Isabel of Castile

1518–1565

Born: 20 Aug 1518, Valencia
Country of birth: Spain
Died: 1565, Perpignan

facts: 7
sources: 1
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Facts and their sources

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Birth20 Aug 1518, ValenciaProbable1 source
Death1565, PerpignanProbable1 source
ParentCharles VConfirmed1 source
ParentGermaine of FoixConfirmed1 source

A life in time

20 Aug 1518
Born · Valencia
Birth, Valencia
1565
Died · Perpignan
Death, Perpignan

What was it like?

The world around Valencia, 1518: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

Men often grew long beards and hair, sometimes styling the tips into curls. Clothing could be layered, with high-status individuals wearing a pellizón, which was a long robe with wide, loose sleeves that could be knotted at the ends.

Fashion

Men's Hairstyles and Layered Robes

The Colorful Woolen Tunic Called Saya

Ordinary people wore a tunic called a saya, which was often made of wool and dyed in various colors like red, purple, ocher, blue, green, white, or black. It was typically worn by peasants and artisans, sometimes featuring an open neck known as an amigaut.

Music

Cathedral music and instrument maintenance

In the Pamplona Cathedral during the early 16th century, musicians such as chirimia players were officially employed, and payments for instrument maintenance, like repairing a bajon, were recorded in ducats.

Entertainment at new mass celebrations

New mass celebrations often lasted two days, featuring hired minstrels for entertainment; attendees often gave money to the hosts, believing it helped secure indulgences.

Getting around

Limited river navigation

Rivers in the region were generally not navigable, except for the Ebro, where small boats transported goods like grain, wine, and iron.

Mules as primary transport animals

Travelers often used mules, which were the most valuable assistants for transport and could be used for riding or carrying cargo.

Daily life

Domestic heating and cleaning methods

Households used braziers to heat laundry and water for cleaning, as homes lacked modern amenities like running water.

Household as the center of life

The household served as the primary center for education, work, and life, with tasks like laundry and water fetching falling to women and domestic servants.

Food

Large feasts and local wine consumption

Ordinary people often held large feasts after mass, consuming lamb, veal, and wine from local towns like Artajona and Olite. These communal meals were so common that they were eventually restricted by law in 1757 to prevent excessive spending and disorder.

Wine as a daily essential drink

Wine was the essential daily drink, considered vital for health and often mixed with water because pure water was frequently unsafe to consume. It was consumed by all social classes, and many people carried their own measuring tools to ensure the wine was diluted correctly.

Prices and wages

Labor Wages in Construction Projects

For construction projects like fortification, labor wages accounted for between 65 and 100 percent of total costs.

Meat Consumption and Hunting Practices

Lamb was the most consumed meat, and hunting was crucial to supplement low calorie diets rather than just being a noble sport.

Work

Around 1517–1517

Organized labor and fortification works

In 1517, builders such as stonemasons and laborers were formally paid and employed for infrastructure projects, including the fortification of Lumbier. Payrolls were meticulously recorded to track wages for these specialized workers.

Agricultural life and self-sufficiency

About 80 percent of Navarre's population relied on agriculture, with most households aiming for self-sufficiency. Two-thirds of farmers combined agricultural work with artisan activities.

News and letters

Daily travel distances and hardships

On foot, a messenger could cover between 25 and 60 kilometers per day, while travel on horseback could reach 60 to 90 kilometers daily, depending on the terrain, the animal, and the rider. Messengers often saved money by eating only two or three meals a day and sleeping in the open rather than in inns.

How ordinary people sent letters

Ordinary people typically sent letters by hiring their own messengers, or by asking travelers, merchants, or acquaintances traveling to the destination to deliver them as a favor or for a fee. Official royal mail systems were generally restricted to state use, and private, reliable postal services for the general public did not yet exist.

During their lifetime

1521
Defeat at Battle of Esquiroz
On June 30, 1521, a Franco-Navarrese army of 12,000 was defeated at the Battle of Esquiroz near Pamplona, resulting in more than 6,000 deaths and the capture of their general.
1525
Peasant rebellion suppressed in 1525
In May 1525, Duke Antoine of Lorraine massacred a large peasant army at Saverne to suppress an insurrection that threatened the duchy.
1540
Demographic and economic recovery
Following a period of war, the mid-16th century saw a demographic recovery, with the population reaching approximately 32,000 households and Pamplona hitting 10,000 inhabitants.
1545
Famine causes bread prices to soar
In 1545, war-related famine caused bread prices in the region to multiply by five compared to 1540-1541 levels.
1545
Plague epidemics devastate the region
Between 1545 and 1552, plague outbreaks caused extreme hardship, leading to deserted towns and citizens walling up infected homes.
1562
French Wars of Religion begin
The French Wars of Religion broke out in 1562, leading to immense loss of life through violence, famine, and disease that lasted until 1598.

Family

Parents

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.