Castaway (1505–1506)

Abstract

At the time of Isabel’s death, Juana was already living in seclusion from the court because of her refusal to accept the ladies appointed to her by Philip. But her desire to return to Spain and continuing political differences with her husband converted her into his hostage. I consider the striking contrast in the situation of Isabel I and Juana I when acceding to the throne. Juana attended the obsequies for her mother in Brussels but shortly afterwards was placed under armed guard, and yet more rigorous confinement than before, as a consequence of the discovery of a letter in which she expressed support for Fernando’s continuing governorship of Castile. A virtual reign of terror descended upon the palace on the Coudenberg. Juana was prevented from smuggling out any letters to Fernando and fruitless attempts were made to turn her away from her filial loyalty. Fernando’s failure to obtain written proof of Juana’s support drove him into an alliance with Louis XII of France, and marriage to Germaine de Foix. The treaty of Salamanca of November 1505, signed by Fernando and Philip (but of which Juana may have been unaware), acknowledged Fernando’s governorship; Juana’s status as proprietary monarch and Philip’s status as king-by-marriage, but drew up a highly complicated administrative system for ruling Castile. This, while unsatisfactory from Philip’s point of view, was designed to remove the danger of armed conflict when the young monarchs disembarked there. During the subsequent voyage to Spain, Philip’s fleet was scattered along the English coast and the monarchs were obliged to spend the next three months in England, where Juana and her sister, Katherine, had a brief encounter.