Emociones y autoridad de la reina consorte María Teresa de Austria en la correspondencia con sor Mariana de la Cruz

Abstract

In contrast to the silenced or negative image that has been used traditionally to represent the queen of France and infant of Spain, María Teresa of Austria (1638-1683), the correspondence with her cousin, sor Mariana de la Cruz, nun in the Descalzas Reales in Madrid, shows a different image in which she reclaims her role as consort queen. In these letters, the queen recreates herself through discourse as a key link in the negotiations between Spain and France for the marriage between Carlos II and María Luisa of Orleans. Emotional and intimate expresions are interwined with political matters and it is through emotional language that María Teresa articulates her public participation on issues of state and she is able to promote and legitimate her authority as consort queen.