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How a Spurned betrothal changed history


When Henry recognized Isabella as his heir-presumptive on 19 September in 1468, he also promised that his sister should not be compelled to marry against her will, while she in return agreed to obtain his consent. It seemed that finally the years of failed attempts at political marriages were over. There was talk of a marriage to Edward IV of England or to one of his brothers, probably Richard, Duke of Gloucester, but this alliance was never seriously considered. Once again in 1468, a marriage proposal arrived from Alfonso V of Portugal. Going against his promises made in September, Henry tried to make the marriage a reality. If Isabella married Alfonso, Henry's daughter Joanna would marry Alfonso's son John II and thus, after the death of the old king, John and Joanna could inherit Portugal and Castile. Isabella refused and made a secret promise to marry her cousin and very first betrothed, Ferdinand of Aragon.


After this failed attempt, Henry once again went against his promises and tried to marry Isabella to Louis XI's brother Charles, Duke of Berry. In Henry's eyes, this alliance would cement the friendship of Castile and France as well as remove Isabella from Castilian affairs. Isabella once again refused the proposal. Meanwhile, John II of Aragon negotiated in secret with Isabella a wedding to his son Ferdinand.


However, a surprise happened, Ferdinand of Aragon is discovered to have married Joanna of Portugal[1], the betrothal between Isabella and Ferdinand is broken, in this time in order to secure French and Portuguese support, Joanna, the daughter of Henry IV is betrothed to Charles, Duke of Berry, Normandy and Guyenne and Isabella of Castile is married to John, Prince of Portugal on 1469, on the condition that she would not claim the Kingdom of Castille and Portugal and King Alfonso would protect the rights of his niece Joanna.


On 1475, Joanna of Castile is married by proxy to the Duke of Guyenne and Berry, a man twice her age and married in Valladolid making the Duke of Guyenne, the future King of Castile, de jure uxoris.


The Castilians don’t want a foreign monarch in their land and supported Isabella’s claims instead...


In this point Isabella of John of Portugal have two children, namely, Isabella(1472) and John(1475).


The Isabellistas and the Juanistas would war on each other due to the Isabellistas having more power, Juana and Charles, duke of Berry, Normandy and Aquitaine, however Henry IV died and the Duke of Berry took power as the King of Castile.

1. The OTL betrothed of Richard III..

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Adelaide Kane as Joanna, the Disputed Queen of Castile, Duchess of Berry on the TV series Isabel

to be continued...
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