latristereina:The wedding of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon (18-19 October 1469, P

latristereina:The wedding of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon (18-19 October 1469, Palacio de los Vivero, Valladolid)John II of Aragon, as a Castilian infante and one of Castile’s great magnates, had always thought of an alliance with this realm in order to face his problems in Cataluña and with the powerful Kingdom of France. Already in 1457, John II proposed the marriage of his two children, Ferdinand and Joanna, to the half-siblings of Henry IV of Castile, Isabella, and Alfonso, although, it seems, no one took this proposition seriously at the time.Considering the grave situation in Catalonia between 1466-67, for it was invaded by the French troops, the king of Aragon decided to negotiate with the representatives of prince Alfonso and Isabel, without breaking off ties with Henry IV, in order to assure the Castilian support. In April 1467, the leaders of Alfonso’s camp, Juan Pacheco – who was desperate to become bonded with royalty – and Alfonso Carrillo, offered him the double match: prince Alfonso would marry infanta Joanna of Aragon, and prince Ferdinand would wed Pacheco’s daughter, Beatriz. John II agreed, and although, he made it clear, he would prefer his son to marry infanta Isabella, given the desperate situation he had found himself in, he eventually gave his permission. He sent one of his diplomats, Pierres de Peralta, to Castile, with the power of attorney, to negotiate the marriage of his son with any woman of royal blood, or with any woman who did not descend from royalty. Pierres navigated skillfully between the two camps, not breaking off with anyone.In November 1467, after the lost battle of Vilademat, John II put pressure on the ambassador of Alfonso’s party to conclude the issue of the double match. Juan Pacheco, however, seemed to be gradually distancing himself from those plans, whereas his uncle, Alfonso Carrillo, cheered John II on when it came to the Castilian marriage, agreeing with him the union with infanta Isabella, instead of Pacheco’s daughter, would be the best option. However, in June 1468, John II continued maintaining political relations with Juan Pacheco through his ambassador, Pierres. Prince Alfonso died on July 5, 1468. John II broke off the negotiations for his son’s marriage to Beatriz Pacheco. Twelve days later, on the 17 of the same month, Ferdinand authorized Pierres de Peralta and Alfonso Carrillo to arrange his marriage with infanta Isabella, the first-born heiress to the kingdoms of Castile. John II ratified those powers on July 24, 1468.As for Isabella, she had been held a prisoner in Segovia until autumn of 1467, when her younger brother’s faction set her free. After Alfonso’s death, the rebellious camp that had elevated the young prince to the rebellious throne, in opposition to Henry IV, planned on crowning Isabella for the new queen, but she denied it, maintaining she would be Henry’s heir. Meanwhile, Pacheco and Henry IV reconciled, and the majority of the grandees that had been in Alfonso’s camp followed in Pacheco’s footsteps. Before, Henry IV had agreed to confirm his younger brother as the heir, instead of his daughter, Juana, believing the marriage of the two would remove all the obstacles. Now, in order to preserve peace in his kingdoms, the king decided to make a pact with Isabella’s party. In August of 1468, Henry IV signed a document in which he agreed for his sister to be sworn in and obeyed as his heiress. He and Isabella met at Toros de Guisando (the place between Cadalso (Madrid) and Cebreros (Ávila)), where on August 19, he invited all his vassals to recognize the infanta as his heiress. It was then, when Juan Pacheco officially changed the camps again, having departed from Ávila on Isabella’s side, during the meeting at Toros de Guisando, he positioned himself in Henry’s camp (Cadalso – Madrid).Everyone had to pledge loyalty to the king, the rebellious villages were to be handed over to Henry IV, Isabella promised she would not marry without her half-brother’s consent, and he promised to not marry her off against her will.Isabella left Toros de Guisando with the title of Princess of Asturias, with all of the rents and cities that went along with it. And despite rumors about what was said during that all important meeting, and against opinion of some historians, according to Tarsicio de Azcona, there is no evidence Henry IV of Castile denied the paternity of his daughter, Juana, during the meeting, or that he claimed his marriage to Joanna of Avis was invalid, and he himself was a cuckold.Joanna of Avis’s party and many Castilian nobles were not satisfied with the new situation. They wrote to Pope Paul II, insisting princess Juana was the legitimate heiress of Henry IV, born into the canonically approved marriage by Paul II himself, and legally sworn in, as the heir to the throne. Whereas the appointment of Isabella was done against the law because it was carried out without the consent of the three states, and attorneys of the cities. It is almost certain that neither Henry IV nor Juan Pacheco, who once again had dominated