In this episode, I talk with historian Caroline Fish, an expert on Spanish women in diplomacy during the Renaissance. Tune in if you're curious to hear about the life of Juana of Austria and her creation of the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales as a center of royal power. We explore how convent life for aristocratic women in 16th-century Spain offered surprising freedom, delve into the role of ambassadresses in covert diplomacy, and reveal hidden treasures within the convent, including Juana's art collection. Caroline also highlights Juana's influence as Philip II’s trusted adviser and her niece Isabella Clara Eugenia’s connection with Rubens, bringing a much-needed female perspective to Renaissance history.

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