November 1493: Juan III, King of Castile begins the search for queen, the unexpected death of Isabella I had made it outmost importance for the young monarch to be wed and beget children with a princess of high birth and worthy lineage, as his only heir at the moment the infant Fernando who had recently been moved with his household to the Palace of Aljafería in Zaragoza, Aragon in order to be educated under his father's supervision.
The inquiries of Castilian ambassadors around Europe narrow down the options to only two, Carlotta of Naples, herself a Trastamára as granddaughter to Ferdinand II, and Margarete of Austria, the jilted bride of Charles VIII and daughter of Archduke Maximilian. King Juan is shows no particular interest in either as he much too taken with his newest mistress Leonor de Zuñíga, a charming young courtier six years his senior, but the Cortes frown upon Carlotta's upbringing in France and possible French sympathies.
Thus thirteen-year-old Archduchess Margarete is the chosen one and Juan allows negotiations to begin but he remains indifferent to his proposed bride, though this is soon to change. It seemed his affection for Doña Leonor had grown rapidly to the point showering her with costly clothing and exquisite jewelry was no longer enough, Juan also attempts to receive the Austrian ambassador to Castile with his mistress present, decked in all her finery and seated beside him.
He is eventually talked out of it by his advisors, all of whom feared offending the Archduke and his daughter, but the King is rather begrunged by this and the occurance does little do endear Margarete to him.
December 1493: A rebellion breaks to the south in Granada, the city had been restless since the passing of Queen Isabella and a Moorish armed party of considerable portion besiege the residence of Hernando de Tavalera, Archbishop of Granada after destroying his household guards and the city's garrison, his steward is killed and strung up a tree before the gates of the castle. This direct action against a representative of royal Castilian authority in the region forces King Juan to respond in kind.
A royal army is assembled in the capital and sets march toward Granada lead by the King and his principal military adviser Gonzálo Fernández de Córdoba, himself a seasoned soldier and veteran of the earlier conquest of Granada. Juan also counted with the support of his father, with whom he kept frequent correspondance and sought out for political advise, but he refused Fernando's offer to send Aragonese men, perhaps fearing to appear weak before his subjects by accepting the aid.
The aid would prove uneeded indeed as the the army arrived after a three days ride, only to find an enemy force much smaller than expected. The rebel contingent had originally consisted of barely one hunred and fifty men, several of whom had been lost during controntation with the Archbishop's guards while others deserted as soon as word of approaching troops reached them. But rather than to surrender, the rebels launched attack and a minor skirsmish insued, lasting little more than two hours.
Unsurprisingly, the royal party emerged victorious and suceeded in freeing Tavalera, but Juan's next move was to deal with the rebel leaders and re-establish order. The Moorish commanders were ready to submit to the King's will and prostrated themselves before him to beg for mercy and hope for either exile or imprisonment. The Archbishop showed sympathy for the rebels and interceded with Juan in their favour, but to no avail.
The King's justice was swift and steady, the leaders were sentenced to death and publicly beheaded, their propeties seized and families exiled. He dwelled there for another week before leaving, though not without promising Granada he would take measures to reinforce the city's defence and supply with a stronger garrison. Juan spends Christmas in Toledo in the company and of his sisters, the Infantas and his mistress, Doña Leonor.
