María de Padilla
Encyclopedia
María Díaz de Padilla (1334 – August 1361) was the mistress
of King Peter of Castile whom he married in secret in 1353.
She was a Castilian noblewoman. Her father was Juan García de Padilla, 1st Lord of Villagera, her mother was his wife María Fernández de Henestrosa, a relative of Juan Fernández de Henestrosa, who mediated an apparent pardon to Fadrique Alfonso of Castile
, a half-brother and rival of María de Padilla's lover, King Peter.
In the summer of 1353, under coercion from family and court nobles, Peter denied the fact of his marriage to María to marry Blanche of Bourbon, but his relationship with María continued. María and Peter had at least four children: a daughter named Beatrice (born 1354), a daughter named Constance
(1354–1394), another daughter named Isabella
(1355–1394), and a son named Alfonso, crown-prince of Castile (1359 - October 19, 1362).
Two of their daughters were married to sons of Edward III
, King of England. Isabella, married Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
, while the eldest, Constance, married John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
, leading him to claim the crown of Castile on behalf of his wife. The daughter of Constance, Catherine of Lancaster
, was married by Henry III of Castile
in order to reunify any claim to succession that may have passed via Constance.
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of King Peter of Castile whom he married in secret in 1353.
She was a Castilian noblewoman. Her father was Juan García de Padilla, 1st Lord of Villagera, her mother was his wife María Fernández de Henestrosa, a relative of Juan Fernández de Henestrosa, who mediated an apparent pardon to Fadrique Alfonso of Castile
Fadrique Alfonso of Castile
Don Fadrique Alfonso of Castile, 1st Señor de Haro , 25th Master of the Order of Santiago , was the fifth illegitimate child of Alfonso XI of Castile and Eleanor of Guzman. He was born in Seville....
, a half-brother and rival of María de Padilla's lover, King Peter.
In the summer of 1353, under coercion from family and court nobles, Peter denied the fact of his marriage to María to marry Blanche of Bourbon, but his relationship with María continued. María and Peter had at least four children: a daughter named Beatrice (born 1354), a daughter named Constance
Constance of Castile (1354-1394)
Constance of Castile was claimant of the Castilian throne after the death of her father Peter the Cruel, her mother being María de Padilla, whom Peter had secretly married but was then forced to repudiate, only to keep her as a mistress...
(1354–1394), another daughter named Isabella
Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York
Infanta Isabella of Castile, Duchess of York was a daughter ofKing Peter of Castile and María de Padilla. She was a younger sister of Constance, Duchess of Lancaster....
(1355–1394), and a son named Alfonso, crown-prince of Castile (1359 - October 19, 1362).
Two of their daughters were married to sons of Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, King of England. Isabella, married Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons who lived to adulthood, of this Royal couple. Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his...
, while the eldest, Constance, married John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster , KG was a member of the House of Plantagenet, the third surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault...
, leading him to claim the crown of Castile on behalf of his wife. The daughter of Constance, Catherine of Lancaster
Catherine of Lancaster
-Coat of arms:The following are Armorials of the House of Lancaster under her father, John of Gaunt.-References:* Anthony Goodman: "Katherine of Lancaster" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 30 , p. 890-891....
, was married by Henry III of Castile
Henry III of Castile
Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390....
in order to reunify any claim to succession that may have passed via Constance.
Depictions in fiction
- Gaetano DonizettiGaetano DonizettiDomenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. His best-known works are the operas L'elisir d'amore , Lucia di Lammermoor , and Don Pasquale , all in Italian, and the French operas La favorite and La fille du régiment...
composed Maria PadillaMaria PadillaMaria Padilla is a melodramma, or opera, in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Gaetano Rossi and the composer wrote the Italian libretto after François Ancelot's play. It premiered on December 26, 1841 at La Scala, Milan...
(1841), an operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
about her relationship with King Peter. - Rudolf Gottschall wrote Maria de Padilla (18??), a drama about her life.