Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/283

CHAPTER V. , ACCESSION OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. — WAR OF THE SUC CESSION. — BATTLE OF TORO. 1474—1476. Isabella proclaimed Queen. — Settlement of the Crown. — Alfonso of Portugal supports Joanna. — Invades Castile. — Retreat of the Cas- tilians. — Appropriation of the Church Plate. — Reorganization of the Army. — Battle of Toro. — Submission of the whole Kingdom. — Peace with France and Portugal. — Joanna takes the Veil. — Death of John n., of Aragon. Most of the contemporary writers are content chapter to derive Isabella's title to the crown of Castile from the illegitimacy of her rival Joanna. But, as '^ei'!.. this fact, whatever jDiobability it may receive from the avowed licentiousness of the queen, and some other collateral circumstances, was never established by legal evidence, or even made the subject of legal inquiry, it cannot reasonably be adduced as afford- ing in itself a satisfactory basis for the pretensions of Isabella. ^ 1 The popular belief of Joanna's princess Joanna, the only child illegitimacy was founded on the of his second queen, Joanna of following circumstances. 1, King Portugal, was not born until the Henry's first marriage with Blanche eighth year of her marriage, and of Navarre was dissolved, after it long after she had become noto- had subsisted twelve years, on the rious for her gallantries. 3. Al- publicly alleged ground of " im- though Henry kept several mis- potence in the parties." 2. The tresses, whom he maintained in so Title of Isa