Earenfight, Queenship, Politics, and Government in the Medieval Crown of Aragon: the lieutenancy of Maria of Castile, 1420-23 and 1432-53
by Theresa M. Earenfight
Ph.D., History, Fordham UNiversity, 1997
Opening to Ch. 1
CHAPTER 1 — ALTER NOS: THE PARADOX OF MARIA OF CASTILE
Queen Maria of Castile, wife of Alfonso V “the Magnanimous, ” king of the Crown of Aragon ( 1416-58), governed Catalunya from 1420 to 1423 and again from 1432 to 1453 while her husband was occupied with the conquest and governance of the kingdom of Naples. For twenty-six years she had control over the provincial governors, prelates and religious orders, the nobility, the army, the municipal government, and all other subjects regardless of legal status. She could grant constitutions and make laws in accordance with royal authority and could sign letters in her own hand according to her own conscience. She was empowered to carry out justice, both civil and criminal, and to name judges and delegates. Assisted by a royal council separate from the king’s, she had full royal authority in Catalunya.