Juana I: Legitimacy and Conflict in Sixteenth-Century Castile (Queenship and Power)

This book examines the deep and lengthy crisis of legitimacy triggered by the death of Prince Juan of Castile and Aragon in 1497 and the subsequent ascent of Juana I to the throne in 1504. Confined by historiography and myth to the madwoman’s attic, Juana emerges here as a key figure at the heart of a period of tremendous upheaval, reaching its peak in the war of the Comunidades, or comunero uprising of 1520–1522. Gillian Fleming traces the conflicts generated by the ambitions of Juana’s father, husband and son, and the controversial marginalisation and imprisonment of Isabel of Castile’s legitimate heir. Analysing Juana’s problems and strategies, failures and successes, Fleming argues that the period cannot be properly understood without taking into account the long shadow that Juana I cast over her kingdoms and over a crucial period of transition for Spain and Europe. Preface Contents Abbreviations List of Figures Chapter 1 In the Footsteps of Juana I References Chapter 2 ‘Señora Archiduquesa’ (1496–1497) 2.1 Voyage into the Unknown 2.2 Welcome, Janne, and Protect Us! 2.3 Seeds of Future Conflict References Chapter 3 A Troubled Transition (1497–1504) 3.1 Princes by God’s Grace 3.2 The Princes’ Journey 3.3 Conflict in Brussels References Chapter 4 Fernando’s House (1504–1505) 4.1 Able and Willing 4.2 Problems and Ambitions of the King of Aragon 4.3 The Cortes of Toro References Chapter 5 Castaway (1505–1506) 5.1 Two Queens of Castile 5.2 Reign of Terror 5.3 The Treaty of Salamanca 5.4 Brief Encounter References Chapter 6 Cortes (1506) 6.1 Divergent Paths 6.2 The Queen’s ‘Party’ 6.3 The Passions of the Queen 6.4 “And sure, circa Regna tonat.” References Chapter 7 Queen and Archbishop (1506) 7.1 The Death of Philip 7.2 Shadow Queen 7.3 Juana’s Parallel Administration 7.4 Bold Steps References Chapter 8 The Personal Rule of Juana I (1506–1507) 8.1 Flight of a Funeral Cortege 8.2 The Queen’s Council 8.3 The Perils of Widowhood 8.4 Juana’s Triumvirate References Chapter 9 Entrapment (1507–1511) 9.1 Return of the King 9.2 “Discretion” and “Natural Justice” 9.3 To Tordesillas 9.4 “Mad Things” References Chapter 10 Coup (1516–1519) 10.1 The Death of Fernando of Aragon 10.2 Prince or King? 10.3 Mother and Son 10.4 “Everything Must Be Kept Secret” References Chapter 11 The Giants’ War (1519–1520) 11.1 Tyrants and Traitors 11.2 The Appeal to Juana I 11.3 Juana I and the Junta of Tordesillas 11.4 Juana I and the Body Politic References Chapter 12 Vengeance (1520–1522) 12.1 The Battle for Tordesillas 12.2 The “Dance of Discord” 12.3 Purge 12.4 The Legacy of Villalar References Chapter 13 The Politics of Penitence (1521–1539) 13.1 Hiding the Queen 13.2 ‘Madness’ and ‘Melancholy’ 13.3 Confession and Possession 13.4 The Spiritual Life of a Political Prisoner References Chapter 14 The Demons of Tordesillas (1550–1555) 14.1 Family Quarrels and Family Visits 14.2 “House of Agonyes” 14.3 The Death of Juana I 14.4 Epilogue References Chapter 15 Out of the Shadows References Glossary Index This book examines the crisis of legitimacy triggered by the death of Prince Juan of Castile and Aragon in 1497 and the subsequent ascent of Juana I to the throne in 1504. Confined by historiography and myth to the madwoman's attic, Juana emerges here as a key figure at the heart of a period of tremendous upheaval, reaching its peak in the war of the Comunidades, or comunero uprising of 1520-1522. The author traces the conflicts generated by the ambitions of Juana's father, husband and son, and the controversial marginalisation and imprisonment of Isabel of Castile's legitimate heir. Analysing Juana's problems and strategies, failures and successes, the author argues that the period cannot be properly understood without taking into account the long shadow that Juana I cast over her kingdoms and over a crucial period of transition for Spain and Europe