The year was 1469, and the 18-year-old Castilian Princess Isabel (also spelled Isabella) was struggling with an important question: Whom should she marry? Marriage is a big decision for any young woman, but for Isabel it was more than personal. She was heir to the throne of Castile, so her decision would affect the entire realm.
The ‘Right’ Man
Isabel had always been expected to wed a powerful man, perhaps a prince or a duke. Her brother Alfonso’s death in 1468, however, had changed everything. Her half-brother, King Enrique IV (also spelled Henry IV), had hoped for a son to inherit and rule his kingdom, but his wife had a girl, Juana, and he was not the father. For this reason, Isabel’s claim to the throne was stronger than Juana’s. Well aware of this fact, Enrique was determined to make sure that Isabel married the “right” man. He had to be someone strong and intelligent, someone who would rule with Isabel, not dominate her. The question remained: Who was there who was single, royal, and suitable to be the spouse of a young princess and heir-apparent?
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