Lily
Welcome, Philip and Joanna, I’m so pleased you could join me. I loved writing your exciting love story as the history books give several different accounts of your marriage.
Joanna
Exciting, yes that is one way to describe it. *giggles*
Philip
*takes Juana’s hand* And yes, there are lots of different accounts, not all favourable but I can tell you now, I love Juana very much, from the moment I saw her I knew I’d been blessed with a most beautiful and intelligent wife. One who could keep up with me with wit and humour.
Joanna
Ah you’re very sweet
Philip
Don’t call me sweet. *laughs* you know I hate that, I am a fine warrior, excellent hunter, and I drive a hard bargain when it comes to diplomatic matters.
Joanna
This is true, you had King Charles of France wrapped around your little finger in your last meeting with him.
Philip
*shrugs* He is French, easy to bamboozle.
Lily
*laughs* Your confidence certainly shone through as I wrote, Philip, do you think you got that from your father Maximilian?
Philip
Probably, but my mother was also a force to be reckoned with. She needed a husband for political reasons, not because she couldn’t run a country on her own.
Joanna
And she was a fine horsewoman and falconer. As well as being very pious and beautiful.
Philip
She was all of those things, it is true. *reaches for a small bunch of grapes* Tell us, Lily, what was the hardest part about writing our story?
Lily
Mmm, let me think. *pauses and taps pen on notepad* probably showing that your love was real and that your affections didn’t stray when you and Juana were apart. There were turbulent times between you and I wanted to be sure I was being fair to each of you in turn.
Philip
My affections didn’t stray. I know I’m accused of being a philanderer but I said my vows before God and I meant them. Juana is the mother of my children, my wife, my Archduchess and the love of my life.
Joanna
Can we not talk of this? Philip hates being accused of doing things he didn’t do. *frowns* He is a man of fine standing, the finest man you could ever meet.
Lily
Of course, Joanna, we can move on. The passion was explosive between you from the moment you first met.
Joanna
So much so we had to bring the wedding forward. My groom had no intention of waiting until the next day to bed me. *laughs*
Philip
Can you blame me? *shifts on his seat* You were the most enchanting Spanish princess the world has ever known and the moment I saw you, smelled you, heard your voice my body longed for yours. Then it never stopped longing for yours, no amount of bedding ever found my passion waning or my longing dampening. God made us for each other, that is something I know in my heart is true.
Joanna
Oh, Philip, you say the nicest things. *sighs*
Lily
One of my favourite scenes to write was when you were under the tree in the grounds of the palace and you'd just finished satisfying Philip with your hand, Joanna. In order to prevent more pregnancies. Did you panic when only moments later Maximilian himself rides across the lawn to greet you.
Joanna
*laughs* Goodness, yes, I recall that as if it were yesterday.
Philip
And it was a close call. *shakes his head* A few minutes earlier and I wouldn't have even notice him approach, it would have been quite the introduction to his new daughter by marriage.
Joanna
Yes, you did enjoy that al fresco moment.
Lily
And tell me Joanna, how did you find Maximilian?
Joanna
Oh I adored him. He was always quick to smile, full of not just wisdom but also fun, and for an older man, well, he kept the looks that his wife had fallen for. Maximilian, Holy Roman Emperor was a very handsome man indeed, for all of his life.
Philip
And though he married again, for political gain, he never truly considered himself a husband, not like he had with my mother. Mary was his true love. His heart beat for her and her alone.
Joanna
It is true, even as an older man if her name was mentioned his eyes would mist. There's was a truly great love story and one that was heaven sent.
Lily
I loved writing it. *pause* If I may ask a delicate question Joanna, how do you feel about history calling you Joanna the Mad?
Philip
*swallows nervously*
Joanna
*frowns* It is evidence indeed that history twisted by those who wish to tell it. It is tangled by the lies of one's enemies even if they are of your own blood. I am simply a woman with fire in my veins. I know what I want, who I want, and where I want to be, and to be told no, when I am a Princess of the new Kingdom of Spain is ridiculous and bound to get a reaction from me, don't you agree?
Philip
I do indeed.
Lily
So do I. I believe many women in history are portrayed badly because they are strong or skilled in things others do not understand or wish to know. I hope I portrayed you well, Joanna, in Adored by the Archduke.
Joanna
You certainly didn't make me out to be mad, Lily and for that I thank you. It is understandable, is it not, to be jealous if one finds a beautiful maiden in your husband's bedchamber.
Philip
Jealous yes, hair cutting? *shrugs*
Joanna
Oh it grew back!
Lily
Moving on to my last question if I may. Your two sons Charles and Ferdinand both achieved great things. You must be so proud of them.
Philip
We are proud of all of our children. They each were devoted to God and understood their duty to the Habsburg bloodline. Our sons were crowned with the greatest title in Christendom and our daughters were strong, fertile and pious.
Joanna
I also believe they each found love in their own way, eventually. That makes me happy. Because after all, what is a life without love. Love of God, love of family and love of a wife or husband who you can't breathe without them at your side. That is the story everyone's life should be, not a war story, or a horror story, but a love story. Don't you agree, Lily?
Lily
I couldn't agree more.
