Unhinged Facts About Joanna Of Castile, Spain's Mad Queen
Joanna of Castile didn’t become known as “Juana La Loca” for her sound rule. Yet to what extent was this “mad” queen a victim of greed and betrayal? From rumors of her “undead”
passion for her late beau to her iconic beef against nuns, the legend of this wickedly jealous ruler just won’t die. Here's the deranged story of Spain's “Mad” Queen.
1. Her Dad Had Issues
Born on November 6, 1479, Joanna was the daughter of two powerhouse monarchs: Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Her parents’ marriage would unify Spain, but during Joanna’s lifetime, Castile and Aragon had more of an icy truce than a hunky dory partnership. Joanna's dad had to rely on his bride to rule Castile—and trust me when I say that Ferdinand was not into powerful women.
He was determined to rule both territories, and he'd do anything to get his way, including mistreating his own daughter. Spoiler: Ferdinand is one of the many awful men in Joanna's story.
2. She Was Whip-Smart
Trained in languages, music, literature, philosophy, and even law, the princess Joanna received one of the finest humanist educations in 15th century Europe.
Alongside her sisters, she was prepped to act as a wise consort for her future husband and diplomat for her parents’ foreign interests. Let’s see how well that turns out…
3. She Was A Rebel
Joanna was not particularly pious for a girl whose parents were literally called “The Catholic Monarchs.” According to some sources, she even experimented with—gasp!—skepticism in her teens! Since mommy dearest was a devout Catholic, you can probably guess that she wasn't thrilled with Joanna's rebellious streak. But buckle up: Her efforts to get Joanna to see the light were full-on psycho.
4. Her Mother Was Deranged
I imagine it’s hard to catch a break when your mom literally engineered the Spanish Inquisition. According to some sources, Queen Isabella was deeply enraged by Princess Joanna’s insufficient piety. It’s been suggested that Isabella “corrected” her daughter’s religious disposition with methods such as “La cuerda,” where Joanna was hung in the air by ropes and weighted down by her feet.
We can’t imagine that felt great—either for Joanna’s body or her faith in authority.
