‘Bring this Mad Woman to Reason!’ Elisabeth Farnese As a Female Ruler in 18th Century Europe

Abstract

Does law reduce the differences between man and woman, from an evolutionary point of view? In an age where female political representation is far from guaranteed, even in the most gender-oriented Western democracies, I would like to bring the example of a forceful and proud female Ancien Régime ruler: Elisabeth Farnese, the “Termagant Queen of Spain”, who, together with her feeble husband Philip V, “esclavo de sus mujeres”, ruled the Iberian peninsula and the Spanish colonies in both of the Indies, and terrified her native Italian peninsula.

Elisabeth has the image of a “strong” and “ambitious”, but also unreliable and outright irrational woman. Philip had found in her his second wife. The already numerous children from his first marriage would precede those of his Italian bride. Yet, Elisabeth’s relentless quest for a dominion for her children, or of a dowry for herself as “administratrix”, kept the European state system in suspense from the end of the Spanish (1701-1714) to the end of the Austrian War of Succession (1740-1748). The multiple twists and turns of Spanish foreign policy are attributed to the de facto absolute government Elisabeth held over her “Imbecile” husband. However, as her legal status was concerned, she was but the spouse of the ruling monarch, who personally incarnated sovereignty. Recent historians have called for a reassessment of Philip’s mental lability (e.g. Henry Kamen), or of the aggressive Spanish foreign policy, or new “Risorgimento” in Italy (Christopher Storss), where the Spanish monarchy succeeded in founding two secondary branches (Parma-Piacenza and Naples), against all odds. Elisabeth correctly understood the Balance of Power in European relations after the Treaty of Utrecht. Yet, there was more than mere political shrewdness. If the Queen was capable of bullying male sovereigns into submission, she exploited legal arguments as well. Not only the historical Spanish presence in Italy, but foremost her position as relative of the extinct Farnese and Medici-dynasties, were the trump card in Philip’s hand. She managed to bend and bow Imperial succession law, excluding women, to plant the Bourbon flag in the heart of Habsburg dominated Italy.

I present Elisabeth’s exceptional story based on the legal argumentation of Spanish, Imperial, French and British diplomats, expressed both in correspondence and memoranda.

Keywords: legal history, political history

JEL Classification: K33