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How was Maximilian allowed to marry his first cousin (especially, since she herself was the progeny of first cousins)? From what I understand, special dispensation from the Pope would have had to have been granted. If this was simply an effort to unify the European heads of state, having 16 children seems to be the wrong way to go about it. 24.216.65.220 ( talk) 01:40, 7 December 2010 (UTC) reply

I would assume a papal dispensation was granted. Paul III would not have been in much of a position to resist the wishes of the Emperor as to his daughter's marriage. Such dispensations were, in general, regularly given - note that both Philip II and Philip IV of Spain married their own nieces. Presumably these matches, too, had received papal dispensation. john k ( talk) 06:03, 7 December 2010 (UTC) reply