Philippa of Lancaster, Queen of Portugal

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes...I thought so too.

[bell_the_cat]

It was a "free-for-all" in fact!  

Philip II also thought his daughter should be Queen of France!

[ilyala]

he must have had a very good opinion on her  

[Eric_Lowe]

We are off the topic again...

[ilyala]

not my fault

[bell_the_cat]

Anyone know why Ceuta is now Spanish if it was the Portuguese (Philippa) who conquered it?

[umigon]

There had been an arguement for Ceuta's nationality between Spain and Portugal for decades. However, when in 1640 Portugal finally escaped from Spanish power, Ceuta chose to be Spanish and asked Felipe IV to remain Spanish. The King agreed and so the city has been Spanish ever since!

[ilyala]

can i (surprisingly) go back on topic and ask again about the relations between philippa and catalina during the portuguese-castilian war?

[Eric_Lowe]

I think they would not be drawn into it personally, but support their respective husbands.  

[ilyala]

anyone know anything more?

[umigon]

I should re-read my books on that part of Spanish history, but I think Catalina and Philipa did write quite often to each other. Catalina's political influence during Enrique's lifetime was, however, scarce, so I doubt she had anything to say to Philipa about the war...

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks...I think they were not personally close anyway. The age gap was too wide.  

[ilyala]

not to mention two different mothers and probably educations...

[bell_the_cat]

As far as I can make out the war was before Catalina's time. Joao of Portugal was fighting with the King of Castille over the inheritance of Portugal.

At this point (1386) John of Gaunt stepped in to claim the throne of Castille for his wife Constanza - the only daughter of Pedro the Cruel. He secured the (half-hearted) help of Joao by marrying him to Philippa.

However the campaign was a disaster. John of Gaunt's troops couldn't cope with the heat and aridity of the Spanish summer. they all fell ill, including John himself so they had to give up and go back home. Eventually an arrangement was made where Catalina married Henry of Castille (after long negociations with the Duc de Berri) in order to tie the whole thing up. this was in 1393 or thereabouts.

I don't know if Castille and Portugal were at war after that so that Catalina and Philippa were on opposing sides. (Help Umigon!) I don't expect they were close given the age difference - also it sounds as if Catalina was not such an interesting personality as Philippa!


Hope I got this right - it's from memory!

[Eric_Lowe]

I would imagine that Catalina would be more serious than Philippa. Just a thought.