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Primary sourceDocument12 October 1504

Testament of Isabella I of Castile

Isabella I of Castile · 12 October 1504

Isabella's 1504 will, written shortly before her death, setting out the succession and her final wishes.

This is Isabella's own will, written in her voice shortly before her death, setting out her final wishes and succession plans.

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About this source

What it is

This is the last will of Queen Isabella I of Castile, written at Medina del Campo in 1504. In it she addresses the succession of her daughter Juana, the regency of her husband Ferdinand, and her burial wishes, alongside religious and political instructions.

Why it matters

As a document written in Isabella's own voice near the end of her life, the will offers rare insight into how she viewed her legacy, her faith, and the future of her kingdom. It reveals her concern for continuity of rule and her personal religious devotion, both central to understanding her reign.

Look closer

  • What does Isabella's choice of burial place tell us about her priorities?
  • How does the religious language at the start of the will reflect the values of her time?
  • What kinds of political concerns does she address, and why might those have mattered most to her at the end of her life?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Isabella I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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