UC Berkeley

While the political preponderance of the Habsburgs stemmed from the negotiation of marriages to extend their influence and perpetuate their power, the process by which policy was constructed and implemented was far from straightforward. Over the course of successive generations, the Spanish branch of the family undertook sustained efforts to modernize the practice of marriage diplomacy, identifying distinct objectives and altering its strategic approach in response to the rapidly changing international landscape. Drawing from a wide collection of archival and printed sources in Spanish, French, and English, this dissertation shows how deliberations over the viability of proposed matches brought idealist modes of thinking rooted in dynastic logic into conversation with the emerging notion of reason of state. Focusing specifically on negotiations between Spain and two of its rivals, France and England from 1526-1660, it argues that the discursive interaction between various actors sheds light on important questions about the nature of monarchical authority, the function of familial networks, the influence of royal women, and the ultimate aim of a prudent dynastic policy.