Alberto Bravo's 'Yo, el rey' Reassesses Carlos II's Reign

A new biography by Alberto Bravo, 'Yo, el rey. La historia de Carlos II' (Ático de los Libros, 768 pages, €36.95), challenges the traditional image of Carlos II as an incapable monarch. Drawing on extensive documentary sources, diplomatic testimonies, and historiographical analysis, Bravo argues that the king's 35-year reign (longer than Philip III, Charles III, or Charles IV) saw economic recovery in the peninsular kingdoms and maintained territorial integrity amid European hostility. The book details how Carlos II, despite health issues and lack of heirs, actively made key decisions within the political machinery, supported by validos and councils. Bravo debunks the myth of intellectual incapacity, citing contemporary sources describing a king with judgment and memory. The reign's international dimension is highlighted, with Spain resisting French pressure under Louis XIV and sustaining alliances. Notably, the empire expanded in America (incorporating Texas, California, New Mexico) and Asia (effective absorption of the Marianas), countering narratives of decline. The belief in bewitchment is analyzed as a political tool. The succession choice of Philip of Anjou is framed as a strategic decision to preserve the monarchy. The book concludes that after Carlos II's death in 1700, many territories, especially in the Crown of Aragon, fought for the Austrian Habsburg claimant in the War of Succession, defending the pacted governance model that had ensured stability.