The princess Louis XIV married was his first cousin

Marie Mancini, the niece of Mazarin, was the king's first genuine love, and neither the queen nor the cardinal objected to their relationship. By marrying Marie-Thérèse, the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, in 1660, Louis XIV was finally destined for a political union rather than a loved one.

By removing Mancini from the court so that he could wed in Italy, Anne and Mazarin put an end to the king's adoration. Mazarin may have been briefly persuaded to wed her niece to the King of France, but Queen Anne vehemently objected to this. For dynastic as well as political considerations, she desired to marry her son to the sister of her brother, Philip IV of Spain.

Mazarin instantly agreed with the Queen's stance because he was aware that her support for his position of authority and his foreign policy rested on his ability to negotiate a favorable outcome with Spain and his marriage to a Spaniard. Mazarin also had a strained relationship with Marie Mancini and had no faith in her to back up his claims.

Louis begged his mother with all of his tears, but she refused. Because many of Louis' foreign policy objectives and pronouncements for the next 50 years will be predicated on this marriage and because it was accomplished, the Spanish marriage will be essential to its role in ending the war between France and Spain. the union via which the House of Bourbon would finally inherit the Spanish monarchy.