About Me
INFANTA OF SPAIN
My name is Juana de Trastamara. I am a Princess of the houses of Aragon and Castilla. I was born on November 6 1479 in Toledo, Spain, the third daughter of King Fernando of Aragon and the formidable Queen Isabel of Castilla -or Castile for English speakers. In 1469, after years of civil war, my parent's marriage united the two largest and most powerful Kingdoms in Spain: Aragon and Castilla. Spain was then becoming an important and powerful country, notably in Europe's international political scene. This painting represents my mother on the right and my father on the left:
Though disappointed because I wasn't a boy, my parents received my birth with joy and gratefulness: They already had a male heir, my older brother Juan. I also had an older sister named Isabel. She married the King of Portugal so I didn't get to know her much. I was baptized with the name of "Juana" after San Juan -Saint John- my family's patron. My education was not much different from the education most Princesses received during that time. My parents were severe but at the same time quite loving. They gave me a strong sense of duty and responsibility from a very early age. However, I didn't see them much . They were too busy with the administration of Spain. Our Court was pretty much a traveling Court, always on the move as a way to reaffirm Royal authority.
My mother appointed her best friend, Beatriz Galindo, as my Governess. She taught me all about manners, poise and etiquette rules. She also taught me some Music and Poetry along with dancing and horse back riding. The rest of my education was entrusted to the Dominican Priest Andres de Miranda. He taught me languages such as Latin, Greek and French. In addition to this, I learned a little bit about Geography and History. Religious studies consumed the majority of my time. As the third daughter of the King and Queen, I wasn't meant to rule so my political education was rather neglected. I showed great interest, however, I learning about current political events. My mother would sometimes supervise my education but she was always too busy and without much time to talk to me. Needless to say, I had a very sheltered childhood, surrounded by countless servants and slaves.
When I was coming of age, my mother managed to conquer the Kingdom of Granada in 1492 after years of war. It had been in hands of the Muslim Mores for nearly seven centuries. I was indeed a great victory for Spain and I was part of the celebrations. That very same year, on October 12, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain from an expedition with the thought of having discovered and alternative route to the Indias. That signified great commercial advantages for Spain. Little did we know that he had actually discovered a new continent: America. It was within that context that I grew up to be a very beautiful young girl. My golden hair would turn darker with age, and I was rather short and a bit too thin but I already had a reputation of being a great beauty. This painting represents me with my parents:
BECOMING THE ARCHDUCHESS OF AUSTRIA
Consequently, I was already the target of many marriage proposals by the time I turned 13. The Regent of France, the Duchess Anne of Bourbon, expressed her interest in marrying me to her young brother Charles VIII. In the same fashion, James IV of Scotland asked for my hand in marriage. But my parents were worried about the expansionism policies of Anne of France. She was becoming a major threat to our borders in the North. They wanted to counter balance the Valois hegemony in Europe so they negotiated my marriage with Anne's worst enemy: Maximilian I of Austria. It was then that a marriage contract was signed saying that I was to marry Maximilian's son, the Archduke Philip. This is my marriage contract, kept at the general archives of Simancas:
Indeed, my future husband had inherited part of the vast and wealthy Dukedom of Burgundy from his mother, Mary of Burgundy. He was in charge of the administration of those lands, and I was required to leave Spain and join him. So in 1496, I left the ports of Cantabria -Northern Spain- in a fleet commanded by Captain Juan Perez. I was 16 years old. I couldn't stand the thought of having to leave my siblings, specially my younger sister Catalina -the future Queen of England Catherine of Aragon- who had grown quite attached to me. My journey was a difficult one due to harsh weather. At one point, I was forced to take refuge in Portland, England. To my disappointment, I wasn't greeted my by husband upon my arrival in the Low Countries. He was in Germany at the instigation of his French speaking advisers who were trying to convince Maximilian to break the Spanish alliance and settle an alliance with France instead. This didn't occur and Philip came to finally meet me.
