Isabel Clara Eugenia

Isabella Clara Eugenia
Portrait by Frans Pourbus the Younger
Sovereign of the Netherlands Duchess of Lothier 1598–1621 Duchess of Brabant 1598–1621 Duchess of Limburg 1598–1621 Duchess of Luxemburg 1598–1621 Margravine of Namur 1598–1621 Duchess of Guelders 1598–1621 Countess Palatine of Burgundy 1598–1621 Countess of Flanders 1598–1621 Countess of Artois 1598–1621 Countess of Hainaut 1598–1621
Reign	6 May 1598 – 13 July 1621
Predecessor	Philip II
Successor	Philip IV
Co-monarch	Albert
Born	12 August 1566 , Segovia, Spain
Died	1 December 1633(1633-12-01) (aged 67) Brussels, Brabant
Burial	Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Spouse	Albert VII, Archduke of Austria
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip II of Spain
Mother	Elisabeth of Valois
Religion	Catholic Church

Isabella Clara Eugenia (Spanish: Isabel Clara Eugenia; 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633) was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert VII, Archduke of Austria. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia. By birth, she was an infanta of Spain and Portugal.

Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was born in the Palacio del bosque de Valsaín,Segovia on 12 August 1566, daughter of Philip II of Spain and his third wife Elisabeth of Valois.

Her father, Philip II, was reportedly overjoyed at her birth and declared himself to be happier on the occasion than he would have been at the birth of a son. Philip already had a male heir, Carlos, Prince of Asturias, the child of his first marriage to Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal; however, father and son had never developed a close rapport and frequently lived in conflict with one another.

Isabella's mother had originally been betrothed to Don Carlos, but political complications unexpectedly necessitated her marriage to Philip instead. Despite the significant age difference between them, Philip was very attached to Elisabeth, staying close by her side even when she was ill with smallpox. Elisabeth's first pregnancy in 1564 ended in a miscarriage of twin daughters. She later gave birth to Isabella Clara Eugenia on 12 August 1566, and then to Isabella's younger sister Catherine Michelle 10 October 1567. Elisabeth miscarried a daughter in 1568 and died the same day.

Isabella grew up with her sister, beloved by her father and her stepmother Anna of Austria, Philip's fourth wife. Philip ultimately fathered five children by Anna, all of whom died in early childhood except his heir, Philip III. While Philip II is frequently characterized as having been cold and unaffectionate towards his offspring, there exist numerous letters addressed from him to his daughters which contain evidence of a deep attachment between them, each letter lovingly signed "Your good father".

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