Why could Louis XIV not marry Marie Mancini?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Jules, Cardinal Mazarin Jules, Cardinal Mazarin, detail of a portrait by Philippe de Champaigne; in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, France.

Louis XIV could not marry Marie Mancini because he was bound by treaty to marry the Spanish infanta, Marie-Thérèse of Austria.1

Cardinal Mazarin, who served as first minister, prioritized political considerations over personal affection. He actively thwarted the king's desire to marry his niece, Marie Mancini, because the marriage to the Spanish princess was a crucial component of the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659). This treaty was essential for ending the long-standing Franco-Spanish War and securing French interests, and Mazarin remained steadfast in his commitment to these diplomatic goals.123