain.

Catherine as Duchess of Savoy

Catherine Michaela died in childbirth near the end of 1597. She had been constantly pregnant during much of her twelve years of marriage, giving birth almost once per year, and she had miscarried earlier that year. Her death is said to have hastened the death of her elderly father, who died the following year.

Children

In 1585, Catherine Michaela married Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. This marriage produced ten children in just eleven years:

• Philip Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont (1586–1605)
• Victor Amadeus (1587–1637)
• Emanuel Filibert of Savoy, (1588–1624), Spanish Viceroy of Sicily, (1622–24).
• Margaret (1589–1655), married Francesco IV Gonzaga of Mantua
• Isabella (1591–1626), married Alfonso III d'Este, duke of Modena
• Maurice, a cardinal (1593–1657)
• Maria Apollonia, a nun in Rome (1594–1656)
• Francesca Caterina, a nun in Biella (1595–1640)
• Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano (1596–1656), Founder of the House of Savoy-Carignano and ancestor of the erstwhile ruling Family of Italy
• Giovanna (born and died 1597)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Catalina Micaela of Spain

16. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor 8. Philip I, King of Castile 17. Mary, Duchess of Burgundy 4. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor 18. Ferdinand II, King of Aragon (=22) 9. Joanna, Queen of Castile 19. Isabella I, Queen of Castile (=23) 2. Philip II, King of Spain 20. Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu 10. Manuel I, King of Portugal 21. Beatrice of Portugal 5. Isabella of Portugal 22. Ferdinand II, King of Aragon (=18) 11. Maria of Aragon 23. Isabella I, Queen of Castile (=19) 1. Catalina Micaela of Spain 24. Charles, Count of Angoulême 12. Francis I, King of France 25. Louise of Savoy 6. Henry II, King of France 26. Louis XII, King of France 13. Claude, Duchess of Brittany 27. Anne, Duchess of Brittany 3. Elisabeth of Valois 28. Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici 14. Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino 29. Alfonsina Orsini 7. Catherine de' Medici 30. John III, Count of Auvergne 15. Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne 31. Joanna of Bourbon-Vendôme

Sources

• Bercé, Yves-Marie (1996). The Birth of Absolutism: A History of France, 1598-1661. MacMillan Press Ltd.
• Pitts, Vincent Joseph (2009). Henri IV of France: His Reign and Age. Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Rapelli, Paola (2011). Symbols of Power in Art. Getty Publications.