Trastamara Spain? What would happen if Fernando II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile actually had a living son?

[LatinThunder312]

Historically, Ferdinand and Isabella had seven pregnancies and five living children:

1. Isabella of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (1470-1498)
2. Miscarried Son (1475)
3. John, Prince of Asturias (1478-1497)
4. Joanna, Queen of Spain (1479-1555)
5. Maria of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (1482-1517)
6. Stillborn child (1482) *Twin of Maria, sources can't agree on the gender*
7. Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England (1485-1536)

We all know that none of their sons outlived their parents and their daughter, Joanna, inherited their kingdoms and her son became the first Habspurg King of Spain, However, what if the Trastamara line continued? What if one of Ferdinand and Isabella's sons lived? This Will explore three scenarios:

1. The 1475 miscarriage results in a living son
2. Prince Juan of Asturias lives longer than his parents
3. The stillborn twin in 1482 is male and survives.

 

[eliamartin65]

We all know that none of their sons outlived their parents and their daughter, Joanna, inherited their kingdoms and her son became the first Habspurg King of Spain, However, what if the Trastamara line continued? What if one of Ferdinand and Isabella's sons lived?

Easiest way is making Juan healthy....

 

[Dragonboy]

Easiest way is making Juan healthy....

Yep, But if the first son survived Juan would be the spare and therefore subjected to much less stress as... which title would be appropiate?

 

[eliamartin65]

which title would be appropiate?

Duke of Granada is an option post 1492.

 

[Dragonboy]

Duke of Granada is an option post 1492.

sounds great

 

[Mildtryth]

Yep, But if the first son survived Juan would be the spare and therefore subjected to much less stress as... which title would be appropiate?

None, because in the Iberian peninsula at the time, the custom of giving subsidiary ducal titles for younger sons was only a thing in Portugal (who imported the custom from England), and wouldn't be practiced in Spain until after the Napoleonic wars. His only title would be Infante.

 

[BlueFlowwer]

A 1475 son could wed Catherine of Navarre. Otl she was a contender for Juan's hand and here there is only seven years of a age difference, as opposed to ten. It could work. I'm not sure who else would be a serious contender for his hand.

 

[ByzantineLover]

A 1475 son could wed Catherine of Navarre. Otl she was a contender for Juan's hand and here there is only seven years of a age difference, as opposed to ten. It could work. I'm not sure who else would be a serious contender for his hand.

Only if the Navarrese Beaumont party could overcome Catherine's mother, Magdalena of France, which they didn't OTL when she arranged Catherine's marriage to Jean d'Albret.

 

[HortenseMancini]

A 1475 son could wed Catherine of Navarre. Otl she was a contender for Juan's hand and here there is only seven years of a age difference, as opposed to ten. It could work. I'm not sure who else would be a serious contender for his hand.

Only if the Navarrese Beaumont party could overcome Catherine's mother, Magdalena of France, which they didn't OTL when she arranged Catherine's marriage to Jean d'Albret.

Here tho the catholic kings have a son who is a much more viable option for Catherine’s husband than Juan was iotl

 

[LatinThunder312]

I will be doing updates on all 3 possibilities, starting with the miscarriage in 1475. In this scenario all 7 children will survive, in the scenario with Infante Juan, it will just be the 5 children surviving and with the stillborn twin, Juan and Isabella will die. Will update with story format, just doing quick research

 

[LatinThunder312]

So , while I'm writing the story, here are some marriage options for the miscarriage in 1475 so far as of this time period:

1. Catherine of Navarre (1468)
2. Anne of Brittany (1477)
3. Anne of York (1475)
4. Margaret of Austria (1480)
5. Joanna of Naples (1478)
6. Isabella of Naples (1470)
*Coincidentally also known as Isabella of Aragon with the same date of birth as his sister*

7. Bianca Maria Sforza (1472)

These are all the well-known Princesses within age range of the Prince in the story I can think of. I admit Catherine of Navarre is tempting, despite the seven year age gap, she was really fertile and politically Ferdinand would love it.

 

[LatinThunder312]

13 October 1475
Palace of Segovia

Queen Isabella of Castile had not much time to rest, since being proclaimed Queen of Castile in December 1474. Between the Castilian War of the Succession and her second pregnancy, she refused to rest. However, in May 1475, just four months into her pregnancy, she nearly miscarried her child, due to constant hours of horseback riding. Thankfully, with the help of a Jewish physician, she was able to sustain her pregnancy, however she was confines to Cebreros and was forbidden to ride. She had to rest and she prayed constantly for her child.

