The death of Philip IV's only daughter and the illness that befell the king prompted a serious dynastic crisis, which, although short-lived, prompted the first challenge to the authority of the Count-Duke of Olivares by members of the aristocracy. The King's Valido imposed restricted access to the monarch and carefully controlled dissemination of news about the king's health. He did so for two reasons: firstly, to stifle communication between Philip IV and his brothers; and secondly, to develop precautionary plans for a future regency in secrecy away from the court. It was this strategy that drove a group of powerful noble courtiers with close ties to the Infante Don Carlos to conspire; they prepared to contest the King's dying wishes should the event arise, to promote His Highness the Infante as successor to the throne, or as first minister in charge of the kingdom's government in the event that the then pregnant Queen gave birth to an heir.
La muerte de la única hija de Felipe IV y la propia enfermedad del rey en 1627 coadyuvaron a generar una grave crisis dinástica que, aunque efímera, encubrió el primer gran desafío aristocrático a la autoridad del conde duque de Olivares. Las restricciones de acceso al monarca y el control sobre la información que se facilitaba sobre su salud perseguían un doble propósito: por un lado, dificultar la comunicación entre Felipe IV y sus hermanos; y por el otro, manejar en la sombra la futura regencia, si el monarca fallecía. Fue esta estrategia la que empujó a un grupo magnates, cercanos al infante don Carlos, a conspirar para impugnar las últimas voluntades del rey, aupando a Su Alteza al trono o a la gobernación del reino si finalmente progresaba el parto de la reina.
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