Algunos documentos esenciales sobre la reina Blanca de Navarra, esposa de Enrique IV de Castilla [Some essential documents on Queen Blanca of Navarre, wife of Henry IV of Castile]

Abstract

Three documents, kept in Simancas, on the life of Queen Blanca of Navarre and her husband (1440) Enrique IV of Castile are published and studied. The first is their «Betrothal document» (1436), which only exists in the form of a coetaneous notarised copy. The agreement offers important historical details regarding the peace reached between Castile and Navarre, the context in which they wed. The second document is the «Divorce judgment» by which their marriage was dissolved (1453), the queen failing to bear offspring after 13 years of marriage. The third is «Blanca’s donation of the Kingdom of Navarre to Henry IV» (1462), the throne falling to her following the death of her brother Charles (Prince of Viana).