Carlos II el Hechizado

Carlos II el Hechizado (Charles II the Bewitched), premiered on November 2, 1837, is a seminal historical drama by Antonio Gil y Zárate (1796-1861). Its debut at Madrid’s Teatro del Príncipe became one of the season’s great scandals, provocatively dramatizing the supposed bewitchment of the last Habsburg king of Spain.

The play brings to the stage the king’s tragic belief that he is cursed by a young woman, Inés, whom the licentious Father Froilán accuses of witchcraft. Unbeknownst to the king, Inés is his own daughter, whom he ultimately condemns to the stake. The drama weaves together elements of Gothic terror, political intrigue, and personal tragedy: the monarch’s exorcism, the imprisonment of young lovers by the Holy Office, popular revolts against the oppressive nobility, and the reflections on the succession crisis within El Escorial's pantheon.

Critically edited by Montserrat Ribao Pereira, this volume offers the first modern critical edition of this influential work. Ribao Pereira’s introduction dissects the play's historical context, its reception (both praise and condemnation for its immorality and political messaging), and its enduring relevance. It was attacked for its exaggerated emotionalism, macabre iconography, and perceived disrespect towards historical figures and the Church, yet it remained a popular sensation.

Carlos II el Hechizado serves as a powerful liberal and anti-clerical allegory, directly engaging with the volatile political landscape of 1837 Spain during the Carlist Wars. It is an indispensable resource for advanced courses in 19th-Century Spanish Romanticism, Historical Drama, Theater and Politics, and Cultural History of Spain.