Joan of Portugal (1439–1475)

Joan of Portugal on a miniature by Antonio de Hollanda ca.1530

Joana von Portugal also Joana de Avis and Aragon (Portuguese Joana de Avis ; Spanish Juana de Avis y Aragón ; * March 20, 1439 in Almada (Portugal); † June 13, 1475 in Madrid ) was Infanta of Portugal and from 1455 by marriage with Henry IV. Queen of Castile .

family

Johanna was born six months after the death of her father Edward of Portugal. Joan's brother was King Alfonso V of Portugal. Her sister Eleonore Helena of Portugal married Emperor Friedrich III in 1452 .

Joan's mother was Eleanor of Aragon , daughter of King Ferdinand I of Aragon . Eleanor was the aunt of Joan's husband, Henry IV. Joanna was the cousin of Blanka of Navarre, the first wife of King Henry IV of Castile.

youth

Johanna's father Eduard had appointed his wife Eleonore as regent for Johanna's brother Alfons in his will . After sometimes violent clashes, Johanna's uncle Peter of Portugal took over the guardianship of Alfons. Eleanor left Portugal with Johanna in 1439 and died in Toledo in 1445 when Johanna was six years old.

Marriage of Heinrichs with Blanka

On September 15, 1440, the then Prince of Asturias married Heinrich and Blanka von Trastámara and Evreux. She was the daughter of Blanka the Queen of Navarre and John the future King of Aragon. Since the bride and groom were cousins, a papal dispensation was required for the marriage . This dispensation was available. After thirteen years of marriage, Heinrich demanded that the marriage be declared invalid. After extensive negotiations, the competent ecclesiastical court of the Segovia diocese declared the marriage null and void . Heinrich's marriage with Blanka was not consummated. The reason for the nullity was Heinrich's impotence exclusively towards Blanka. It was found that there was a bewitchment that led to Heinrich's impotence only with regard to Blanka and not with regard to other women. This reason allowed Heinrich to get married again.

Heinrichs marriage to Johanna

On May 20, 1455, the marriage between King Henry IV of Castile and the then sixteen-year-old Joan of Avis and Aragon was concluded in Cordoba. The Archbishop of Tours celebrated the bridal mass . A dispensation from the Pope, which is actually necessary because of the close relatives of the bride and groom, was not mentioned.

The Portuguese court was suspicious of the marriage and the groom. The bride did not receive a dowry. Heinrich had to deposit a hundred thousand florins in a bank in Medina del Campo. The credit was intended to serve as compensation for Johanna in the event of Heinrich's death or if the marriage was ended for any reason.

Life on the farm

There are various accounts of life at the king's court. Queen Johanna apparently led a very liberal life. The king, on the other hand, was said to have given free rein to his homosexual tendencies.

Alfons and Isabella , Heinrich's half-siblings from his father's second marriage, were second and third in line to the throne. They lived with their mother in Arévalo. When Johanna became pregnant in 1461 after six years of marriage, Heinrich's advisors thought it sensible to have the then 8-year-old Alfons and 10-year-old Isabella under supervision at the royal court. Queen Johanna became responsible for the upbringing of her brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

Birth of their daughter Johanna

On February 28, 1462, after nearly seven years of marriage, the queen gave birth to a girl. The girl was named Johanna like her mother. At the time of her birth, no one seemed to have expressed any doubts about the father's identity. The Cortes, who summoned Heinrich in Madrid, were sworn in on Joan of Castile as heir to the throne. Some nobles objected to Joan's succession to the throne. However, they justify this not with the unclear fatherhood of Henry, but with the problem of the succession of women to the throne. Only a few years later the situation changed and a discussion began about whether the king could be the father. There were rumors and mocking verses were sung in the population after which the fatherhood was attributed to Johannas Beltrán de la Cueva . This resulted in the name "Juana la Beltraneja", which was often used later.

Rebellion against Heinrich

A group of nobles led by the Archbishop of Toledo Alfonso Carrillo , Juan Pacheco , the Marqués de Villena and Pedro Girón de Acuña Pacheco, the Grand Master of the Calatrava Order , had long been in dispute with Henry over the participation of the nobility in the government. This group demanded in a manifesto in May 1464 that the Infanta Alfons and the Infanta Isabella, who had lived at court since 1461, should be handed over to their care. Alfons should be recognized as heir to the throne in place of Joan of Castile.

Heinrich partially complied with this demand and in 1464 handed the Infante Alfons over to the Pacheco brothers. Isabella, however, stayed at court for the time being. During these years the tension between the king and parts of the nobility culminated in a rebellion and the proclamation of the 11-year-old Alfonso as King Alfonso XII. ( Farsa de Ávila ) As a result, there were various military clashes between the supporters of Alfonso and Heinrich.

