Queens of old SpainHume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Philosophy
Queens of old Spain
Hume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Queens -- Spain; Spain -- History; Women -- Political activity
The difficulty became more acute when Joan gave birth to her son at
Ghent in February 1500, because, according to the law of succession, the
child christened Charles, a name unheard of in Spain before, would
inherit, not Castile and Leon alone, but Aragon as well, with Flanders,
Burgundy, Artois, Luxembourg, the Aragonese kingdoms in Italy, and,
worst of all, Austria and the empire. Where would the interests of
Aragon, nay, even of Spain, be amongst such world-wide dominions; and
how could such a potentate devote himself either to aggrandising Aragon,
or to carrying the Cross into the dark places of Moorish Africa? What
added to the bitterness in Ferdinand’s case was, that Philip was even
now intriguing actively with the Kings of France, Portugal, and England
against Aragon; and was, with vain pretexts, evading the pressing
invitations of his wife’s parents to bring her to Spain, to receive with
him the oath of allegiance as heirs of the realms.
It was necessary somehow to conciliate Philip and Joan before they went
too far; for Philip’s plan, to marry the infant Prince Charles to a
French princess, struck at the very root of Ferdinand’s policy. Envoy
after envoy was sent to Flanders to expedite the coming of Philip and
Joan, if possible, with the infant Charles; but the Archduke had no
intention of becoming the tool of his astute father-in-law, and was
determined to be quite secure before he placed himself in his power. He
was anxious enough to obtain recognition as heir of Castile jointly with
his wife, but desired to leave Spain immediately afterwards, which did
not suit Ferdinand, who wished to have time to influence him towards his
policy, and alienate him from his Flemish and French favourites.[90]
Joan herself flatly refused to come without her husband; of whom, with
ample reason, she was violently jealous; and neither would allow the
infant Charles to come without them. At length, after Joan had been
delivered of her third child, a daughter named Isabel, the prayers and
promises of Queen Isabel and her husband prevailed, and the Archduke and
Archduchess consented to come to Spain. But it was under conditions that
turned the heart of Ferdinand more than ever against his son-in-law.
They would travel to Spain through France, and ratify in Paris the
betrothal of their one-year old son Charles, heir of Spain, Flanders,
and the empire, with Claude of France, child of Louis XII. Philip went
out of his way during the sumptuous reception in Paris to show his
submission to the King of France; and even did homage to him as Count of
Flanders; but Joan, mindful for once, at least, that she belonged to the
house of Aragon, and was heiress of Spain, refused all tokens implying
her subservience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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