Welcome, Philip and Joanna, I’m so pleased you could join me. I loved writing your exciting love story as the history books give several different accounts of your marriage.
Joanna
Exciting, yes that is one way to describe it. *giggles*
Philip
*takes Juana’s hand* And yes, there are lots of different accounts, not all favourable but I can tell you now, I love Juana very much, from the moment I saw her I knew I’d been blessed with a most beautiful and intelligent wife. One who could keep up with me with wit and humour.
Joanna
Ah you’re very sweet
Philip
Don’t call me sweet. *laughs* you know I hate that, I am a fine warrior, excellent hunter, and I drive a hard bargain when it comes to diplomatic matters.
Joanna
This is true, you had King Charles of France wrapped around your little finger in your last meeting with him.
Philip
*shrugs* He is French, easy to bamboozle.
Lily
*laughs* Your confidence certainly shone through as I wrote, Philip, do you think you got that from your father Maximilian?
Philip
Probably, but my mother was also a force to be reckoned with. She needed a husband for political reasons, not because she couldn’t run a country on her own.
Joanna
And she was a fine horsewoman and falconer. As well as being very pious and beautiful.
Philip
She was all of those things, it is true. *reaches for a small bunch of grapes* Tell us, Lily, what was the hardest part about writing our story?
Lily
Mmm, let me think. *pauses and taps pen on notepad* probably showing that your love was real and that your affections didn’t stray when you and Juana were apart. There were turbulent times between you and I wanted to be sure I was being fair to each of you in turn.
Philip
My affections didn’t stray. I know I’m accused of being a philanderer but I said my vows before God and I meant them. Juana is the mother of my children, my wife, my Archduchess and the love of my life.
Joanna
Can we not talk of this? Philip hates being accused of doing things he didn’t do. *frowns* He is a man of fine standing, the finest man you could ever meet.
Lily
Of course, Joanna, we can move on. The passion was explosive between you from the moment you first met.
Joanna
So much so we had to bring the wedding forward. My groom had no intention of waiting until the next day to bed me. *laughs*
Philip
Can you blame me? *shifts on his seat* You were the most enchanting Spanish princess the world has ever known and the moment I saw you, smelled you, heard your voice my body longed for yours. Then it never stopped longing for yours, no amount of bedding ever found my passion waning or my longing dampening. God made us for each other, that is something I know in my heart is true.
Joanna
Oh, Philip, you say the nicest things. *sighs*
Lily
One of my favourite scenes to write was when you were under the tree in the grounds of the palace and you'd just finished satisfying Philip with your hand, Joanna. In order to prevent more pregnancies. Did you panic when only moments later Maximilian himself rides across the lawn to greet you.
Joanna
*laughs* Goodness, yes, I recall that as if it were yesterday.
Philip
And it was a close call. *shakes his head* A few minutes earlier and I wouldn't have even notice him approach, it would have been quite the introduction to his new daughter by marriage.
Joanna
Yes, you did enjoy that al fresco moment.
Lily
And tell me Joanna, how did you find Maximilian?
Joanna
Oh I adored him. He was always quick to smile, full of not just wisdom but also fun, and for an older man, well, he kept the looks that his wife had fallen for. Maximilian, Holy Roman Emperor was a very handsome man indeed, for all of his life.
Philip
And though he married again, for political gain, he never truly considered himself a husband, not like he had with my mother. Mary was his true love. His heart beat for her and her alone.
Joanna
It is true, even as an older man if her name was mentioned his eyes would mist. There's was a truly great love story and one that was heaven sent.
Lily
I loved writing it. *pause* If I may ask a delicate question Joanna, how do you feel about history calling you Joanna the Mad?
Philip
*swallows nervously*
Joanna
*frowns* It is evidence indeed that history twisted by those who wish to tell it. It is tangled by the lies of one's enemies even if they are of your own blood. I am simply a woman with fire in my veins. I know what I want, who I want, and where I want to be, and to be told no, when I am a Princess of the new Kingdom of Spain is ridiculous and bound to get a reaction from me, don't you agree?
Philip
I do indeed.
Lily
So do I. I believe many women in history are portrayed badly because they are strong or skilled in things others do not understand or wish to know. I hope I portrayed you well, Joanna, in Adored by the Archduke.
Joanna
You certainly didn't make me out to be mad, Lily and for that I thank you. It is understandable, is it not, to be jealous if one finds a beautiful maiden in your husband's bedchamber.
Philip
Jealous yes, hair cutting? *shrugs*
Joanna
Oh it grew back!
Lily
Moving on to my last question if I may. Your two sons Charles and Ferdinand both achieved great things. You must be so proud of them.
Philip
We are proud of all of our children. They each were devoted to God and understood their duty to the Habsburg bloodline. Our sons were crowned with the greatest title in Christendom and our daughters were strong, fertile and pious.
Joanna
I also believe they each found love in their own way, eventually. That makes me happy. Because after all, what is a life without love. Love of God, love of family and love of a wife or husband who you can't breathe without them at your side. That is the story everyone's life should be, not a war story, or a horror story, but a love story. Don't you agree, Lily?
Lily
I couldn't agree more.
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