Isabel Enríquez (died 1420/1) was a member of the Castilian royal family and a Poor Clare. She was an illegitimate daughter of King Henry II of Castile and an unknown woman.[1]
Life and career
She married Gonzalo Núñez de Guzmán in secret.[1][2] For this, Gonzalo was excommunicated and imprisoned.[3] It has been suggested that Gonzalo may have kidnapped Isabel, on the grounds that a merely secret marriage would not have incurred either prison or excommunication.[4] In any case, Gonzalo later entered the Order of Alcántara, rising to become master in 1384.[4] His excommunication was only lifted by Archbishop Pedro Tenorio on 23 September 1395.[5]
Isabel and Gonzalo are usually assumed to have had no children,[1] although Luis González de Guzmán may have been their son.[6]
By 1387, Isabel had entered the convent of Santa Clara la Real de Toledo.[1][4][7] In 1393, her sister Inés Enríquez was elected abbess and Isabel acted as de facto co-abbess with her.[7] Their presence attracted royal largesse. Both Henry III and, after the sisters' deaths, John II, made donations to Santa Clara because of their "aunts, abbesses" (tías abadesas).[8] A contemporary painting of the sisters can be seen on the wall of the choir.[9]
She died at Santa Clara in 1420 or 1421.[1]
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5]Salazar y Acha 2021, p. 289.
- 2.Rodríguez-Picavea Matilla 2005, p. 231.
- 3.Casado Quintanilla 2012, pp. 150–151.
- 4.[4.2][4.3]Casado Quintanilla 2012, p. 151.
- 5.Casado Quintanilla 2012, p. 150.
- 6.Casado Quintanilla 2012, p. 149.
- 7.[7.2]Pérez de Tudela y Bueso 2002, p. 301.
- 8.Pérez de Tudela y Bueso 2002, p. 303.
- 9.Pérez de Tudela y Bueso 2002, p. 304.