Finally, on 13 October 1475, the twenty-four year old Queen began her labor. It had been five years, since she gave birth to her beloved Isabel, the current Princess of Asturias , but she needed a son. Her husband, Ferdinand, was the Crown Prince of Aragon and their daughter would not be permitted to govern there. Isabella clutched her rosary, as she pushed and screamed, praying for a favorable outcome.

Finally, a loud piercing cry filled her Chambers, just as the sun was beginning to set in the distance.

The midwife smiled.

“Tis a boy, Alteza. A Prince. A healthy Prince.” she said.

The auburn haired Queen cried and silently thanked the Lord, as her newborn son was washed at the basin. She was washed and dresses in a new chemise, before her baby boy was carried over to her.

The midwife placed the baby boy in her arms.

Queen Isabella looked at her son.

“My boy. ” she said.

It was then, she remembered the significance of the day of her first born son. Initially, she had thought of naming her son after father and her husband's father, but she also remembered her distant English roots, but in the end, this boy was a gift from God and she had the perfect name.

“We shall call you Juan. After your grandfathers” she said.

This is just a short introduction to the story!

 

[altwere]

nice start.

 

[BlueFlowwer]

"We shall call you Eduardo. After the Confessor King.” she said.

While the idea of an infante Eduardo is a nice one, I can't see Isabella naming her first son anything other then Juan. For both of his grandfathers and St John the Baptist, Isabella's patron saint. And while I'm sure that Isabella remembered her English ancestry, she considered herself castilian first and foremost. And the nobles would prefer a heir with a Spanish name, as opposed for a English saint.

 

[LatinThunder312]

While the idea of an infante Eduardo is a nice one, I can't see Isabella naming her first son anything other then Juan. For both of his grandfathers and St John the Baptist, Isabella's patron saint. And while I'm sure that Isabella remembered her English ancestry, she considered herself castilian first and foremost. And the nobles would prefer a heir with a Spanish name, as opposed for a English saint.

You're actually right. I decided to edit. Working on Chapter 2!

 

[Happiness]

Chapter 1. A Prince is born

Queen Isabella of Castile had not much time to rest, since being proclaimed Queen of Castile in December 1474. Between the Castilian War of the Succession and her second pregnancy, she refused to rest. However, in May 1475, just four months into her pregnancy, she nearly miscarried her child, due to constant hours of horseback riding. Thankfully, with the help of a Jewish physician, she was able to sustain her pregnancy, however she was confines to Centers and was forbidden to ride. She had to rest and she prayed constantly for her child.

Finally, on 13 October 1475, the twenty-four year old Queen began her labor. It had been five years, since she gave birth to her beloved Isabel, the current Princess of Asturias , but she needed a son. Her husband, Ferdinand, was the Crown Prince of Aragon and their daughter would not be permitted to govern there. Isabella clutched her rosary, as she pushed and screamed, praying for a favorable outcome.

Finally, a loud piercing cry filled her Chambers, just as the sun was beginning to set in the distance.

The midwife smiled.

“Tis a boy, Alteza. A Prince. A healthy Prince.” she said.

The auburn haired Queen cried and silently thanked the Lord, as her newborn son was washed at the basin. She was washed and dresses in a new chemise, before her baby boy was carried over to her.

The midwife placed the baby boy in her arms.

Queen Isabella looked at her son.

“My boy. ” she said.

It was then, she remembered the significance of the day of her first born son. Initially, she had thought of naming her son after father and her husband's father, but she also remembered her distant English roots, but in the end, this boy was a gift from God and she had the perfect name.

“We shall call you Juan. After your grandfathers” she said.

This is just a short introduction to the story!

Great beginning!

 

[Dragonboy]

Chapter 1. A Prince is born

Queen Isabella of Castile had not much time to rest, since being proclaimed Queen of Castile in December 1474. Between the Castilian War of the Succession and her second pregnancy, she refused to rest. However, in May 1475, just four months into her pregnancy, she nearly miscarried her child, due to constant hours of horseback riding. Thankfully, with the help of a Jewish physician, she was able to sustain her pregnancy, however she was confines to Centers and was forbidden to ride. She had to rest and she prayed constantly for her child.

Finally, on 13 October 1475, the twenty-four year old Queen began her labor. It had been five years, since she gave birth to her beloved Isabel, the current Princess of Asturias , but she needed a son. Her husband, Ferdinand, was the Crown Prince of Aragon and their daughter would not be permitted to govern there. Isabella clutched her rosary, as she pushed and screamed, praying for a favorable outcome.