Captivity at Alaejos Castle

In 1467, under pressure from the opposition nobles, Heinrich gave his wife Johanna to the Archbishop of Seville Alonso I de Fonseca y Ulloa, who held her prisoner in the castle of Alaejos. This captivity, however, was not very strict. Johanna had a love affair with the bishop's nephew in Alaejos.

On August 15, 1469 Heinrich asked his wife Johanna of Portugal to come to Madrid. He sent three noblemen to pick them up from Alaejos and accompany them to Madrid. But Johanna was seven months pregnant and it was clear to her that she couldn't keep the pregnancy a secret at court. So she left Alaejos Castle in an adventurous escape with a rope over the castle wall. She was supported by her lover Don Pedro de Castilla y Fonseca, the nephew of the Archbishop of Seville Alonso I. de Fonseca y Ulloa. Don Pedro brought them to Buitrago, a village in the Mendoza family's territory. Here the queen gave birth to twins Andrés Apóstol de Castilla y Portugal and Pedro Apóstol de Castilla y Portugal on November 30, 1469. In the following time the queen lived in Trijueque, on the estates of the Mendoza family.

Treaty of Guisando

After the death of the Infante Alfons / King Alfons XII. on November 15, 1468, there was a rapprochement between the rebellious nobles and King Heinrich. In September 1468, a meeting of all involved took place in Toros de Guisando . At the same time, the papal legate present released all persons from the oaths they had sworn to Joan of Castile.

The text that was agreed in Guisando declares Johanna's birth to be unlawful, not because Heinrich's fatherhood was doubted, but because the marriage between Heinrich and Johanna of Portugal was invalid due to the lack of dispensation. It was agreed that the marital union between Henry and Joanna of Portugal was to end (which had already happened in 1467 when Joanna was fixed at the castle of Alaejos) and Joanna of Portugal should be sent back to her home country. Joan of Castile, the queen's daughter (the king's daughter was not mentioned here) should be brought to court and not go into exile with her mother. Heinrich's sister Isabella was recognized as heir to the throne. Heinrich promised to convene the Cortes to swear in Isabella. Heinrich received the exclusive right to propose a husband to Isabella. There was a possibility Isabella could reject that suggestion. However, it was not intended that she could propose another candidate for marriage herself.

Lozoya Declaration

Isabella left the court in May 1469 and, after visiting her mother, traveled to Valladolid to marry Ferdinand , the then King of Sicily and Aragonese heir to the throne, in October . Since she had not obtained the consent of her brother Heinrich, as was provided for in the Guisando contract, Heinrich no longer felt bound by the contract.

In order to present the changes publicly, an event took place in Valdelozoya in October 1470. Queen Johanna and her daughter were in the hands of the Mendoza family at the time . Members of the family accompanied them to Valle del Lozoya. There Joan of Castile was confirmed as heir to the throne. Heinrich and Johanna of Portugal solemnly swore that the girl was their daughter. In addition, the engagement of Joan to the brother of the French King Louis XI. announced to the Duke of Guyenne Charles of Valois .

Death in Madrid

After the death of her husband Henry IV, Joan of Portugal, who was 36 years old at the time, retired to the San Francisco Convent in Madrid in 1475. There she died on June 13, 1475.

children

With Heinrich IV, Johanna had a daughter:

Joan of Castile (* 1462; † 1530) ∞ Alfonso V of Portugal .

With Pedro de Castilla y Fonseca she had two sons:

Pedro Apóstol de Castilla y Portugal (born November 30, 1470 in Buitrago, † 1506 in Alcalá de Henares)
Andrés Apóstol de Castilla y Portugal (born November 30th 1470 Buitrago; † 1536) Commander (Comendador) of the Order of Santiago

ancestors

Pedigree Joan of Portugal (1439-1475)
Great grandparents	Peter I of Portugal (1320-1367) oo Teresa Gille Lourenço (* 1330)	John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) ∞ Blanche of Lancaster (1341-1368)	John I of Castile (1358-1390) ∞ Leonore of Aragon (1358-1382)	Sancho of Castile (1342-1374) ∞ Beatrix of Portugal (1347-1381)
Grandparents	John I of Portugal (1357-1433) ∞ Philippa of Lancaster (1360-1450)		Ferdinand I of Aragon (1380-1416) ∞ Eleonore Urraca of Castile (1374-1435)
parents	Edward of Portugal (1391-1438) ∞ Eleanor of Aragon (1402-1445)
Joan of Portugal (1439-1475), Queen of Castile

Individual evidence

↑ For more information on the medical context, see WJ Irvine, Angus Mackay; María del Carmen Jiménez Ferrera: Medical diagnosis and Henry IV of Castile . In: Anales de la Universidad de Alicante. Historia medieval . No. 3 , 1984, pp. 183–190 (English, [1] [accessed January 20, 2016]).
^ Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 12 (Spanish).
↑ Shima Ohara: La propaganda política en torno al conflicto sucesorio de Enrique IV (1457-1474) . Ed .: Universidad de Valladolid. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante 2004, ISBN 84-688-7203-2 , p. 68 (Spanish, [2] [accessed February 28, 2016]).
^ Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 13 (Spanish).
↑ Joseph Perez: Ferdinand and Isabella . Callwey, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7667-0923-2 , pp. 60 (from the French by Antoinette Gittinger).
↑ Fernando Bruquetas de Castro: Reyes que amaron como reinas - De Julio César al Duque de Windsor . La Esfera de los Libros, Madrid 2002, ISBN 978-84-9734-076-2 , pp. 140-146 (Spanish).
^ Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 15 (Spanish).
↑ Joseph Perez: Ferdinand and Isabella . Callwey, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7667-0923-2 , pp. 59 (From the French by Antoinette Gittinger).
↑ María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 48 (Spanish, [3] [accessed September 10, 2015]).
↑ María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 49 (Spanish, [4] [accessed September 10, 2015]).
↑ María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 51 (Spanish, [5] [accessed September 10, 2015]).
↑ Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).
^ Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 46 Note 42 (Spanish).
↑ Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).
↑ Shima Ohara: La propaganda política en torno al conflicto sucesorio de Enrique IV (1457-1474) . Ed .: Universidad de Valladolid. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante 2004, ISBN 84-688-7203-2 , p. 66 (Spanish, [6] [accessed February 28, 2016]).
^ Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 26 (Spanish).
↑ María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 58 (Spanish, [7] [accessed September 10, 2015]).
↑ Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).

literature

Shima Ohara: La propaganda política en torno al conflicto sucesorio de Enrique IV (1457-1474) . Ed .: Universidad de Valladolid. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante 2004, ISBN 84-688-7203-2 , p. 459 (Spanish, cervantesvirtual.com [accessed February 28, 2016]).
Joseph Perez: Ferdinand and Isabella . Callwey, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7667-0923-2 , pp. 394 (from the French by Antoinette Gittinger).
Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 391 (Spanish).
María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 43–78 (Spanish, unirioja.es [accessed September 10, 2015]).

Web links

Commons : Johanna von Portugal (1439–1475) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).

personal data
SURNAME	Joan of Portugal
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Joan of Avis and Aragon
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Queen of Castile
DATE OF BIRTH	March 20, 1439
PLACE OF BIRTH	Almada (Portugal)
DATE OF DEATH	June 13, 1475
Place of death	Madrid

[1] For more information on the medical context, see WJ Irvine, Angus Mackay; María del Carmen Jiménez Ferrera: Medical diagnosis and Henry IV of Castile . In: Anales de la Universidad de Alicante. Historia medieval . No. 3 , 1984, pp. 183–190 (English, [1] [accessed January 20, 2016]).

[2] Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 12 (Spanish).

[3] Shima Ohara: La propaganda política en torno al conflicto sucesorio de Enrique IV (1457-1474) . Ed .: Universidad de Valladolid. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante 2004, ISBN 84-688-7203-2 , p. 68 (Spanish, [2] [accessed February 28, 2016]).

[4] Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 13 (Spanish).

[5] Joseph Perez: Ferdinand and Isabella . Callwey, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7667-0923-2 , pp. 60 (from the French by Antoinette Gittinger).

[6] Fernando Bruquetas de Castro: Reyes que amaron como reinas - De Julio César al Duque de Windsor . La Esfera de los Libros, Madrid 2002, ISBN 978-84-9734-076-2 , pp. 140-146 (Spanish).

[7] Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 15 (Spanish).

[8] Joseph Perez: Ferdinand and Isabella . Callwey, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7667-0923-2 , pp. 59 (From the French by Antoinette Gittinger).

[9] María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 48 (Spanish, [3] [accessed September 10, 2015]).

[10] María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 49 (Spanish, [4] [accessed September 10, 2015]).

[11] María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 51 (Spanish, [5] [accessed September 10, 2015]).

[12] Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).

[13] Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 46 Note 42 (Spanish).

[14] Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).

[15] Shima Ohara: La propaganda política en torno al conflicto sucesorio de Enrique IV (1457-1474) . Ed .: Universidad de Valladolid. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante 2004, ISBN 84-688-7203-2 , p. 66 (Spanish, [6] [accessed February 28, 2016]).

[16] Luis Suárez Fernández: La conquista del trono (= Forjadores de história ). Ediciones Rialp, SA, Madrid 1989, ISBN 84-321-2476-1 , pp. 26 (Spanish).

[17] María Isabel del Val Valdivieso: La sucesión de Enrique IV . In: Espacio, tiempo y forma. Series III, Historia medieval . No. 4 , 1991, pp. 58 (Spanish, [7] [accessed September 10, 2015]).

[18] Fernando Castilla: Doña Juana de Portugal. Bonita y dreary historia. March 19, 2003, accessed March 25, 2016 (Spanish).