Carlota Joaquina of Spain, Queen of Portugal

[Grand_Duke]

Introducing to you all the worst, the ugliest, the most evil and the most wicked Queen of Portugal.

[Marc]

She was rather pretty when she was young,wasn't she?

[Luke]

My favorite CJ stories:

1.  During the Peninsular War, she tried to become Regent of the Spanish Colonies in South America and even plotted to be recognized as heir to the Spanish throne.

2.  She hated Brazil so much that when the Peninsular War was over, she boarded the ship to return to Portugal, got on board the ship, took off her shoes, and publically shook the Brazilian dust from them.

3.  She refused to attend the Cortes to swear loyalty to the constitution after the arrival in Portugal (she said she was ill).  She was an absolutist (divine right of kings and all that) to the core.  

4.  Her attempt to put her son Miguel in power over her husband and his outflanking her by calling in some British cards.  She was exiled briefly -- I would have exiled her to one of the Portugese Asian possesions permanently.

Sir Marcus Cheke wrote a biography of her.

Has anyone ever seen the movie: Carlota Joaquina, Princesa do Brazil made in the mid-90's by Carla Camurati.  I have not although I heard it wasn't very good.

I agree, she was much more attractive in her youth.  This would somewhat explain the fact that both of her sons were extremely goodlooking.


By the way, looks who's hand is firmly gripping the crown:

[cantacuzene]

Luke. Very good observations. Thank you. Please notice that woman who has her hand on the crown is not Carlota but her step mother, a rainha louca.

[umigon]

By stepmother I understand you meant mother-in-law  

During the Spanish War of Independence, at the same Carlota Joaquina tried to gain the Regency (for this purpose she even wrote to the Cortes of Cádiz praising their labour and their CONSTITUTION!!), she also tried to gain... the Crown of Río de la Plata (this is Argentina, Uruguay and some more, can't remember right now).


Although she was an ugly woman, she was an attractive woman in her young years. A courtier said she had ''hidden charms'', we can imagine what he meant by that... The proof is that although Carlota Joaquina and her husband hated each other, they had 12 children in total, the first one in 1793 and the last one in 1820. Maybe King Joao didn't hate all of her, just her ambitions and her character...

[Grand_Duke]

She was rather pretty when she was young,wasn't she?

Yes, she was but many (myself included) think that her ambitions and evil turned into an ugly woman - ugly inside and outside!  :-/

young Carlota - very nice!

by Debret.

[Grand_Duke]

Carlota Joaquina







All paintings by Debret.

[Grand_Duke]

CARLOTA JOAQUINA

[Grand_Duke]

[Grand_Duke]

[umigon]

Well, I don't think Carlota was ever beautiful. As a child, she must have been less ugly than as an adult woman, but of course those portraits showing us a pretty young girl are nothing but flattering portraits to content the King, her grandfather Carlos III. Of course they were also great pieces of art.

[cantacuzene]

I would like to comment that the reason the mother in law of Carlota caress the crown i this: That means Maria was soverein queen by her own right, beeing her husband king too, co-ruler. something like Mary II and William III Orange. Carlota Joaquina was queen consort. the fact of touching the crown symbolizes the true and legitime right of Maria was prior to her husband in all case. Maria was Princess of Brasil, Carlota, Infanta of Spain. It is an important difference to consider before going on.       

                                               thanks to you all.

[Rebecca]

Hello!

What were the names and dates of birth (and date of death) of the children of Carlota Joaquina and her husband?

I only know about these: Tereza (1793-1874), Antonio (1795-1801), Isabel (1797-1818), Pedro (1798-1834), Maria Francisca (1800-34), Maria Isabel (1801-76), Miguel (1802-66), Maria Josefa (1805-34) and Ana (1806-57). That's "only" nine, and I read in a posting above that they had 12 children. Does anyone have information on the "lacking" 3 children?

Btw, this is the first time I´ve seen pictures of this reknown, vicious queen. Very interesting!  

[umigon]

Maria Josefa was actually called Maria da Assunçao!


The other three children were a baby boy who died after a few hours of his birth in 1810 (died unnamed).  Then Carlota had to stillborn girls, one in 1816 and another one in 1820.

[Rebecca]

Umigon, thank you very much for sharing this information.  

Also thank you for the correction. I'll change Maria Josefa to Maria da Assunçao in my notes.