Andreas Vesalius was an anatomist, physician, and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica (On the Fabric of the Human Body).
He is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. He was professor at the University of Padua and later became Imperial physician at the court of Emperor Charles V.
Image: Fabrica contained many intricately detailed drawings of human dissections, often in allegorical poses.
“As is often the case with a first child, the empress was in labour for many hours. She asked for a veil to be placed over her face, so that no one would see her agony; and when a midwife urged her to give full vent to her feelings the empress replied sternly: ‘I would rather die. Don’t talk to me like that: I may die, but I will not cry out.’ Philip entered the world around 4 p.m. on 21 May 1527. Many Spaniards had expected the prince to receive one of the traditional names of the peninsular dynasties, such as Fernando or Juan, but Charles insisted on calling his firstborn after his own father, and so at the baptism ceremony two weeks later the royal heralds shouted three times: ‘Philip, by the grace of God prince of Spain!’”
Geoffrey Parker, Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II
El Rey.
Amados y fieles nuestros: A Nuestro Señor ha placido alumbrar a la serenísima Emperatriz, nuestra muy cara y amada muger, con un hijo, que parió a los XXI del presente. La qual, aunque ha pasado harto trabajo, queda ya, loores a Dios, muy buena. Plegará a la divina bondad que deste fructo que ha sido servido de darnos, succederá mucho servicio suyo, establecimiento de beneficio público y reposo de nuestros Reinos y señoríos.
Avisámosvos dello por vuestro contentanmiento y para que deis gracias a Dios por tanto beneficio.
Data en Valladolid a XXIII de Mayo de MDXXVII.
Yo, el Rey.
Philip’s birth announcement by Charles V, 23 May 1527. In Felipe II y su tiempo by Manuel Fernández Álvarez
Aww, Philip defended his sister Juana against the acusations their father levelled at her.
What were the accusations exactly?
It was in 1554 when Philip was preparing to depart for England and leave Juana governing Spain. Charles was against her candidature as a regent, he thought that she was more ‘haughty’ than Maria and was dissatisfied with her conduct at the court of Portugal. He accused her of leading disorderly life, particularly of spending too much money in maintaining her household. So Philip defended Juana and refuted his accusations writing to him and saying that he had got wrong information about Juana, that her household didn’t amount to 40.000 ducats in year as he was told etc.
Today is Toninho’s birthday, so I thought I should give him the spotlight for once. But then I remembered that it’s Valentine’s Day in two days, so here he is with Charles I of Spain (aka Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) and Isabel de Portugal, who were said to forget about everyone else when they were in each other’s presence.
These two had their honeymoon at the Alhambra (for nine months!) and legend has it that Charles gave Isabel a carnation, which she loved so much that she asked for hundreds of carnations to be planted there. And of course, now it’s the national flower of Spain. I don’t know if it’s related, but I find it really sweet.
For the emperor, Isabella’s death would have a profound meaning. (…) a widower at thirty-nine and with a single male child as heir to such a vast empire, Charles of Austria, King of Spain and Emperor of Germany, would never remarry. Perhaps, from a distance already impossible to shorten, the empress would continue to exercise her subtle influence.
– CASOTTI, Marsilio. Infantas de Portugal, Rainhas em Espanha.
October 25, 1521: Emperor Charles V bans the construction of wooden buildings in Amsterdam after most of the wooden structures in the city were destroyed in a bizarre and inexplicable incident regarding a wolf. Straw buildings didn’t fare so well, either.
Jan Brueghel the Younger, The Royal Palace in Brussels (The Palace of Coudenberg), 1627, Madrid, Museo del Prado.
Built on the Coundenberg Hill in central Brussels, the Palace of Coudenberg was the seat of government of the Burgundian and Hapsburg rulers of the Low Countries. Raised and educated in Brussels, Emperor Charles V considered the palace his principle residence. In the 17th century, the palace was extensively remodeled and expanded, taking the form seen in this view by court artist, Jan Brueghel the Younger.
The palace was largely destroyed by a fire in 1731 and never rebuilt.