the situation, in fact steering the king, had any intention to swear Isabella in as the heir legally at the Cortes. During the meeting at Toros de Guisando, she had been sworn in only by some prelates and grandees of the kingdom, who were present there, which did not make it binding.Since October 1468 Isabella had resided at Ocaña, which was Juan Pacheco’s stronghold, and where Henry IV’s court resided as well. At the time, Juan Pacheco and his camp prepared the double Portuguese match: Isabella was to marry Alfonso V of Portugal (such match had been already proposed in 1465), and princess Juana was to be the wife of Alfonso V’s heir. This way Henry IV and Pacheco wanted to make sure Isabella would not have chances to become queen and would leave Castile once and for all. Among other candidates, proposed to her, were: the brother of Louis XI of France, Duke of Berry, the future Richard III, and Ferdinand of Aragon. Henry’s first choice was the Portuguese match, however, the duke of Berry and Richard III would also take Isabella away from Castile, which was what the king and Pacheco desired.John II’s diplomat, Pierres de Peralta, navigated between two camps: the Pacheco’s and the Mendoza’s, trying to see which one would make a better offer. He also met with nuncio Venier, who agreed to support the union of Isabella and Ferdinand. John II also greased the palms of Isabella’s closest advisers, such as Gonzalo Chacón and Gutierre de Cárdenas, promising them many favors in the Crown of Aragon. At the beginning of January 1469, king John II and his son sent to Isabella a draft of the marital contract. It offered her many advantages and guarantees, such as the help and money to gain succession to the throne, that the princess agreed with pleasure. It was basically the only option to save herself politically. Ferdinand also had something the three other candidates did not: his own good claim to the crown of Castile through the second son of John I  of Castile. In fact, John II and Ferdinand were the closest male relatives of Henry IV, with their own claim to the throne. (Henry IV was also Ferdinand’s first cousin through his mother, Maria of Aragon, John II’s sister).After that, Isabella refused to accept any offers delivered to her by the Portuguese embassy. On January 30, John II’s agent wrote to the king, informing him the Portuguese had returned to their country, the political situation was favorable, and Isabella was ready to get married to Ferdinand, declaring:It has to be he and absolutely no other.Isabella said a definitive “yes” in an undated letter, addressed to Ferdinand, delivered by Pierres de Peralta, the Constable of Navarre:To the Lord my cousin, the king of Sicily Lord cousin, since Constable is going there, there is no need for me to write at greater length, except to ask your pardon for so late a reply. And the reason for the delay, the Constable will explain to Your Mercy. I beg you to trust him and to say what you wish me to do, for that I must do. And the reason I must do that today more than ever you will know from the Constable because it is not to be written. From the hand that will do as you may orderThe princess.The marital capitulations were revised and signed by Ferdinand on March 7, 1469, at Cervera, according to which:- Isabella and Ferdinand would obey Henry IV- Justice would be administered by Ferdinand- Ferdinand promised to respect the ecclesiastic liberty and fueros of the cities- Ferdinand could not sign any document on his own, only in unison with his wife- Ferdinand would not be able to leave Castile without Isabella’s consent or be able to take their children away- Ferdinand would not be able to carry out any enterprise without the consent of his wife- Isabella would receive the dowry of the queens in Aragon, la cámara de la reina in Siracusa, and 100.000 golden florins, that were to be paid within four months, after the consummation of the marriage.Besides, John II would give her 20.000 golden florins and the ruby collar that had belonged to Ferdinand’s mother, which worth was estimated at 40.000 ducats, and which was pawned at the time.Along with the capitulations, the petitions and demands of the above-mentioned advisers of Isabella were brought by Pierres.Her advisers made sure Ferdinand would not have a say in the matters of Castile, being dominated by the Castilian will. Something time would verify, and something Isabella would be forced to change, later on.Given his difficult situation, John II had no choice but to cede and accept.Another prominent Aragonese diplomat, Pedro de la Cavallería, was sent to Castile in order to gain the Mendozas’s support and to prepare Isabella’s departure from Ocaña, which was easier than usual, given Henry IV and Juan Pacheco had left for Andalusia.Isabella abandoned Ocaña in the middle of May 1469. On May 30, John II of Aragon informed the grandees of Valencia that Isabella planned on picking her mother up from Arévalo and taking shelter in Ávila, “at her full liberty”.Alfonso de Palencia was sent to Aragon, in order to collect the promised 20.000 florins and the ruby necklace. It was Ferdinand in person, who got the collar out of pawn on July 