Paternal Affection
After Ferdinand, three more children (all boys) were born: Carlos Lorenzo in 1573, Diego in 1575 and Philip in 1578. Due to their parents' government commitments, but also the habits of the era, the children lived and grew upaway from their parents. Furthermore, Philip and Anna's awareness of the very high infant mortality rate of the time, may have created a sort of indifference to their children.
In spite of the Black Legend in which Philip was portrayed as a monster, he was a very caring and affectionate father. he used to buy dolls, miniatures and toys for his children, and during his stay in Portugal between 1581-82, he wrote to the older girls regularly in letters still preserved, to enquire after their health and education. when he returned from Portugal, he brought many candies and jams with him.
Read more about this topic: Ferdinand, Prince Of Asturias
Famous quotes containing the words paternal and/or affection:
“There is a great deal of self-denial and manliness in poor and middle-class houses, in town and country, that has not got into literature, and never will, but that keeps the earth sweet; that saves on superfluities, and spends on essentials; that goes rusty, and educates the boy; that sells the horse, but builds the school; works early and late, takes two looms in the factory, three looms, six looms, but pays off the mortgage on the paternal farm, and then goes back cheerfully to work again.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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—Wisdom of the Elders, quoted in Kids Are Worth It, by Barbara Coloroso, ch. 1 (1994)