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yxxxxxx1 · 10 months

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Thread about Joanna of Castile: Part 6: The Princes’ Journey : Juana of Castile and Philip of Burgundy Visit the French Court, 1501

In this part of my thread, I will provide further information about Joana's first stop in France.

Like I previously said in my last thread, In 1501, Philip of Burgundy and Juana of Castile became the heirs of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. This new status required them to appear in constitutional ceremonies in the principal cities of Spain and before the ‘Cortes’ to witness the swearing of oaths to them ùas heirs.

The route they would take was the subject of controversy. Juana’s parents, Ferdinand and Isabella, were insisting they take a sea voyage from Flanders to Spain. A new Spanish envoy, Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, bishop of Córdoba, reported that:

Juana seemed eager to serve her parents and was widely thought to be “very sensible (cuerda) and very level-headed (asentada).

Philip’s advisors stipulated an overland route through France. The matter was settled in August 1501 when Philip agreed to marry his son Charles to Claude, the eldest daughter of King Louis XII of France and his queen, Anne of Brittany. Philip expressed an interest in meeting his prospective daughter-in-law, and when King Louis heard this, he invited Philip and Juana to visit the French royal court at Blois on their way to Spain.

The children were placed with Margaret of York and Anne of Burgundy in Mechelen, and Philip signed new household ordinances for the journey.

There are several vivid accounts of the journey. The princes left Brussels on 4 November 1501, travelling until Mons with Margaret of York and down through France to Blois. Philip delighted in detours, but Juana, more aloof and withdrawn, preferred the straighter route.

Queen Anne sent Madame de Vendôme along with fourteen women to wait on Juana while she travelled from one town to the next. Juana made an official entry into Valenciennes on November 9 where she was given two silver pots and a bowl covered with flowers of gold by the inhabitants.

Philip and Juana made their official entry into France on November 16 where they were met with immense receptions. They arrived in Paris where a grand banquet was given for the couple that included engaging maidens, drink, spices, sweets, and dancing. Juana left after one night to make her way to the castle of Blois. Philip stayed in Paris four more days before joining her.

They arrived at Blois together on December 7, where they were housed in a newly built section of the palace which had been richly tapestried and furnished just for their visit. Philip went to meet King Louis with his retinue, accompanied by Pierre de Beaujeu, the Duke of Bourbon. He entered the king’s presence and bent down on his knee three times as he neared. Louis rose and doffed his cap at each bow, advancing and embracing Philip. The heir to the French throne, Francois d’Angouleme was seven years old, and he came forward to receive a kiss from Philip. It was Francois’ first appearance at a grand court occasion.

Juana was particularly intent on maintaining her status as the heir to the Spanish throne without offending her hosts. She was asked if she would kiss the King of France and would only agree after consulting her minister, the Bishop of Córdoba. The Bishop agreed a kiss was acceptable. Louis had insisted that Philip bow three times to him, but when Juana arrived, he rushed over to her, preventing her from curtseying twice.

The good-natured Louis then released her, courteously asking her to go to his wife, so the men could be alone together. Juana began making her way to the door where the Duchess of Bourbon was waiting for her to arrange her dress and take her to the Queen, but there was a crush of people preventing her from reaching the door. Then Philip came and pressed his way ahead of his wife, making the crowd even bigger and more raucous, causing further delay.

The rest of the journey will be posted in the next thread: Part 6.1.

#joanna of castile #philip the handsome #juana i of castile #isabel #juana la loca #spanish monarchy

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