The fall of the Habsburgs: how incest led to the degeneration of the whole dynasty

The house of Habsburg was the most powerful dynasty in medieval and Renaissance Europe. In the beginning of the XII century, the family dominated in Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain. By XVI century the dynasty has already expanded to the Philippines and America. However, their successful reign had a dramatic end because of problems with inbreeding (mating of closely related links). The website publishes a remarkable article about the last representative of the Habsburg dynasty.



Image source: Kulturologia.ruDistinctive features of the representatives of the Habsburg dynasty was protruding chin and lips, as well as the high mortality rate among newborn children. To the point, when was the last representative of the genus, occupying the Spanish throne, Charles II, the coefficient of inbreeding is 25%, i.e. almost 80% of marriages were between close relatives.



Charles II became the most visible victim of prolonged incest. From birth the king was a "bouquet" of various diseases, including epilepsy. If the average person in the fifth generation boasts 32 different ancestors, Charles II there were only 10, and 8 of them had their origin from Queen Juana I the Mad.



Because of such strong inbreeding affected the appearance of the king. The distinctive chin of the Hapsburgs from Charles II acquired hypertrophied form. Its elongated lower jaw and tongue did not allow the king normally chew food and speak. At the height of 192 cm king still had a very big head. The monarch has become a walking and talking very late. It happened because Charles II was the long-awaited heir. His brothers and sisters died early, so with the king up to 10 years been treated like a baby.



While his mother, the Queen-Regent Marianna ruled the state, Charles II played with dwarfs. The king never taught and only cared about his health. This was manifested in the rites of exorcism (expulsion of demons). Because of this, Charles II was nicknamed El Hachizado, or "Enchanted".



The king died at the age of 38 years, that was even too long for people with so many diseases. He left no heirs, because they are not able to conceive. So, once the influential ruling dynasty of Europe literally degenerated.



During the 35 years of the reign of Charles II of Spain was broke. It has become a second-rate country. When the king did not, the country literally began to "break" into pieces, which led to the beginning of the War of the Spanish succession.

via www.kulturologia.ru/blogs/181116/32289/