| Juana
Queen of Castile-Leon
(1479-1555)
Other names: Joan the Mad (la Loca)
Other Titles
Co-queen of Aragon, 1516-55†
Co-titular Queen of Jerusalem, 1516-55†
Biographical
The death of her only brother John, of her eldest sister Isabella, queen
of Portugal, and then of the latter's infant son Miguel, made Joanna heiress
of the Spanish kingdoms, and in 1502 the Cortes of Castile and of Aragon
recognized her and her husband as their future sovereigns. Soon after
this Joanna's reason began to give way. She mourned in an extravagant
fashion for her absent husband, whom at length she joined in Flanders;
in this country her passionate jealousy, although justified by Philip's
conduct, led to deplorable scenes. In November 1504 her mother's death
left Joanna queen of Castile, but as she was obviously incapable of ruling,
the duties of government were undertaken by her father, and then for a
short time by her husband. The queen was with Philip when he was wrecked
on the English coast and became the guest of Henry VII at Windsor; soon
after this event, in September 1506, he died and Joanna's mind became
completely deranged, it being almost impossible to get her away from the
dead body of her husband. The remaining years of her miserable existence
were spent at Tordesillas, where she died on the 11th of April 1555. In
spite of her afflictions the queen was sought in marriage by Henry VII
just before his death. Nominally Joanna remained queen of Castile until
her death, her name being joined with that of Charles in all public documents,
but of necessity she took no part in the business of state.
The Aragon claim to the throne of Jerusalem passed from her to the Bourbon
kings of Spain.
Place of birth: Toledo
Place of marriage: Ghent
Place of death: Tordesillas |
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Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica,
2018.
2. F. Velde. Latin
Kingdom of Jerusalem. Heraldica, 2003.
3.
Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature
and General Information, 11th edn, vol. 15. New York: Encyclopaedia
Britannica Co., 1911.
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