Finally, a loud piercing cry filled her Chambers, just as the sun was beginning to set in the distance.

The midwife smiled.

“Tis a boy, Alteza. A Prince. A healthy Prince.” she said.

The auburn haired Queen cried and silently thanked the Lord, as her newborn son was washed at the basin. She was washed and dresses in a new chemise, before her baby boy was carried over to her.

The midwife placed the baby boy in her arms.

Queen Isabella looked at her son.

“My boy. ” she said.

It was then, she remembered the significance of the day of her first born son. Initially, she had thought of naming her son after father and her husband's father, but she also remembered her distant English roots, but in the end, this boy was a gift from God and she had the perfect name.

“We shall call you Juan. After your grandfathers” she said.

This is just a short introduction to the story!

Amazing! Suggestion: that the second son be named alfonso after isa's brother! Great start and happy new year!

 

[Nova_Philomena]

Juan III of Castile and Aragon (b. 1478) m. Margaret of Austria (b. 1480)

1. Isabel (b. 1498)
2. Juan IV of Castile and Aragon (b. 1499) m. Isabella of Portugal (b. 1503)
3. Maria (b. 1501)
4. Stillborn Son (b. 1505)
5. Leonor (b. 1505) m. John III of Portugal
6. Beatriz (b. 1506)

 

[LatinThunder312]

Palace of Segovia
Royal Chapel

Infante Juan was baptized in the early days of November 1475. It was a splendid affair. This was the first legitimate male heir to the Throne to be born in fifty years and nearly everyone was happy.

Cardinal Mendoza was the one to have the honors of baptizing the future King. His family had initially been loyal to the late King Enrique and his alleged daughter, who many thought illegitimate. However, the entire Mendoza family put their support behind Isabella several years after her marriage.

After the ceremony, little Infante Juan was carried back to his mother's chambers. Queen Isabella. She felt triumphant. She had a male heir that would unite Castile and Aragon. Her father-in-law, King Juan II of Aragon, had sent his congratulations and happiness at the birth of his grandson and namesake.

Infante Juan was placed in his mother's arms znd she beamed down at him.

“You will inherit an empire, mi angel. The Lord will guide you as King. ” she said proudly.

However, as Queen Isabella was celebrating the birth of her Prince, all was not well in her realm.

Many people did not accept Isabella as Queen, due to the fact that her late brother never selected who would inherit the Throne after his death. The two choices were Isabella or young Juana, who Enrique claimed was his daughter. However, his wife, Joanna of Portugal, was known for her affairs and had even given birth to children outside of her marriage. Because of this, many believed that Princess Juana was illegitimate. Now, Queen Joanna and young Juana had fled to Portugal, where King Alfonso V, Queen Joanna's older brother, was offering his protection and army. As a bargaining tool, King Alfonso married the thirteen year old Juana, his niece, in order to become King of Castile as well. The battle may have started, but there will be war

 

[Dragonboy]

Chapter 2: Baptism and War

Infante Juan was baptized in the early days of November 1475. It was a splendid affair. This was the first legitimate male heir to the Throne to be born in fifty years and nearly everyone was happy.

Cardinal Mendoza was the one to have the honors of baptizing the future King. His family had initially been loyal to the late King Enrique and his alleged daughter, who many thought illegitimate. However, the entire Mendoza family put their support behind Isabella several years after her marriage.

After the ceremony, little Infante Juan was carried back to his mother's chambers. Queen Isabella. She felt triumphant. She had a male heir that would unite Castile and Aragon. Her father-in-law, King Juan II of Aragon, had sent his congratulations and happiness at the birth of his grandson and namesake.

Infante Juan was placed in his mother's arms znd she beamed down at him.

“You will inherit an empire, mi angel. The Lord will guide you as King. ” she said proudly.

However, as Queen Isabella was celebrating the birth of her Prince, all was not well in her realm.

Many people did not accept Isabella as Queen, due to the fact that her late brother never selected who would inherit the Throne after his death. The two choices were Isabella or young Juana, who Enrique claimed was his daughter. However, his wife, Joanna of Portugal, was known for her affairs and had even given birth to children outside of her marriage. Because of this, many believed that Princess Juana was illegitimate. Now, Queen Joanna and young Juana had fled to Portugal, where King Alfonso V, Queen Joanna's older brother, was offering his protection and army. As a bargaining tool, King Alfonso married the thirteen year old Juana, his niece, in order to become King of Castile as well. The battle may have started, but there will be war

Happy new year! And the succession will be more in isabel and ferdinand's favor since they have now secured the male line of the trastamara family.