isabel ferdinand
Isabella I of Castile

The Year of Isabella I of Castile – Ferdinand returns home to newly proclaimed Queen Isabella

On 2 January 1475, Isabella’s husband Ferdinand returned home after eight months on a military campaign. Much had changed since they had last seen each other – most notably, Isabella had succeeded her half-brother, King Henry IV, as Queen upon his death on 11 December 1474. She had ordered that the cities “raise flags for [read more]

Amélie of Leuchtenberg

Lost Kingdoms – Kingdom of Portugal

The Kingdom of Portugal began its life in 1139 when Afonso Henriques, Count of Portugal, was acclaimed King of the Portuguese. House of Burgundy His wife was Matilda or Mafalda of Savoy, who was thus the first Queen of Portugal. They had seven children together, including his successor the future King Sancho I of Portugal. Sancho succeeded his [read more]