My ten favorite Queens of Spain
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My ten favorite Queens of Spain
Were María Pita and Gráinne O'Malley women who challenged Elizabeth I of England?
Yes, both María Pita and Gráinne O'Malley challenged the power and policies of Elizabeth I, though in very different ways.
María Pita became famous during the English attack on A Coruña in 1589, part of the conflict between Spain and England after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. According to Spanish tradition, she rallied the city's defenders and helped repel the English forces sent under Francis Drake. In this sense, she resisted an expedition launched under Elizabeth I's authority.
Gráinne O'Malley (Grace O'Malley) was an Irish noblewoman and maritime leader who often opposed English expansion in Ireland during Elizabeth's reign. She fought English officials, defended her family's interests, and became one of the most notable Irish figures resisting Tudor control. However, in 1593 she famously met Elizabeth I in person, and the two women negotiated directly. Their relationship was therefore more complex than simple opposition.
So, while neither woman sought to overthrow Elizabeth I herself, both became symbols of resistance to English power during her reign—María Pita as a defender against an English military expedition, and Gráinne O'Malley as a leader who challenged English authority in Ireland.
The Serpent Queen (2022 - 2024) | s02e08 | 45/?
SAMANTHA MORTON as CATHERINE DE MEDICI
THE SERPENT QUEEN (2022-2024)
created by justin haythe
1.06 The Last Joust
I used to be just like you. Someone else’s shoes on my feet, shivering myself to sleep at night, nobody in the world to care about me. So the only question is: what are you willing to do to change it? THE SERPENT QUEEN (2022) — S01
The Serpent Queen (2022 - 2024) | s02e06 | 36/?
ROSALIE CRAIG as Jeanne d'Albret The Serpent Queen, Season 2 (2024)
Contemporary accounts and royal imagery strongly suggest that King Henry II of France often wore the colors and emblems associated with his longtime favorite, Diane de Poitiers, especially in tournaments and court festivities.
Diane's colors were primarily black and white, which she adopted after the death of her husband in 1531. Rather than withdrawing from court life, she transformed the colors of mourning into her personal livery. Henry II frequently incorporated these colors into his clothing, tournament trappings, horse caparisons, and heraldic decorations.
During jousts, Henry might display Diane's colors in several ways:
Black-and-white plumes attached to his helmet.
Black-and-white sashes or scarves worn over armor.
Horse trappings embroidered in black and white.
Interlaced monograms featuring the letters H and D, symbolizing Henry and Diane.
Tournament shields and banners decorated with Diane's emblematic colors.
This was a highly visible declaration of favor. Many observers at court noted that Henry appeared more eager to honor Diane publicly than his queen, Catherine de Medici. The king's devotion was so conspicuous that foreign ambassadors frequently commented on Diane's extraordinary influence.
One famous example occurred during the festivities of 1559, when Henry entered the lists wearing colors and devices associated with Diane. It was during these celebrations that he suffered the fatal jousting wound from Gabriel de Montgomery, leading to his death several days later.
In memory of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who was assassinated in 1898, a monument was unveiled on June 4, 1907, in Vienna’s Volksgarten. The construction of this memorial site was initiated by a committee under the patronage of Archduke Otto of Austria and his wife Maria Josepha of Saxony. Emperor Franz Joseph I and the entire imperial court were present to pay tribute once more to the beloved Empress.
In the footage, Emperor Franz Joseph I appears alongside his sister-in-law, Marie Sophie, Duchess in Bavaria, the former Queen of the Two Sicilies.
Puerta de la muralla medieval de Hita, Guadalajara
Foto Antonio Íñigo, 6 de mayo de 2026
Some coins with my man Carlos on them.
Descriptions of María de Padilla
Positive
The chronicler Pedro López de Ayala, who knew María de Padilla—as he was both a contemporary and a servant of King Peter I of Castile—said of her in his Chronicle of King Don Pedro that she was “a woman of good lineage, and beautiful, and small of body, and of good understanding.”
In the Chronicle of Spain, begun by the Archbishop of Toledo, Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada, continued by the Bishop of Burgos, Gonzalo de Hinojosa, and later by an anonymous author until 1454, María de Padilla’s beauty is praised, recognizing her as “the most graceful maiden to be found in the world at that time.”
