Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain

Catherine Michelle of Spain (Spanish: Catalina Micaela de Austria) (10 October 1567 – 6 November 1597) was the youngest surviving daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois; she was also the sister of Isabella Clara Eugenia, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.

Biography

Family

Her paternal grandparents were Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and Isabella of Portugal, while her maternal grandparents were Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Her mother, Elisabeth of Valois, died in 1568 when Catherine Michelle was only one year old. Her father went on to marry Catherine Michelle's cousin Anna of Austria. This marriage produced five children; among them were Philip III of Spain and Marie of Spain.

Marriage

She married Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, son of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry. This marriage produced ten children, which included a son and heir for Charles Emmanuel, their children were:

• Philip (1586–1605)
• Victor Amadeus (1587–1637)
• Emanuel Filibert of Savoy, (1588–1624), Spanish Viceroy of Sicily, (1622–24).
• Margaret (1589–1655), married Francesco IV Gonzaga of Mantua
• Isabella (1591–1626), married Alfonso III d'Este, duke of Modena
• Maurice, a cardinal (1593–1657)
• Marie, a nun in Rome (1594–1656)
• Elizabeth, a nun in Biella (1595–1640)
• Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano (1596–1656), Founder of the House of Savoy-Carignano and ancestor of the erstwile ruling Family of Italy
• Anna (born 1597)

She had a good relationship with her father, and exchanged letters with him after her marriage. Catherine Michelle died near the end of 1597 while she was in Italy; she had miscarried earlier on in that year. Her father died the following year. Her sister Isabella married Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, and later became Governess of the Netherlands.

Ancestry