Why did a Spanish princess, Maria Theresa, cause a scandal at the French court in 1660 when she married the French King Louis XIV? Well it all started with a rumour that began two hundred years earlier and connected farthingales (hoops skirts) with illegitimate pregnancy...

00:00 - Introduction
01:02 - The Franco-Spanish Marriage
04:32 - Scandalous Origins
07:08 - 16th and 17th century Stereotypes
10:16 - Gender stereotypes and fears: having access to women's bodies
15:44 - History of the guardainfante in Spain
17:55 - The guardainfante: a symbol of Spain?
19:46 - Returning to the Franco-Spanish Marriage

For a more extensive overview of this topic, read my book! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/shaping...

For sources and images, see my blog: https://sarahabendall.com/2024/04/07/...

** Correction: The image I provided at 6.28 was for Juana of Castile (b. 1479), not Joana of Portugal, Queen of Castile (b. 1439 - d. 1475). Joana is the queen I was actually talking about. Apologies for this mistake!


Dr Sarah Bendall
www.sarahabendall.com
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