King Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) [HISTORICAL, Chapter 2, pp. 92] was the ruler of Spain from 1665 to 1700 and was known for his ill health which was largely the result of inbreeding within the royal family. He became King at the age of 3 and ruled for the first ten years with the guidance of his mother, Queen Mariana of Austria (1634-1696), who remained an influential advisor until her death. He was married twice, firstly to Marie Louise d'Orléans (1662-1689) in the year 1679 till her death, then to Maria Anna of Neuburg (1667-1740) in 1689 till Charles's death. His rule is noted as the beginning of many conflicts within Europe including the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) following his death and the end of the Habsburg Dynasty in Spain as well as a multitude of economic crises during and following his rule. He suffered from many health issues throughout his life which lead to infertility and therefore no successor to his throne. He also suffered from "apoplexy" which at the time could have referred to any number of symptoms including convulsions, fainting, and fits of madness, all of which Charles is historically famous for suffering from. In Orlando, a "Spanish King who had fits of apoplexy" (p.92) is referenced as someone Orlando heard and gossiped about during his time working for the Crown. Through this, he becomes a point of reference for Orlando's past existence as a man. The frivolity of his past life allows him to better understand the differences in his position then as a man in a position of power as opposed to after his transformation, during which he reflects upon his time, now as a woman. (287 words)

Woolf, Virginia. Orlando: A Biography. Mariner Books, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2022.