joanna la beltraneja
Joanna of Castile (1462 – 1530)

The Year of Isabella I of Castile – The rivalry with Joanna la Beltraneja (Part one)

The future Queen Isabella’s half-brother, King Henry IV of Castile,  married Joan of Portugal in May 1455, with the papal dispensation having arrived at the end of 1453, as the pair were first cousins. A copy of this dispensation was not found in the archives of the Vatican, although this does not necessarily prove it [read more]

margaret of austria
Margaret of Austria (1480 - 1530)

The Year of Isabella I of Castile – Margaret of Austria, The pearl of Burgundy (Part two)

Read part one here. Margaret met her future mother-in-law, Queen Isabella I of Castile, in Burgos shortly after her arrival. Margaret tried to kneel and kiss Isabella’s hand, but Isabella raised her up. The Venetian ambassador later wrote, “The Queen’s reception of her was quite a sight. Kissing and hugging many times, she took her [read more]