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JUANA THE MAD Juana the Mad (1479 - 1555), Queen of Castilla (1504 - 1555), daughter of the Catholic Monarchs. In 1496 married the Archduke of Austria, Felipe the Beautiful. From this marriage were born Carlos, Fernando (who became the Emperor of Prussia on the abdication of his brother) and four daughters. On the death of Isabel the Catholic (1504), Juana established the succession of Castilla, where Fernando of Aragón had remained as governor, in accordance with the the queen's will. The nobility, discontented with the way they were governed, entered into negotiations with Felipe the Beautiful who, with the support of France, demanded the removal of his father-in-law (Fernando of Aragón) to the kingdom of Aragón. In the Salamanca Agreement (November of 1505) the government jointly reached agreement with Fernando, Felipe and Juana over Castilla, but by virtue of the Concord of Villafáfila (June 1506) Felipe remained as the effective king, Juana was declared incapacitated and Fernando withdrew to Aragón. The death of Felipe the Beautiful exceedingly aggravated the mental state of Juana. In 1509 she was taken to Tordesillas, where she remained permanently until her death, and was kept away from the affairs of government. In 1516 Carlos V assumed power in the name of his mother. |
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