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Leonor de Castro Mello y Meneses

Gandia, 1512 – Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, 6 Apr 1546

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born1512, Gandianot verified1 source
  • MarriedFrancis Borgia, 4th Duke of Gandíanot verified1 source
  • TitleChief Lady of the Bedchamber, 1526–1546not verified1 source
  • Died6 Apr 1546, Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalbanot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 1512

    Born in Gandia

  2. 1526–1546

    Chief Lady of the Bedchamber

  3. 1532

    A daughter is born

  4. 6 Apr 1546

    Dies in Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 4 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Gandia.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1510s · Leonor is born in Gandia

In the news1516

Forced conversion or expulsion of Muslims

Following the Spanish decree of 1502, the Muslim community in Navarre was forced to leave or convert by a decree issued on May 1, 1516, leading to the abandonment of Morería neighborhoods.

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.

In the news1512

Castilian invasion of Navarre begins

Castilian troops led by the Duke of Alba invaded Pamplona on July 25, 1512, beginning the conquest and incorporation of Navarre into the Crown of Castile.

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.

What people wore

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

Social customs of the youth groups

Young men formed social groups called Los Mozos, where joining on the feast of Saint Agatha cost one real. Members shared communal items like guitars, wine skins, and playing cards for their social gatherings.

At the table

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.