«Discurso jurídico, histórico, político»: Apología de las reinas regentes y defensa del sistema polisinodial, una manifestación de la conflictividad política en los inicios de la regencia de Mariana de Austria

Abstract

In 1666 a treatise appeared defending the traditional system of monarchy. The treatise took a very critical view of the Junta of ministers set up to advise Queen Regent Mariana of Austria. The text, whose authorship is attribuited to the Duke of Medina de las Torres, stated the need to dissolve this counseling body in order to facilitate the work of government during the regency of the queen. This political proposal, based on a reinterpretation of the king’s last will and testament, is a manifestation of the tense political climate enveloping the first months of the reign of young Charles II. Also, it must be stressed that the text’s supposed author, considered one of the most influential figures of the last years of the Philip IV’s reign, was going through a difficult time both personally and politically due to the fact that Junta disregarded the proposals he made in the first months of 1666. The defense of queen regents that occupies the first pages of the text, constitutes one of the few declarations in favor of women at the head of monarchies.