Meet Queen Juana I of Castile.
{1479-1555}
At the age of 16, Juana was married to the insatiable virile Philip the Handsome of Flanders.
Philip had many affairs and mistresses and when Juana disapproved he would withhold sex from her, which in turn literally drove her crazy.
She would throw fits and physically attack not only the mistresses but the servants as well.
In an attempt to regain her husband's favor, Juana attempted to concoct love potions, but to no avail.
In 1504, Juana's mother passed away leaving the throne of Castile to her. For some unknown reason, Philip died suddenly after Juana had gained the throne. The lovesick queen was devastated.
In her grief and distress she refused to part with her husband's body and several times after he was entombed had his coffin reopened to view his remains, even going so far as to kiss and caress his decaying corpse.
Credit: Mad Kings & Queens by Alison Rattle & Allison Vale
Sterling ISBN:978-1-4027-6306-9
I did some more digging concerning this "Mad Queen" and many other sources portray Juana as a very intelligent woman who was manipulated by the men in her life. There has even been a book written about her by C.W. Gortner portraying her in this light of a great woman who was not allowed to rule on her own.
I was not alive during that time {duh} so therefore I cannot really say for certain what this woman's life was like or if the tales of her corpse hoarding are true but it sure is a fun, albeit disturbing, story.
You have to admit though, Queen Juana could easily pass off as a never-smiling-no-expression Bella look-a-like. Teehee!
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