Infanta Catherine, Duchess of Villena
Encyclopedia
Infanta Catherine of Castile (1403–1439) was suo jure
Duchess of Villena and, by marriage, Infanta of Aragon, Countess of Alburquerque and Countess of Ampurias.
Catherine was the second child born to King Henry III of Castile
and Catherine of Lancaster
. In 1418, she was married off to her first cousin and brother-in-law, Infante Henry of Aragon
. The marriage was a part of an agreement by which Henry's older brother Alfonso married Catherine's older sister Maria
and by which Henry's sister Maria
married Catherine's brother, King John II of Castile
.
The Infanta was forced to follow her husband into exile after he failed to take the power away from her brother's favourite, Álvaro de Luna
, in 1420. They did not receive all of her dowry
until 1427. Her dowry included the Dukedom of Villena. Their marriage was childless. The Duchess of Villena died following a miscarriage in 1439. After her death, her brother confiscated the dukedom.
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
Duchess of Villena and, by marriage, Infanta of Aragon, Countess of Alburquerque and Countess of Ampurias.
Catherine was the second child born to King Henry III of Castile
Henry III of Castile
Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390....
and Catherine of Lancaster
Catherine of Lancaster
-Coat of arms:The following are Armorials of the House of Lancaster under her father, John of Gaunt.-References:* Anthony Goodman: "Katherine of Lancaster" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 30 , p. 890-891....
. In 1418, she was married off to her first cousin and brother-in-law, Infante Henry of Aragon
Infante Henry, Duke of Villena
Infante Henry of Aragon , 1st Duke of Villena, 4th Count of Alburquerque, 32nd Count of Ampurias, was the Grand Master of the Order of Santiago.- Childhood :...
. The marriage was a part of an agreement by which Henry's older brother Alfonso married Catherine's older sister Maria
Maria of Castile
Maria of Castile was Queen consort of Aragon and Naples as the spouse of Alfonso V of Aragon. Maria acted as the regent of Aragon during the reign of her spouse, as he was absent during most of his reign; her regencies lasted between 1420 and 1423 and between 1432 and 1458...
and by which Henry's sister Maria
Maria of Aragon, Queen of Castile
Maria of Aragon was the first wife and Queen consort of John II of Castile. The daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Eleanor of Alburquerque, she married her cousin John in 1420.- Biography :...
married Catherine's brother, King John II of Castile
John II of Castile
John II was King of Castile from 1406 to 1454.He was the son of Henry III of Castile and his wife Catherine of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster by Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile.-Regency:He succeeded his father on 25 December 1406, at the age of...
.
The Infanta was forced to follow her husband into exile after he failed to take the power away from her brother's favourite, Álvaro de Luna
Álvaro de Luna
Álvaro de Luna y Jarana , Duke of Trujillo, 1st Count of San Esteban de Gormaz, was a Spanish politician...
, in 1420. They did not receive all of her dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
until 1427. Her dowry included the Dukedom of Villena. Their marriage was childless. The Duchess of Villena died following a miscarriage in 1439. After her death, her brother confiscated the dukedom.