Esteban de Garibay, in a historical compendium of 1571, emphasizes María’s determination to ensure that Peter I had the support of the great men of the realm. Likewise, recognizing her wise and discreet character, she helped to temper the king’s fury and bloodthirsty cruelty.
Much closer in time, Prosper Mérimée, in his Chronicle of Pedro I, King of Castile (1848), notes that María de Padilla “was small in stature, pretty, lively, and full of that voluptuous grace peculiar to the women of the South.”
Likewise, Juan Blas Sitges y Grifoll, in a rigorous study on the women of King Don Pedro, considers María de Padilla to have been little inclined to greed, nor does her conduct reveal a vengeful spirit: “Not a single instance is cited in which she appears vindictive, despite the hostility that many showed toward her, nor is there any evidence that she was eager to amass wealth on her own account.”
A “sweet and balanced Castilian” is how Casilda Ordóñez (1975) describes María de Padilla. The author writes, “Doña Maria appears before the eyes of history on a day in May 1352, to be, for nine years, the long-suffering companion of a cruel or justice-dealing king, a constant traveler; his balance and his support.”
Negative
María Jesús Fuente (2007) maintains that “above any other woman, the female figure most vilified by anti-Petrist propaganda was that of the king’s mistress, María de Padilla.”
Diego Ortiz de Zúñiga writes in 1677 that King Peter was bewitched by María de Padilla “through the force of her charms,” but not “by infamous arts, as is the common error,” fostered by the circulation of ballads. The attribution of magical and bewitching powers to María de Padilla thus soon appeared in the propagandistic narrative, both to captivate Peter I and later to turn him away from Blanche of Bourbon, with a belt that, given to the king by his newly wedded wife, becomes a frightful serpent; although, in that case, a Jewish sorcerer sought out by Doña María intervenes.
The ballads significantly influenced the transmission of what might be taken as the contemporary reality of events occurring at that time, although they were often distorted to serve propaganda and the interests of their promoters. María de Padilla appears in them as a mistress of dark arts and a maker of potions. Harsh wickedness is attributed to her. She is indeed portrayed as urging King Peter to have Blanche of Bourbon put to death.
María de Padilla was even, anachronistically, regarded as a queen of the gypsies, who did not arrive in Europe until a century later. Nevertheless, once her magical nature had been spread, she was, over time, adopted as a representative entity, invoked in a wide variety of spells by numerous sorceresses who were prosecuted by the Spanish Inquisition. Her portrayal as a diabolical entity spread not only throughout the Iberian Peninsula, but also reached Latin America, where it became associated with religions of African origin.
Source:
Antonio Montero Alcaide, María de Padilla; Favorita del rey Don Pedro y reina después de morir
The Baths of Doña María de Padilla
In the underground Baths of Doña María, beneath what is now the Patio del Crucero in the Royal Alcázar of Seville, María de Padilla used to bathe frequently. Meanwhile, the king and the knights accompanying him would gather in conversation, depending on the occasion.
In a short work from 1868, The Alcázar of Seville, Fernán Caballero (the pseudonym of the writer Cecilia Böhl de Faber) recounts a likely embellished episode that praises the beautiful and captivating charm of María de Padilla. As part of the gallant customs of those medieval times—the relativity of taste being an unfinished book in every age and condition—it was customary for knights to drink from the water in which the ladies had bathed.
Thus it was expected to happen after María de Padilla’s bath, and King Pedro I was surprised to notice that one of the knights present did not do so. The king encouraged him to drink from that water, saying it was good and fresh. When the knight replied that he would not, Pedro I—who could be easily disturbed by even the slightest inconvenience—demanded an explanation. The knight, with both sincerity and courage, replied:
“To avoid, Sovereign Lord, that if I find the sauce pleasing, I might come to crave the partridge.”
Source:
Antonio Montero Alcaide, María de Padilla; Favorita del rey Don Pedro y reina después de morir
Segovia, Spain 🇪🇸
Segovia is a historic city in central Spain, known for its rich past dating back to ancient times.
