Event Title

Queen Joanna I of Castile: An Assessment of Her Metal Illness

Presentation Type

Presentation

Location

Online

Start Date

6-5-2020 12:00 AM

Disciplines

European History | Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature

Keywords

Spain, Queen, Mental Health

Abstract

In this research project - developed for my Spanish 491 Directed Reading focused on Women and Power in Early Modern Spain - I aim to uncover the enigma behind Joanna of Castile’s mental state. Joanna was the queen of Castile (1504) and of Aragon (1516), and the daughter of the Spanish Catholic monarchs, Isabella & Ferdinand. Her profile has been studied for decades due to the uncertainty that surrounds her illness, yet there is still no clear cut answer about the nature of her mental struggles. Hence, the story of her life has sparked my interest and drawn me to seek these answers by combining an interdisciplinary analysis.

Given the lack of first-hand testimonies written by the queen herself, explaining her point of view, ambiguity exists regarding the validity and accuracy of any potential diagnoses. Records from secondary sources show she might have had a degenerative mental illness that became most salient in her early adulthood. Making use of the available evidence, I have created a timeline of relevant events that will serve as evidence for a diagnosis. Sadly, history is tainted by power struggles, especially in the life of Joanna, who’s father and husband tried to deem her unfit to rule given her condition. For this reason, my primary aim is not solely to find a label for Joanna’s behavior but to contribute to the general body of knowledge created until now.

Project Origin

Directed Reading

Faculty Mentor

Glenda Nieto Cuebas

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May 6th, 12:00 AM

Queen Joanna I of Castile: An Assessment of Her Metal Illness

Online

In this research project - developed for my Spanish 491 Directed Reading focused on Women and Power in Early Modern Spain - I aim to uncover the enigma behind Joanna of Castile’s mental state. Joanna was the queen of Castile (1504) and of Aragon (1516), and the daughter of the Spanish Catholic monarchs, Isabella & Ferdinand. Her profile has been studied for decades due to the uncertainty that surrounds her illness, yet there is still no clear cut answer about the nature of her mental struggles. Hence, the story of her life has sparked my interest and drawn me to seek these answers by combining an interdisciplinary analysis.

Given the lack of first-hand testimonies written by the queen herself, explaining her point of view, ambiguity exists regarding the validity and accuracy of any potential diagnoses. Records from secondary sources show she might have had a degenerative mental illness that became most salient in her early adulthood. Making use of the available evidence, I have created a timeline of relevant events that will serve as evidence for a diagnosis. Sadly, history is tainted by power struggles, especially in the life of Joanna, who’s father and husband tried to deem her unfit to rule given her condition. For this reason, my primary aim is not solely to find a label for Joanna’s behavior but to contribute to the general body of knowledge created until now.