Isabella of Portugal Facts
Known for: Queen of Castile; mother of Queen Isabella I of Spain
Dates: 1428 - August 15, 1496
Also known as: Isabella of Castile
Background, Family:
- Mother: Isabella of Braganza
- Father: Infante John, son of John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster (daughter of John of Gaunt and his first wife, Blanche of Lancaster)
- Siblings: Diogo of Portugal, Beatrice of Portugal, Philippa of Lancaster
Marriage, Children:
- husband: John II of Castile (married July 22, 1447; died July 1454)
- children:
- Isabella I, Queen of Castile and Aragon (co-ruler with her husband Ferdinand)
- Alfonso, Prince of Asturias
Isabella of Portugal Biography:
Isabella of Portugal, daughter of a prince of Portugal, was married to John II of Castile as his second wife. John's first wife was Mary of Aragon; their son was Henry IV of Castile. John decided to remarry when it became apparent that Henry's marriage to Blanche II of Navarre would remain unconsummated.
Isabella's daughter, also named Isabella, was born in 1451. Isabella was deeply depressed and withdrawn after that birth. In 1453, she bore a son, Alfonso; the next year, her husband John died, and the childless Henry IV succeeded, having divorced Blanche. His new wife, Joan of Portugal, became pregnant; it was rumored that the child was really the daughter of Beltran de La Cheva, and the daughter was known as La Beltraneja.
Isabella's depression worsened. Henry IV had her children brought to court, to keep them from being used by his opposition. Alfonso died, and Isabella's daughter Isabella married the heir to Aragon, Ferdinand. Isabella the daughter did not see Isabella her mother for many years, finally visiting when her mother was dying in 1496.
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