Risen from the Father's Ashes: Posthumous Births of Catherine of Austria and Sebastian of Portugal in Historiographical Works of the 16th and 17th Centuries

Abstract

This article will analyse the narrative form the posthumous births of Sebastian I of Portugal and Catherine of Austria took in historiographic works of the 16th and 17th centuries such as chronicles and histories. We will study which events surrounding the pregnancy and birth of the aforementioned were highlighted, which importance was given to the fact of being born during mourning and how the emotional balance of the pregnant widow was associated with the formation and future of the fetus.

Keywords

• viuda embarazada
• parto póstumo
• sebastián i de portugal
• catalina de austria
• juana i de castilla
• juana de austria
• crónicas
• obras historiográficas
• cometa
• presagio
• partera improvisada