Editing Charles II of Spain (section)

==Legacy==
Charles' reign has traditionally been viewed as one of decline and decay, a foreign ambassador commenting in 1691 "it is incomprehensible how this monarchy survives".{{Sfn|Kamen|2002|p=434}} More recent studies argue "both the myth of decline and an incapable king are simplistic and inexact".{{sfn|Ribot|2018|p=215}} Despite their disastrous short-term impact, the financial measures taken by his advisors ended the chronic instability which had affected the Spanish currency throughout the 17th century, and helped drive sustainable economic growth.{{Sfn|Villanueva|2006|pp=14–15}} Many of the commercial and political policies initiated under Charles formed the basis for reforms enacted by his [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] successors.{{Sfn|Fox|2013|p=55}}

His reign also saw the final political eclipse of the [[Spanish Inquisition]], precipitated by its intervention in the succession crisis. When Charles changed his will in favour of Philip in 1700, the Inquisitor General [[Baltasar de Mendoza y Sandoval]], an ally of Maria Anna, arrested his personal confessor Froilán Díaz on a charge of 'bewitching' the King. When Díaz was found not guilty, Mendoza attempted to arrest those who voted for his acquittal, resulting in the establishment of a Council to investigate the Inquisition; although it survived until 1834, its influence had ended.{{sfn|Kamen|1965|p=185}}

[[File:Carlos II de Espana recibe la sagrada forma (detalle), por Claudio Coello018.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|''Charles II adores the Holy Eucharist'' (detail), by [[Claudio Coello]], one of the last and most significant examples of [[Spanish Baroque painting]]]]

Though not as fond of the arts as his father, Charles employed artists such as the Italian painter [[Luca Giordano]] and [[Claudio Coello]] to decorate [[El Escorial]]. In 1690 the latter created one of the last and most significant examples of [[Spanish Baroque painting]], ''Charles II adores the Holy Eucharist''.{{Sfn|Sullivan|1985|pp=243–259}}

On 7 November 1693, a [[Royal Decree-Law (Spain)|Royal Decree]] provided sanctuary in [[Spanish Florida]] for [[Fugitive slaves in the United States|escaped slaves]] from the English [[Province of South Carolina]].{{Sfn|Dubcovsky|2016|p=114}} Florida provided protection from storms in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] for Spanish merchant shipping. The decree was intended to bolster its population while undermining the neighbouring colony, which claimed the Spanish capital of [[St Augustine, Florida|St Augustine]].{{sfn|Landers|1984|p=298}} Formalised in 1733 by Philip, it led to the founding in 1738 of [[Fort Mose Historic State Park|Santa Teresa de Mose]], the first legally sanctioned free black town in the present-day [[United States]].{{sfn|Landers|1984|pp=300–301}}

The [[Caroline Islands]] and the town of [[Charleroi]] in modern [[Belgium]] were named after Charles in 1666 and 1686 respectively.{{sfn|Dunford|Lee|1999|p=303}} Decrees were also issued in his name approving universities in South America that still exist. In [[Peru]], they include [[San Cristóbal of Huamanga University|San Cristóbal]], established in 1680, and the [[National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco|National University]]; in [[Guatemala]], the {{lang|es|[[Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala]]}}, the fourth-oldest university on the continent. Others include {{lang|es|Santo Tomas Aquino}} in 1688, now part of the [[Central University of Ecuador]], and finally in 1694 the {{lang|es|Universidad de San Nicolás de Mira}} in [[Bogotá]], Colombia.{{sfn|Beltrán|Carmen|2012}}

{{War of the Spanish Succession family tree|State=Collapsed}}