Originally settled by Celtic tribes, Segovia later became an important Roman city. Its most famous landmark, the Aqueduct of Segovia, was built in the 1st century AD and is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in the world.
During the Middle Ages, Segovia flourished under Christian rule after being reconquered from Muslim control in the 11th century. It became a key center for trade, especially wool and textiles.
Today, Segovia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admired for its well-preserved architecture, including the Alcázar of Segovia and its historic old town.
Lucrezia d’Alagno was the favored mistress of Alfonso V of Aragon (also King of Naples). Although Alfonso was already married to Maria of Castile, their marriage was effectively estranged—Maria remained in Spain while Alfonso ruled in Naples. Deeply attached to Lucrezia, Alfonso sought to legitimize their relationship by obtaining an annulment of his marriage.
With the full consent of Alfonso V of Aragon, Lucrezia d’Alagno set out for Rome in October 1457 in a display of extraordinary magnificence. She did not travel as a mere envoy, but almost as a royal figure. Her entourage included:
Around seventy noblewomen, emphasizing her elevated (though unofficial) status
High-ranking escorts such as Sigismondo d'Este
The powerful noble Antonio Centelles
This grand procession was carefully staged to project legitimacy and prestige, suggesting Alfonso’s serious intention to elevate Lucrezia’s position.
As Lucrezia entered papal lands, she was received with honor by the nephews of the Pope:
Rodrigo Borgia (then a cardinal)
Pedro Luis Borgia
Her arrival caused a sensation in Rome. Large crowds gathered, driven by the same fascination that had surrounded her in Naples—her beauty, her influence over the king, and the boldness of her mission.
Most strikingly, Pope Calixtus III himself ordered a solemn consistory in her honor, treating her as though she were a queen. This ceremonial reception gave the impression that her request might be favorably considered.
Despite the splendid public welcome, the decisive moment came in a private audience with the Pope. There, Lucrezia presented Alfonso’s request: the annulment of his marriage to Maria of Castile. Despite Calixtus III being a former secretary to Alfonso and owing much of his career to the King's support, he refused the annulment. He maintained that the marriage to Maria was valid, famously telling Lucrezia that he could not grant what God did not allow. The Pope's refusal meant Lucrezia could never be Queen.
Cicero
A famous Roman orator, philosopher, and politician
Defender of the Roman Republic
Known for his powerful speeches and writings
Fulvia
A politically active Roman noblewoman
Married to several powerful men, including Mark Antony
One of the few women in Rome to wield direct political influence
Why did they hate each other?
The conflict between Cicero and Fulvia is one of the most dramatic personal rivalries in late Roman history—rooted in politics, power, and revenge rather than a simple personal feud. Cicero didn't just fight politically; he attacked the character, morality, and family of his opponents.
Fulvia's first husband, Clodius, was a major enemy of Cicero, and she remembered his vitriol. When Cicero defended Clodius’s murderer and attacked her character, Fulvia (a wealthy and influential woman) did not forget the attack.
After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, Rome fell into chaos. Cicero saw Mark Antony as a threat to the Republic. He delivered a series of speeches called the Philippics, brutally attacking Mark Antony. These speeches insulted Mark Antony’s character, leadership—and indirectly, his family. Fulvia took this personally. In Roman culture, attacking a husband was also an attack on the wife’s honor and status. So for Fulvia, Cicero wasn’t just an annoying critic—he was a real political enemy.
In 43 BCE, Mark Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate. They took control of the Roman state and divided power among themselves. They created proscription lists—names of enemies to be executed. Cicero was one of the top targets. Mark Antony insisted on his death. Cicero was captured and killed while trying to flee Italy.
According to ancient sources, Cicero’s head and hands were displayed in the Roman Forum. Fulvia allegedly took his head. She pulled out his tongue and stabbed it with a hairpin. Cicero’s greatest weapon was his speech. Fulvia’s act was a brutal message: his words had been silenced forever. Some historians think this story may be exaggerated, but it shows how intense the hatred was.
The Tudors. Season 1, Episode 1.
Henry VIII referred to his daughter Mary as his "pearl of the world" and his "dearest jewel" when she was a young child. This affectionate nickname was used during the period when he doted on her as his only living, legitimate child and proudly presented her at court.