La infanta Doña María, monja de Sijena, y su política castellana durante la minoría de Alfonso XI (1312-1325)

Abstract

The Infanta Doña María, the eldest daughter of James II of Aragon, was a decisive and influential personality in Castilian politics during Alfonso XI's minority years (1312-1325). Married to the Infante Don Pedro, uncle and tutor of the king of Castile, she would perform her duties consistently following the political guidelines of her husband until his death in 1319. Thenceforward, her relationships with the circles of royal power were not in good terms. Questions such as the government and administration of her feudal patrimonies, inherited from Don Pedro, and the birth of her daughter Blanca, as well as her education and residence in either Aragon or Castille, were all tackled by the Infanta from Aragon, from the Monastery of Sijena opposing the longing tor power of both the Infante Don Felipe and García Lasso de la Vega, and even of king Alfonso XI himself. This essay aims at the analysis of these relationships from a Castilian perspective, making use of the excellent documentation kept in the ACA and edited from old.