So. I'm reading The Curse of Chalion, and I think Lois McMaster Bujold has shamelessly cribbed from Spanish - or, Castilian - history.

Iselle, the royesse - Isabel of Castile.
Betriz, her lady - the Infanta Beatriz of Portugal, the above's aunt and friend.

Anyway, the relationship of the people and how they connect to the following story isn't a complete parallel, but still, there are so many similarities.

So, once upon a time, Isabel of Castile y Leon was promised by her brother Henry to marry this total douche Pedro Giron, mainly because Pedro's brother Juan Pacheco was Henry's favorite and also because Pedro was super rich and promised Henry a ton of money in return for Isabel.

Well, Isabel was not too happy about this, because PG was old and gross.  So she prayed constantly for a way out of the marriage. She didn't eat.  She promise to crawl on her knees to Zaragoza if only God would let her not marry him.  She was on the way to meet him for the wedding when news came that he'd fallen ill and died.

Idk how historically accurate this next bit is, but in the Royal Diaries story for Isabel, her friend Beatriz conceals a knife and offers to stab Giron before the wedding.  Probably this didn't actually happen, but just keep that in mind.

Compare:

Iselle is promised by her brother to his favorite courtier's brother Dondo dy Jironal, a total douche. She fasts and prays incessantly for a way out of it.  Betriz offers to cut his head off.  Cazaril does death magic and Dondo falls ill and dies literally the night before the wedding.


COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT. ALSO I REALLY APPROVE. BUJOLD, I LOVE YOU. PLEASE KEEP SNEAKING KICKASS SPANISH QUEENS INTO THIS STORY.

ETA: *hands* And now she is arranging her marriage in secret, behind her brother's back, to the heir of another country. ISABEL OF CASTILE, I AM TELLING YOU.