Maria Anna of Neuburg in Toledo

The death of the childless Charles II of Spain caused the election to the Spanish throne of Philip V, grandson of Louis XIV of France. His arrival to Spain was preceded by the exile to Toledo of the queen dowager Maria Anna of Neuburg. She lived in the city for five years and a half and this altered many aspects of its institutions (the Cathedral Chapter, the Toledo City Council) and of the inhabitants themselves. This paper examines both the positive and negative aspects in the social, political and economic impact of Maria Anna’s exile in this city