Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Spain Substates
Also see Spain Heads and Spain Ecclesiastical Territory
Kingdom of Aragón
922-33 Countess Andregoto Galindez de Galicia
of Aragón
She succeeded her father Galindo II Aznaréz, and married Ordoño II of Galicia,
Leon, Castilla y Alava. (d. 972).
1137-63 Queen Regnant Petronilla I of Aragón
1163-69 Regent of Arágon and Barcelona
Succeeded father, Ramiro II the Monk, who had received papal dispensation to
abdicate from his monastic vows after the death of his brother in order to
secure the succession to the throne. When she was two years old, he abdicated
and returned to the monastery. She married to Count Berenguer IV of Barcelona
(circa 1113-62), who became regent of the kingdom. In 1163 she abdicated in favour
of her son, Alfonso II. and continued as his regent, and even after he came of
age she continued to control the state affairs. Alfonso later named himself king
of Aragon and Cataluña. She lived (1135-73).
1395-97 and 1398-99 Regent-Governor Queen Maria López de Luna of Aragón
Her husband, King Martin I was king of Aragon (1395-1410) and in 1409 he
succeeded his son as King of Sicily, where he reigned one year. Their son,
Martin the Younger's wife Maria of Sicily inherited the kingdom in 1377 but
1379-88 she was in-exile in Sardegna because of civil war in Sicily. In 1390
they married and two years later they returned together with Martin I. After her
death in 1402 Martin the Younger married the later Queen Blanca II of Navarre
(1391-1425-42). Maria succeeded her father Lope de Luna as Countess of Luna.
(d. 1406).
1416-56 Governor Queen Maria of Aragón and Catalunya
She was regent in Aragón and Cataluña during her cousin and husband, Alfonso V's
warfare in Italy, conquering Napoli from Giovanna II in 1442. He was king of
Aragon (1416-58), Napoli (1435-58) and Sicily (1442-58) and spend most of the
time in Italy from around 1435. She was daughter of king Enrique III of Aragon
and Catherine of Lancastre, had no children and lived (1401-58).
1451-61 Governor Queen Juana Enriquez de Mendoza of Navarra
1461-62 Governor of Cataluña
Very influential during the reign of her husband, Juan II of Aragón, who took
over the crown of Navarra after the death of his first wife Queen Blanca I
(1391-41). After he tortured Don Carlos, his son by Blanca to death in 1461 the
nobles of Cataluny offered the crown to various neighbouring kings and princes
who held to e principality for brief periods until 1479 when Juan won the
battle. She was daughter of Fadrique Enríquez de Mendoza and Marina de Ayala,
mother of one son and three daughters, and lived (1425-68).
Last update
22.10.06