Set in the reign of King Philip IV of Spain, this is a tale of the Spanish Court as seen through the eyes of one of the Queen's entourage - her dwarf, Maribarbola.
Dwarves were a common sight at the royal court in the 17th Century - Philip IV of Spain was reputed to have over 100 - they were considered rare attractions, bought and sold, owned and traded, or simply delivered as gifts throughout Europe. More often than not, their role was mostly for the entertainment and companionship of royal children. These unfortunates, sometimes crippled and weak-minded but sometimes wise, often served as court jesters, where they had to endure the rude remarks and practical jokes of the courtiers, their feelings as human beings were generally ignored. They were decked with finery, adorned with jewellery and gold, and shown off at ceremonies of state, or on festive occasions, revealing the voyeurism with which the royal rulers made these people the objects of their shameless whimsy, caprice and power. They were often depicted in painting with their royal patron, their small stature and / or deformity reinforcing the idea of perfection and superiority of the ruling dynasty.
They were maintained by the King according to a tradition extending back well into the Middle Ages. The tradition was motivated by charity, but many 'fools' came to be appreciated for their wit, arousing great affection and sometimes achieving great fame. Because they were not taken seriously, they were licenced to parody or flout the etiquette with which courtiers and royalty had to conform, which seems to have been especially appreciated at the rigid court of Philip IV.
And it is from a portrait by the artist Velazquez of the Spanish Infanta Margaret Theresa entitled Las Meninas, featuring two of the court's dwarves, that author Dawn Patitucci has taken as inspiration for her story. Pictured, just to the right are the dwarves Maribarbola (Maria Barbara or Maria Barbola) and Nicholas (Nicolasico) Pertusato.
The story follows the early years of Maria Barbola in private service (1626 - 1654), and then upon the death of her mistress, Mari (as she will henceforth be known), embarks on a new course. She meets up with Udo the magician in a marketplace and travels with him to France under the guise of a seer. Dwarves were often thought to have the power of second sight and were often employed as seers or prophets. As mentioned above, their feelings were often ignored, as Mari soon finds out when Udo sells her to the agent of the Queen of Spain, Mariana of Austria (1634 - 1696), and she finds herself amidst the turbulence of the Spanish royal court (1651).
Here Patitucci deftly weaves her tale. The Spanish court was, at this time, a hot-bed of political intrigue and rivalry, and religious ferver (the Inquisition was still a significant force but its influence would start to wane). Philip IV had a system of employing favourites - "validos" - which created an undercurrent of one-up-manship among the many nobles jockeying for position. Mari's rival (or nemesis), the dwarf Nicholas, was attached to the court of the King, and appears to be pre-eminent among Philip's many dwarves. The marriage between uncle and niece (Philip and Mariana) was not an entirely happy one, with the ever present question of the production of a living male heir - only two of her five children would survive, a daughter, Margaret Theresa, and later, a son - Charles "the bewitched" (c. 1661). As Mariana found herself often excluded from power and her husband, she often relied on those around her to provide both comfort and information. This is the role of Mari - confidant and spy.
Following the death of Philip (1665), Mariana found herself as regent for her three year old son, Charles (Carlos). It was a troubling time: Mariana continued to follow the custom of relying on favourites, which only magnified the petty jealousies and rivalries of the nobility, resulting in internal feuding between those who would rule in Charles' name. We must remember, Charles himself was hardly in the best of health; he suffered a number of physical disabilities, which were attributed to sorcery, though they had long been thought to be as a result of the constant in-breeding of the Habsburgs. Even once he achieved his majority (1675) and due to his illnesses, Mariana continued to rule as regent in his name and a bitter power struggle ensued for control of both the King and the government. She saw her only surviving daughter married (1666) to her uncle, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor - a prestigious marriage to be sure, but one that would have unforeseen consequences.
External factors also contributed to tension at court. Decades of war with France drained the Spanish coffers - in fact the country had been declared bankrupt a numbers of times, and Spain's position of supremacy within a European context was being questioned (especially with the loss of Portugal). However, an unpopular and uneasy peace with France, a war for control in the Spanish Netherlands, an ailing economy, saw a palace coup being lead by Don Juan, Philip IV's illegitimate son, and power wrested from the hands of the Queen Regent. Don Juan's regency was short-lived - he died the following year (many whispered poison). Mariana resumed her regency; however the arrival of a newcomer in the form of Charles II's bride, Marie Louise of Orleans saw her influence diminish (1679) - though briefly as Marie Louise herself succumbed (again poison is whispered). It is only through the use of German auxillieries that Mariana manages to retain control, long enough for Charles to marry a second time (1690).
And where was Mari in all of this - at the heart of it all - providing a different perspective to these events as they unfolded. And we are instantly drawn to her as the heroine - we are empathetic and feel strongly the slights she herself must have felt. As events played out across the pages, I was sorely tempted to research how things ended before I had finished - but I held off - the story kept me captivated - who would prevail? Mari or Nicholas? What I appreciated were the author's notes at the end that gave an insight into events of the day, very useful for those for whom this period is not their forte.
Mariana died in 1696 - she did not live to see her only son die young (1700) - a death which sparked off what is known today as the Spanish Wars of Succession - a battle for the Spanish throne between the Spanish Habsburgs (heirs of Philip IV by his second wife led by Charles' sister Margaret Theresa) and their relatives, the French Bourbons (heirs of Philip IV by his first wife and led by Charles' half-sister, Maria Theresa). This war would ultimately see Charles' grand-nephew (and chosen heir), Philip of Anjou succeed as Philip V of Spain. On a side note, it would be Philip V who, when he reorganised the court offices, would abolish the role of fools and dwarves.
What happened to Mari following the death of the Queen Regent Mariana - it was said she returned to her native Austria where she died (quite possibly that same year).
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