Daughter of King Philip II of Spain, Isabel Clara Euhenia was the Infanta.

heir to the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal.

Her mother was Elizabeth Valois, eldest daughter of Orido Henry II King of France and his wife

Catherine de Medici, placing her in line for the French throne too, although under Salek

Law she couldn't inherit in her own right and in her lifetime could never be crowned queen.

Instead she was known as one of the two archdukes of the low countries with her husband Albert

and later after Albert's death as governor.

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Isabel's story provides a fascinating example of early modern female sovereignty.

It illustrates how benevolence, humility, wifely obedience and piety could be exercised

to realise great power and exert great influence.

This was an extraordinary woman who harnessed her power as a woman, the power of art, a ritual

of architecture, even the power of her clothing to demonstrate authority and presence.

To learn about Isabel's story, I'm delighted to be joined today by Magdalena Sanchez, professor

of Early Modern History at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania.

Professor Sanchez has published widely on early modern European women and her volumes include

Spanish women in the Golden Age, Images and Realities and early modern dynastic marriages

and cultural transfer.

Professor Sanchez thank you so much for joining me on not just the tutors today to talk

as bears about a queen by any other name and talking names, that's where we need to start.

In English literature, the woman we're going to talk about is often known as Isabella

Clara Eugenia.

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