We found to be attracted to each other from the very beginning. Though his portraits might suggest otherwise, Philip was an extremely handsome young man. He was also very taken aback with my beauty. Together, we made a very attractive couple. Life dramatically changed for me, and not only because of marriage. In Spain I had lived a very austere and simple existence, mainly devoted to religious practices. Here in the North, life was entirely different. The Burgundian Court was always joyful and elegant. Much emphasis was placed in the luxury of clothes which lead me to having to renew my wardrobe. Moreover, concerts and masked balls were happening on regular basis and I found myself at the epicenter of this social whirlwind. Philip visited my chambers almost every night. Thus, I was soon with child: I gave birth to my daughter Leonor on November 28 1498. Nevertheless, my second pregnancy wasn't that agreeable to me. This stain glass window represents Philip and I during that time:
Indeed, Philip wasn't very inclined in sharing my bed when I was pregnant. He reportedly spent many nights at places of dubious reputation, having sexual relations with vulgar commoners. He also had short affairs with Court ladies, even though he never took an official mistress. Needless to say, he virtually abandoned me during those months and I was becoming increasingly miserable. Now, it was very common for male rulers during that time to have affairs and to be unfaithful to their rightful wives. Nonetheless, I wasn't ready to accept that chauvinistic practice. I started to make scenes which deeply annoyed my husband. I became increasingly paranoid. I even smelled his bed sheets in fears of finding some other woman's perfume on them -it was ordinary costume that husband and wife slept separately.
On February 24 1500, I gave birth to a son. He was named Charles after his great grand father, Charles "The Bold". Celebrations lasted for days: Everyone was happy for the Habsburg dynasty had finally a male heir. I received countless presents from Maximilian I and my husband. The latter was once again tender and kind towards me. The consequences of this new reconciliation between us resulted in me getting pregnant again. Philip resumed his debauchery practices leaving me abandoned and ever more paranoid than before. It is even said that I cut the beautiful long red hair of Dona Ines, one of my Spanish ladies in waiting for I suspected she was sleeping with my husband. There is no certain way to know this, but by the birth of my daughter Isabel on July 18 1501, it was clear that my mental state had become rather fragile.
I was constantly experiencing mood swings, and my treatment of subjects was despotic and even violent. Some people just blamed it on my "Spanish temper", but other courtiers were already gossiping about my mental instabilities. The latter didn't affect my fertility since I managed to give 6 healthy children to my husband. Indeed, my main goal as a wife was fulfilled. Philip remained mine, at least from a legal point of view. This triptych represents my three eldest children, Leonor, Charles and Isabel:
QUEEN OF CASTILLA, THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER
While I was too busy giving birth to my children and torturing myself with sentiments of jealousy, things were dramatically changing in Spain. My dear bother Juan had died in 1497, followed by my older sister Isabel in 1498. My mother was too old to conceive more children, so I became the heiress to the Crowns of Aragon and Castilla. Soon, many Spanish Lords came to see me to show me their support and loyalty. I realized the big responsibility I suddenly had upon my shoulders. In spite of my deteriorating mental health, I proved to be an accomplished diplomat, further informing myself about the political clicks at Court. I was slowly building a group of supporters and allies. In 1503, Philip left for Flanders in order to take care of some issues there. It was then that I received a letter from my dear mother Isabel asking me to return to Spain.
My return in fact was due to many reasons. For once, I had to be instructed about the political system of my future Kingdom. Moreover, my parents didn't approve of the treatment I suffered in hands of my husband. I was after all a proud Infanta of Spain! Finally, rumors about my mental health worried my parents and they thought that being at home would be the best solution for me. I left my three eldest children in Brussels and by March 1504 I was back in Spain. Being away from Philip distracted me from bad negative thoughts. My health seemed to be improving. I was expecting my fourth child; on March 10 I gave birth to a son in the city of Alcala de Henares, close to Madrid. This birth was received with great joy since I gave my family another male heir, in case Charles died in infancy. I named the boy Fernando after my father who was extremely proud.
The months that followed that birth were of great tranquility and joy for me. It seems being near my parents was very helpful for my health. Indeed, it wasn't my health the major cause of concern in the Kingdom: My dear mother was becoming increasingly ill. This resulted in her passing away on November 26 1504. We were all devastated for she had been a valiant woman and a great ruler. Her will made me Queen of Castilla, but I was supposed to rule along side my father Fernando. I didn't mind since I needed his guidance. This is a document of the government of Castilla elaborated during those days:
I made a great political team with my father. I proved to me a good Monarch and responsible ruler, specially when it came to meticulously analyzing documents of state. My grandson Philip II would inherit that trait from me. I also learned how to talk with diplomats and how to make my voice heard during Council. Decisions were executed only with my final approval. Yet, my husband Philip in Brussels was demanding my return to the Low Countries. Ironically, it was only after I became Queen of Castille that my husband expressed his desire to see me again. As a matter of fact, he expressed his wish to be able to participate in the government of Castilla with me and my father. I personally didn't want this to happen, but father, fearing having a conflict with Maximilian I, finally accepted. In 1505, "La Concordia de Salamanca" was signed. It split the government of Castilla between my father, my husband and I. Soon frictions between the two of them erupted. I wisely decided to go back to Brussels and see my other children.
