I Level
Joanna the Mad
The Story of Juana, a Strong and Special Queen
A long time ago, in a kingdom called Castile, there lived a princess named Juana. She was the daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando, who ruled the kingdom. Juana was very intelligent, loved learning new things, and had many ideas to help people.
When Juana grew up, she was married to a prince named Philip. At that time, princesses could not choose whom to marry, but Juana wanted to do her best for her new FAMILY. However, Philip sometimes did not listen to Juana’s ideas and wanted to make decisions on his own. This was not fair because Juana also knew how to rule and had a lot to contribute.
One day, Juana’s MOM, Queen Isabel, passed away, and Juana became the new queen of Castile. But at that time, many people believed that women could not rule alone. Instead of supporting her, her husband Philip and later her DAD Fernando decided to push her aside and rule by themselves.
People said very mean things to Juana, like calling her “crazy” because she sometimes cried or got angry. But that was not true. Juana only wanted to be respected and allowed to be a queen because she knew how to take care of her people.
Although Juana’s life was difficult, she always remained strong. She loved to sing, walk through the gardens, and look at the stars, dreaming of a world where girls and women could make their own decisions. In the gardens, she saw many BIRDS of different colors, such as RED, BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW, and ORANGE. There were also TWO CATS and THREE DOGS running around the trees.
Sometimes, she would have a snack of BREAD, CHEESE, APPLES, GRAPES, NUTS, and a little bit of HONEY. She loved sharing food with her BROTHER and SISTER, with whom she played games counting how many BIRDS were in the trees or how many colors they could see in the flowers of the garden.
Juana’s story teaches us that all people deserve respect, especially girls and women. Juana was a brave queen, and thanks to women like her, today we continue working so that all girls can dream big and be whatever they want to be.
II level
Joanna the Mad
The Story of Juana, a Brave Queen
Many, many years ago, in a kingdom called Castilla, there lived a princess named Juana. Juana was the daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando, two very important rulers. From a young age, Juana learned many things: she loved to read, sing, and reflect on HOW to improve the kingdom.
When Juana grew up, she married a prince named Felipe, who was very handsome. Although Juana could not choose WHO she would marry, she decided to be a good partner and build a life together. At first, everything seemed to be going well, but soon Juana realized that Felipe did not always respect her as she deserved. Felipe wanted to rule everything, even the kingdom’s most important decisions, and he did not listen to Juana as he should have.
Juana was also a very sensitive and strong woman, but in her time, many people did not understand that EMOTIONS were not something bad. Sometimes, when Juana felt SADNESS, ANGER, or FEAR, people would say she was “crazy.” In reality, she was simply fighting to be heard in a world where women did not have the same rights as men.
When her mom, Queen Isabel, passed away, Juana was supposed to become the new queen of Castilla, but many people, including her husband Felipe and her dad Fernando, did not want a woman to rule alone. Even though Juana was intelligent and knew what the people needed, they took her power away and made decisions for her.
Juana spent many years locked away in a CASTLE, far from her children and the people she loved. In the nearby FOREST, the animals sang every morning, and sometimes she would look out the window, watching the RAIN fall or the SUN shine. But even in those difficult moments, Juana never stopped being strong. She kept dreaming of a fairer world, where women could be free, make their own decisions, and be respected for who they were.
Sometimes, she thought about her childhood, when she played in her grandmother’s HOUSE, ran through the GARDEN, and helped the CARPENTERS build furniture with their TOOLS. She loved watching how they used the HAMMER, the SAW, and the NAILS to create new things. She also remembered the DOCTORS in the palace, who cared for the sick, and the TEACHERS, who taught her about history and the stars.
Juana’s story reminds us that, even though she lived in a time when women’s rights were not respected, she was brave and never stopped fighting in her own way. Today, thanks to women like Juana, we continue working to ensure that all girls and women are heard, respected, and valued.
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III level
Joanna the Mad
Joanna the Mad, Queen of SPAIN in the 15th and 16th centuries, was born in 1479 as the daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of CASTILE and Ferdinand II of ARAGON. From a young age, she was raised with great RESPONSIBILITY, prepared to one day rule and follow in the footsteps of her parents, who unified SPAIN through their marriage. Joanna stood out for being INTELLIGENT, SERIOUS, and her love for reading, showing from an early age a great interest in studies and political affairs, although her life was marked by SUFFERING and TRAGEDY. In 1496, at the age of 16 YEARS, she married Philip the Handsome, Prince of FLANDERS, a union that seemed to be a PERFECT alliance but was soon affected by her husband’s personal interests and ambitions.
At first, Joanna and Philip’s marriage was full of love and promises, but it quickly fell apart due to his EXCESSIVE ambition. He began to DISTANCE himself emotionally from Joanna in pursuit of greater power, particularly in his relationship with the court and his rivalry with Queen Isabella. The situation WORSENED when Philip started challenging his wife’s authority, seeking control over the kingdom of CASTILE, which intensified the internal conflicts within the court. The death of her mother, Queen Isabella, in 1504 left Joanna as the Queen of CASTILE, but the influence of her father, Ferdinand, remained PREDOMINANT, and power within the kingdom became DIVIDED.
Joanna’s true SUFFERING began with Philip’s death in 1506, a DEVASTATING blow that left the young queen in a state of PROFOUND SADNESS. Despite her LEGITIMATE GRIEF, the court of CASTILE, along with her father, did not UNDERSTAND her SUFFERING, and instead of offering support, they ISOLATED her and stripped her of all power. It was then that she was given the nickname “Joanna the Mad,” a label that reflects more the CONTEMPT for her PAIN and VULNERABILITY than any medical diagnosis. The court INTERPRETED her SORROW as a sign of MADNESS, and instead of showing her COMPASSION, they completely excluded her from governing.
After Philip’s death, Joanna was IMPRISONED in a castle for MANY YEARS, separated from her children and from any political influence. Her CONFINEMENT was both PHYSICAL and EMOTIONAL, and she was considered a WEAK figure, incapable of ruling. Over the YEARS, the queen remained ISOLATED, but her resilience in the face of ADVERSITY became a testament to her INNER STRENGTH. Joanna died in 1555 at the age of 75 YEARS, without ever being able to EXERCISE the power that was rightfully hers. However, her life and story are REMEMBERED as a symbol of the struggle for AUTONOMY and the recognition of women, both in the PERSONAL and POLITICAL spheres.
The figure of Joanna the Mad, although marked by SUFFERING and ISOLATION, is now RECOGNIZED as a symbol of COURAGE, STRENGTH, and the fight for DIGNITY and women’s rights in an era when their voices were MINIMIZED. Her story invites us to REFLECT on the historical INJUSTICES that MANY women FACED, whose EMOTIONS and feelings were DISMISSED and MISINTERPRETED. It remains a call to QUESTION how society has TREATED and continues to TREAT women who FIGHT for their voice and power.
