Editing John II of Aragon (section)

== Biography ==
[[File:Carlino Giovanni II.jpg|thumb|right|A Sicilian–Athenian–Neopatrian ''[[carlino]]'' of John II.]]
John was born at [[Medina del Campo]] (in the [[Crown of Castile]]), the son of King [[Ferdinand I of Aragon]]{{sfn|Woodacre|2013|p=91}} and [[Eleanor of Alburquerque]].{{sfn|Earenfight|2015|p=143}} In his youth he was one of the ''infantes'' (princes) of Aragon who took part in the dissensions of Castile during the minority and reign of [[John II of Castile]]. Until middle life he was also lieutenant-general in Aragon for his brother and predecessor [[Alfonso V of Aragon|Alfonso V]], whose reign was mainly spent in [[Italy]].{{sfn|Scofield|1923|p=235}} In his old age he was preoccupied by incessant conflicts with his Aragonese and Catalan subjects, with [[Louis XI of France]], and in preparing the way for the marriage of his son Ferdinand with [[Isabella I of Castile]] which brought about the union of the crowns of Aragon and Castile and which was to create the [[Habsburg Spain|Monarchy of Spain]]. His troubles with his subjects were closely connected with tragic dissensions within his own family.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

John was first married to [[Blanche I of Navarre]] of the [[House of Évreux]].{{sfn|Scofield|1923|p=235}} In 1432, John II appointed [[Juan Vélaz de Medrano IV|Juan Vélaz de Medrano]], Lord of Igúzquiza and Learza, as his royal [[Chamberlain (office)|chamberlain]], a position he had previously held under Blanche's late father, [[Charles III of Navarre]]. By right of Blanche he became [[king of Navarre]], and on her death in 1441 he was left in possession of the kingdom for his lifetime. But one son, [[Charles of Viana|Charles]], given the title "Prince of Viana" as heir of Navarre, had been born of the marriage. John quickly came to regard this son with jealousy. After his second marriage, to [[Juana Enríquez]], it grew into absolute hatred, being encouraged by Juana. John tried to deprive his son of his constitutional right to act as lieutenant-general of Aragon during his father's absence. Charles's cause was taken up by the Aragonese, however, and the king's attempt to make his second wife lieutenant-general was set aside.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

There followed the long [[Navarrese Civil War (1451–1455)|Navarrese Civil War]], with alternations of success and defeat, ending only with the death of the prince of Viana, possibly by poison administered by his father in 1461.{{sfn|Livermore|1966|p=120}} The institutions of the [[Principality of Catalonia]], who had adopted the cause of Charles and who had grievances of their own, called in a succession of foreign pretenders in the ten years' [[Catalan Civil War]]. John spent his last years contending with them. He was forced to pawn [[Roussillon]], his Catalan possession on the north-east of the Pyrenees, to King [[Louis XI of France]], who refused to part with it.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In his old age John was blinded by [[cataract]]s, but recovered his eyesight with an operation ([[Couching (ophthalmology)|couching]]) conducted by his physician [[Abiathar Crescas]], a [[Jew]]. The Catalan revolt was pacified in 1472, but until his death in 1479 John carried on a war, in which he was generally unfortunate, with his neighbor the French king. He was succeeded by [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|Ferdinand]], his son by his second marriage, who was already married to [[Isabella I of Castile]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} With his death and son's accession to the throne of Aragon, the unification of the realms of Spain under one royal house began in earnest.