There, I gave birth to my daughter Maria in 1505. Meanwhile, I knew that my husband and father wouldn't be able to rule Castilla together, so I was patiently waiting for my time. I proved to be clairvoyant regarding that issue, since the terrible relations between father and Phillip lead them to sign the Villafafila agreement. This agreement gave the government of Castilla to me and my husband, leaving my father behind. The Courts of Valladolid named my husband King Philip I of Castilla. My father left Castilla to rule his Kingdom of Aragon. Philip I proved to be an incompetent ruler. Many nobles in Castilla didn't accept having a foreigner as their King. Very often I was asked to participate in government decisions since my husband spent most of his time in brothels. This situation didn't last long for Philip I died on September 25, 1506. This emblematic painting represents me before my husband's dead body:
DESCENT INTO MADNESS
This tragic event triggered the return of my mental illness. I had truly loved my husband in spite of his infidelities and his lack of political skills. I felt utterly devastated. Rumors said he died of poisoning. He didn't lack of enemies: Most Lords in Castilla truly hated him. I personally believe he died a victim of excess and sin. He had expressed his wishes of having his body buried at the Cathedral of Sevilla down South. I accompanied his body to his last resting place. I didn't want to be apart from him, so I stayed next to his corpse for a total of 8 months, seeing how it was slowly decaying. It became evident that I wasn't right in the head, so my father resumed the Regency of my Kingdom. My dementia worsened day by day. I refused to change clothes or wash myself. Eventually, my father resulted in locking me up in Tordesillas in 1509:
My father didn't want my political allies to lead a Coup d'Etat against him so my imprisonment seemed to be the only solution. In 1516, he died making me Queen of Aragon -his second marriage to the French Princess Germaine de Foix proved to be childless. Many institutions of the Aragonese Crown didn't recognize me as their Queen because of my mental degradation. I had become most unfit to rule. It was then that my heir Charles took advantage of the situation by declaring himself King of Castilla and Aragon. Nevertheless, the Courts of Castilla never declared me officially mentally unable to rule. Consequently, every document regarding the administration of Castilla and Aragon had to be signed by both me and Charles in order to take effect. In fact, my bastard brother, the Cardinal Cisneros -illegitimate son of my father- became Regent of Aragon while my son Charles arrived from the Low Countries.
Life in prison was very sad and monotonous for me. As a matter of fact, it had dramatically worsened after the death of my father. The King of Aragon made always sure I was treated with respect, but with my son Charles in the Low Countries, there was no one to make sure I was well taken care of. I was in charge of the Marquis of Denia, an awful man who used the money intended for me on his wife. I managed to keep my youngest daughter Catherine with me, so we both spent many years of our lives locked up. I wasn't completely dead, at least politically. People often wondered whether I was indeed crazy or if I was kept away from the government on intentionally. These golden coins have both my coat of arms and Charle's coat of arms:
I remained a symbol of great importance for most Spanish people. My son Charles was seen as a foreigner. He didn't even speak Spanish properly. He had brought many advisers from Flanders which enraged the lords of Castille who felt left out. Rumors saying that I wasn't really that mad sparked a massive rebellion against Charles. I managed to get in touch with the rebel Juan de Padilla who convinced many people that I wasn't mad, and that my imprisonment answered to political reasons. The "Junta de Avila" was composed in order to prove I was wasn't insane. They reported that my behavior was practically normal during those days. Thus, they wanted me to sign a document against my son Charles in which declared myself sole ruling Queen of Castilla .
Even though I gave my verbal support to the rebellion, I refused to sign because I didn't want my son to be damaged in any way. By 1520, Imperial troops crushed the rebellion against Charles. The latter, fearing that more rebellions would be encouraged by me, decided to keep me locked up until my death in 1555. 46 years of my life were spent in a small room where a window and my dear youngest daughter Catherine were my only distraction. Nowadays, it is believed that I actually suffered from a form of Schizophrenia. Indeed, contrary to popular belief, I didn't go "crazy" because of my obsession over my husband Philip I. I most likely inherited my mental illness from my Portuguese grand mother, Isabel. My great grand son, Don Carlos, would also inherit my illness, and like me he died in prison. This lovely sculpture adorns my grave. I find it to be very life like:
