Juana "the Mad's" Signature: The Problem of Invoking Royal Authority, 1505- 1507

A letter long attributed to Juana "the Mad" has inspired accounts of the queen's allegedly extreme passion for her husband, which supposedly rendered her unwilling, and even unable, to rule Castile. The present study challenges the status of this letter. More reliable documentary evidence of Juana's political activity not only belies the famous autograph, but also casts doubt upon standard interpretations of the queen's locura. As an instrument connecting individual and corporate bodies, the royal signature provides further insights into a queen's attempts-and ultimate failure-to exercise royal authority.