Maria of Aragon, Queen of Castile
Encyclopedia
Maria of Aragon (1396–1445) 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.
Maria had four children:
After her death in 1445, her husband married Isabella of Portugal and they became the parents of Isabella I of Castile
. Maria has no descendants today, her line having gone extinct within a few decades of her death.
Wife
A wife is a female partner in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the wife regarding her spouse and others, and her status in the community and in law, varies between cultures and has varied over time.-Origin and etymology:...
and Queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of 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 daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon
Ferdinand I of Aragon
Ferdinand I called of Antequera and also the Just or the Honest) was king of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica and king of Sicily, duke of Athens and Neopatria, and count of Barcelona, Roussillon and Cerdanya...
and Eleanor of Alburquerque
Eleanor of Alburquerque
Eleanor, 2nd Countess of Alburquerque became Queen consort of Aragon by her marriage to Ferdinand I of Aragon. In Spanish, she is known as Leonor Urraca de Castilla, condesa de Alburquerque.- Family :...
, she married her cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
John in 1420.
Biography
Maria was married by her father in his ambition to place his issue on the thrones of the Spanish nations. The marriage took place in simplicity due to the difficult political situation. Queen Maria was occasionally politically active on behalf of her brothers, the princes of Aragon; she disregarded her husband's policy in favor of her brothers and the relationship between Maria and John was somewhat tense.Maria had four children:
- Catherine, Princess of AsturiasCatherine, Princess of AsturiasCatherine of Castile was suo jure Princess of Asturias and heiress presumptive to the Castilian throne all her life....
(1422–1424) - Eleanor, Princess of AsturiasEleanor, Princess of AsturiasEleanor of Castile was heiress presumptive to the throne of the Crown of Castile and Princess of Asturias during her short life....
(1423–1425) - Henry IV of CastileHenry IV of CastileHenry IV , King of the Crown of Castile, nicknamed the Impotent , was the last of the weak late medieval kings of Castile...
(1425–1474) - Maria (1428–1429)
After her death in 1445, her husband married Isabella of Portugal and they became the parents of Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
. Maria has no descendants today, her line having gone extinct within a few decades of her death.