Ana of Austria

Ana, known as Ana of Austria, was the illegitimate daughter of Juan de Austria, who was himself the illegitimate son of Charles V (HRE). She was raised by the same nanny as her father until she was seven then placed in a convent in Avila. Later her confessor introduced her to the convent’s young, handsome pastry chef, Gabriel de Espinosa. He claimed to be King Sebastian I of Portugal, who was never convincingly accounted for after a battle in Morocco. With the complicity of her confessor they started courting. Espinosa bore a surprising resemblance to the missing king Sebastian and Ana was duped into believing his claim to the throne. And dazzled by his charm and the hope of becoming queen of Portugal, she fell in love with him and became involved in the complicated and dangerous political intrigue surrounding the Portuguese crown.