A Legacy of Affection and Power: Queen Joanna Enríquez’s Intimate Bequest to Isabella the Catholic

Abstract

This article argues that the balas-ruby necklace and the Book of Hours of Juana Enríquez (BPR, II/2104), transmitted from Queen Juana Enríquez (1425-68) to Isabella of Castile (1451-1504) on the occasion of her marriage in 1469, constitute a meaningful pair of transmitted objects. Drawing on the analysis of both pieces and on a documentary corpus comprising the pawning records of the necklace, its appraisal by the silversmith March Rosell, the inventory of Juana Enríquez’s possessions, and direct examination of the manuscript, the study reconstructs the trajectories of the two objects and situates them within the broader framework of late medieval European queenship. The findings show that jewel and book performed complementary sym­bolic functions: the necklace operated as a jewel of state, a form of financial security, and an emblem of legitimation, while the manuscript reflected ideals of interiority and contemplation associated with the devotio moderna. Considered together, the two objects offer a more com­plete image of the queen and reveal how female royal material culture could be organised into meaningful ensembles within the political culture of the Late Middle Ages.