De padre a hijo, de rey a heredero. La correspondencia de Carlos III con los Príncipes de Asturias (1778-1786): afectos, cotidianidad y ejercicio de poder

This paper studies an unpublished correspondence between Charles III and princes of Asturies during the summers of 1778 and 1786.  Due to their nature and content, the missives provide information –also interpreted in terms of gender– that demonstrates the political participation of the future Charles IV in both governmental and Court affairs, in which the princess was also involved. We will also pay attention to the affections transmitted between the king, his son and daughter-in-law, as well as to everyday matters reflected in the letters. Thus, our aim is to provide a vision of the period different from the simplistic interpretation of it as a stage of bad relations and marginality of the princes regarding to the king, as well as to highlight the value of the source for its interest in various lines of research.