CATHOLIC MONARCHS: ISABELLA I OF CASTILE (1451-1504)... Lot 683

CATHOLIC MONARCHS: ISABELLA I OF CASTILE (1451-1504) Queen of Castile 1474-1504 & FERDINAND II OF ARAGON (1452-1516) King of Aragon 1479-1516 & as Ferdinand V King of Castile 1475-1504. Known as the Catholic Monarchs, they ruled jointly over the Kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Sicily 1475-1504. They are recognized for laying the foundations for the political unification of Spain, and also for completing the Reconquista as well as their support and financing of Christopher Columbus´ voyage of 1492 which led to the opening of the New World. Very rare set of thirty manuscript pages of historical interest for the city of Madrid, including two Ls.S., the first signed by the Queen ` Yo la Reyna´, one page, oblong small 4to, Valladolid, 29th December 1476, to Juan de Lujan; and the second individually signed by the Queen and the King ` Yo la Reyna´ and ` Yo el Rey´, one page, oblong 4to, Madrid, 9th April 1477, in old Castilian. In the first letter, signed by Isabella I of Castile, the Queen orders Juan de Lujan to meet Diego de Villa Nuño who will inform him about the good services he will be requested to achieve. In the second letter, the Catholic Monarchs appoint Juan de Lujan Knight of their Royal order with a very important anual allowance of 40.000 maravedis, and a reward of 15.000 maravedis of perpetual income, and in both cases for the important services to the Crown. The letters refer to the very important historical events occured in Madrid, when Joanna la Beltraneja, claimant to the throne of Castile, disputed Madrid to Isabella of Castile. The Catholic Monarchs paid Juan de Lujan and appointed him Knight when he betrayed Joanna la Beltraneja, leaving her military forces and joining the Duke of the Infantado who was commanding the Catholic Monarchs troops. After such betrayal, Madrid falled and was taken by Isabella and Fernando. The set includes documents related to the genealogical tree of the Lujan family of Madrid. Also including an autograph letter by Diego de Villa Nuño addressed to Juan de Lujan, requesting him on behalf of His Majesties to put himself at the orders of the Duke of the Infantado, who will explain to him what Good services he is expected to achieve. Also including copies of the wills of Juan de Lujan dated 1495, Rodrigo de Lujan 1546, Catalina de Lujan 1568, Maria de Lujan 1563 and Catalina de Lujan 1593. A set of exceptionally interesting historical content. The two main documents neatly stitched to the page and the entire contents stitched together at the left edge and the whole bound in vellum (largely detached at the spine). Some overall age wear, a few neat splits to the edges of some pages, and old water staining affecting the majority of the pages to varying degrees, the text however remaining completely legible. The vellum covers a little warped and the front with heavy staining, largely obscuring the original manuscript title, and with remnants of the original burgundy ribbons. G Diego Hurtado de Mendoza y Figueroa (1417-1479) Spanish Noble. 1st Duke of the Infantado. The title  was awarded to him by the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando II de Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, on 22 July 1475. This was one of the most important duchies in Spain  Joanna la Beltraneja (1462.1530) Queen of Portugal 1475-81 as spouse of King Alfonso V, who was her uncle. Claimant to the throne of Castile. When her father Henry IV of Castile, although disputed, died, began the four-year War of the Castilian Succession. Joanna was supported by the King of Portugal and by the high Castilian nobility, and by descendants of Portugueses, including Archbishops and Dukes. On the other side Isabella was supported by Derdinand of Aragon, whom she married, and by mosto f Castilian nobility and clergy. In 1478 the marriage of Joanna and Afonso V was annulled by Pope Sixtus IV on grounds of consanguinity, ending her tenure as Queen of Portugal. She was also forced to renounce the title of Queen of Castile. In 1479, Alfonso renounced his pretension to the Castilian Crown and signed a treaty with Isabella and Ferdinand. Joanna was given a choice, either enter a convent, or marry Isabella's one-year-old son Juan when he came of age and if he then consented. Joanna chose to enter the Convent of Santa Clara in Coimbra, and the ceremony was witnessed by Isabella, who praised her decision.  The present historical events are referred to in the work “La conquista de Madrid por el Duque del Infantado en 1476” by Carlos Saez and Salvador Cortes, volume II, pages 339 to 342, published by Al-Hayara ed