Editing Charles II of Spain (section)

==Reign==
[[File:Retrato de la reina Mariana de Austria, by Diego Velázquez.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|Mariana of Austria by [[Diego Velázquez]], {{circa|1656}}, Regent for Charles during his minority]]

Since Charles was a legal minor when Philip died on 17 September 1665, Mariana was appointed Queen [[Regent]] by the [[Council of Castile]]. The [[Spanish Empire]] remained an enormous global confederation, but its economic supremacy was increasingly challenged by the [[Dutch Republic]] and [[Kingdom of England|England]], and its position in Europe destabilised by the expansionist policies of [[Louis XIV of France]]. 

Her ability to respond effectively to the challenges facing the Empire was hampered by an ongoing power struggle with [[John Joseph of Austria]], hereafter referred to as Don Juan, Charles's older, illegitimate half-brother. In addition, enacting essential reforms was complicated since Spain was a [[personal union]] between the [[Crown of Castile]] and [[Crown of Aragon]], each with very distinct political cultures and traditions.{{efn|The Crown of Aragon was divided into the autonomous Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]], [[Kingdom of Valencia|Valencia]], [[Kingdom of Majorca|Majorca]], [[Kingdom of Naples|Naples]], [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]], [[Kingdom of Sardinia|Sardinia]], and the [[Principality of Catalonia]].}}{{sfn|Mitchell|2013|pp=7–9}} Infighting between those who ruled in Charles's name during his regency did little to help, but it is debatable how far they can be held responsible for long-term trends predating his reign. The monarchy proved remarkably resilient, and when Charles died, remained largely intact.{{sfn|Storrs|2006|pp=6–7}}

However, government finances were in perpetual crisis, the Crown declaring bankruptcy nine times between 1557 and 1666, including 1647, 1652, 1662, and 1666.{{sfn|Cowans|2003|pp=26–27}} Following the policy established by her husband Philip, Mariana ruled through a "{{lang|es|valido}}",{{Efn|Its literal translation is "favourite", but more properly refers to a chief minister}} the first being her personal confessor and fellow Austrian, [[Juan Everardo Nithard]].{{sfn|Mitchell|2013|p=234}} His most urgent task was to end the costly wars with [[War of Devolution|France]] and [[Portuguese Restoration War|Portugal]], achieved in the 1668 treaties of [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)|Aix-la-Chapelle]] and [[Treaty of Lisbon (1668)|Lisbon]]. Despite acknowledging their necessity, Don Juan forced Mariana to dismiss Nithard in February 1669, who replaced him with [[Fernando de Valenzuela, 1st Marquis of Villasierra|Fernando de Valenzuela]]. He was a member of the lower {{lang|es|[[Hidalgo (nobility)|hidalgo]]}} class, so his appointment was deeply resented by the ''[[Grandee]]s'' who normally filled such positions.{{sfn|Storrs|2006|p=155}}

In 1673, Spain was drawn into the [[Franco-Dutch War]], placing additional strain on the economy, and Don Juan renewed efforts to remove Mariana as Regent. A month before Charles became a legal adult on 6 November 1675, he indicated his intention to take control of government, supported by his brother. When the Regency Council requested a two-year extension of their office on 4 November, Charles initially refused, but was later pressured into accepting. He was also forced to issue a Royal Decree ordering Don Juan to leave Madrid.{{Sfn|Mitchell|2014|pp=181–182}}

[[File:Juanjosedeaustria.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|Charles's illegitimate half-brother, [[John Joseph of Austria]], whose political feud with his mother undermined the stability of his regime]]

Don Juan finally gained control of the government in January 1678 and exiled Valenzuela to the [[Spanish East Indies|Philippines]]. His first action was to make peace with France in the 1678 [[Treaties of Nijmegen]], with Spain ceding [[County of Burgundy|Franche-Comté]] and areas of the [[Spanish Netherlands]] returned in 1668.{{sfn|Horne|2005|p=168}} Seeking to minimise future conflict between the two countries, in August 1679 Don Juan brokered a match between Charles and the 17-year-old [[Marie Louise of Orléans (1662–1689)|Marie Louise of Orléans]], eldest niece of Louis XIV and daughter of [[Philippe I, Duke of Orléans]]. Arranging the marriage was Don Juan's last significant act; he died shortly before it took place in November 1679.{{sfn|Mitchell|2013|p=269}}

In February 1680, [[Juan Francisco de la Cerda, 8th Duke of Medinaceli]] became the new {{lang|es|valido}}. He clashed with Marie-Louise over the alleged influence exerted over her by the French ambassador, [[Pierre de Villars]], who was expelled from Madrid in 1681, badly affecting the relationship between the two.{{sfn|Borgognoni|2018|p=20–24}} Medinaceli was further undermined by economic problems and the loss of [[Duchy of Luxemburg|Luxembourg]] following the 1683 [[War of the Reunions]]. In June 1684, he sought to bolster his support by appointing the [[Manuel Joaquín Álvarez de Toledo|Count of Oropesa]] as President of the [[Council of Castile]], the second most powerful position in the state. However, continuing ill-health led him to resign in April 1685, with Oropesa taking over as de facto {{lang|es|valido}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rex|first=Carolvs II, Hispaniarvm Et Indiarvm|date=30 May 2018|title=REINADO DE CARLOS II: El VIII Conde de Oropesa, una breve biografía (PARTE III)|url=http://reinadodecarlosii.blogspot.com/2018/05/el-viii-conde-de-oropesa-una-breve_30.html|access-date=27 October 2021|website=REINADO DE CARLOS II}}</ref> He retained this position until 1690.{{Sfn|Testino-Zafiropaulus|2015|pp=273–276}}