19.Isabella traveled through Ávila, reached Madrigal, and celebrated the death anniversary of her brother, Alfonso. At the beginning of August, Isabella received the embassy from Louis XI of France. The French king had sent Jean Jouffroy, the cardinal of Albi, to examine the possibility of his brother’s marriage to Isabella. The princess made the cardinal believe she would, in fact, marry the Duke of Berry, and was so convincing that even Louis XI believed this to be true until November 1469.Meanwhile, Henry IV lost all the hope Isabella would obey him, and hence ordered the city council of Madrigal to have her arrested. Then, or even earlier, the archbishop of Toledo and Fadrique Enríquez, Ferdinand’s grandfather, came to the conclusion Isabella had to be taken to another place. The archbishop had obtained the letter, signed by Juan Pacheco, with a forged date, thanks to which, the city of Valladolid would gladly receive Isabella.From there, the princess sent Alonso de Palencia and Gutierre de Cárdenas to Aragon, to let Ferdinand know he should come to Castile as soon as possible.In a letter written on September 8, dispatched from Valladolid, she informed her brother that she had chosen the Aragonese prince for her husband, and tried to justify her decision.As for Ferdinand, Alfonso de Palencia and Gutierre de Cárdenas explained to him all the reasons for which he should immediately leave for Valladolid and confront Henry IV with the done deal, and said it was convenient for him to travel in disguise, given the Duero border was in the power of adversaries of the marriage. The hazardous plan was accepted by Ferdinand without vacillation, and also by his half-brother, Juan, the archbishop of Zaragoza. However, one of the advisers thought they should consult John II of Aragon, who was at another place, at the time.It was hard for the king to let his heir leave, to cross the enemy’s lands, unprotected because he did not have(…) another son, or other good for his old age, and for the well-being and the succession of all those kingdoms.But he eventually sent his consent and blessings.In Calatayud, Ferdinand’s party received a message from Isabella, urging them to hurry. They divided into two groups, taking two different roads: one of them was supposed to be official embassy at the court of Henry IV, with which Alfonso de Palencia would go, the other, with Ferdinand, was meant to reach Valladolid. The prince left Zaragoza on October 5 and was joined by Gutierre de Cárdenas and his group at Berdejo. According to Palencia, whenever they stopped, Ferdinand acted as a servant of merchants, looked after the mules and served the supper. On October 7, at night, the prince and his entourage arrived in Burgo de Osma, where Alfonso de Palencia and the official Aragonese embassy were waiting for him, having arrived earlier the same day. There, according to Palencia, a stone was thrown by someone, who had not recognized the prince, which almost hurt him.He reached Dueñas on October 9, where he could consider himself safe, at the fortress that belonged to the brother of the archbishop Carrillo. On October 14, at 11 pm., Ferdinand and Isabella met for the first time, in Valladolid, at the Palacio de los Vivero, where Isabella resided. The meeting was conducted in the presence of the archbishop of Toledo, Alfonso Carrillo, who had led Ferdinand to the rooms of the princess.According to Palencia, who was there, the princes were smitten with each other. They talked for two hours, and then a notary took down their formal promises to marry. Ferdinand gave Isabella betrothal gifts and returned to Dueñas. He came back four days later, on October 18.The famous forged dispensation and the marital capitulations were read out, and then, the young couple said their wedding vows in the rich sala of the palace. That night Ferdinand retired to the residence of the archbishop of Toledo, and returned to the Palacio de los Vivero the next day. The nuptial mass was held, and after the celebrations (which were not splendorous, given the circumstances), on the night of October 19, the marriage was consummated with witnesses crowded at the door of the bridal chamber. Some of them entered to take the stained bedsheets, in order to show them to the people waiting in a hall below. The witnesses also surveyed the bedroom itself, to make sure they had not been cheated.We know for sure when the wedding and consummation took place. It was Ferdinand himself, who, on October 20, reported to the Valencian grandees that:there was a high nuptial mass. And last night, in service to God, we consummated our marriage.Sources:Jaime Vicens Vives, Historia crítica de la vida y reinado de Fernando II de Aragón,Tarsicio de Azcona, Isabel la Católica: Vida y reinado,Luis Suárez Fernández, Fernando el Católico,Manuel Fernández Álvarez, Isabel la Católica,Palencia, Crónica, dec. 2, lib. 2Peggy K. Liss, Isabel the Queen: Life and TimesNancy Rubin Stuart, Isabella of Castile: The First Renaissance Queen,Filip Kubiaczyk, Między wojną a dyplomacją. Ferdynand Katolicki I polityka zagraniczna Hiszpanii w latach 1492-1516 -- source link

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