Adultery, “Just Cause,” and the Dynamics of Royal Pardon in a Spousal Homicide Case from Late Fifteenth-Century Toledo

Authors

Yanay Israeli, University of MichiganFollow
Sharon KislukFollow

Abstract

This article analyzes the discourses and judicial procedures surrounding one case of spousal homicide in late medieval Castile. The homicide in question occurred in the city of Toledo in 1496, when the confectioner Francisco Machano stabbed his wife, Juana Gomez, following accusations of adultery. Focusing on a set of witness testimonies produced in the aftermath of Juana's death, we examine how an exculpatory narrative was constructed as part of the perpetrator’s efforts to evade prosecution and support a petition for a royal pardon. This examination illustrates how Castilian ideas about adultery, reputation, and female insubordination could be mobilized in the defense strategies of husbands charged with killing their wives. Moreover, our analysis reveals a series of normative views that legitimized adultery-related femicide through the notion of “just cause.” Although such views defied the principles outlined by royal laws, testimonies invoking “just cause” were still significant in judicial procedures. Among other things, they could help perpetrators shape public opinion to convince or pressure their victim’s relatives to grant forgiveness, which was often a prerequisite for an official royal pardon. Members of the local community could thus influence this dynamic by offering testimonies that commented on acts of violence, thereby defining and redefining “just cause” for homicide.

Recommended Citation

Israeli, Yanay and Kisluk, Sharon (2024) "Adultery, “Just Cause,” and the Dynamics of Royal Pardon in a Spousal Homicide Case from Late Fifteenth-Century Toledo," Medieval People: Vol. 39: Iss. 1, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/medpros/vol39/iss1/8