Tempering the king’s anger. Beatrice of Aragon’s role in foreign relations

The wedding of Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary and Bohemia, and Beatrice of Aragon in 1476 marked a high point of diplomatic relations between Central Europe and Italy, which strengthened an already strong interest of King Matthias in Italian matters. Although the highly educated Aragon princess has traditionally been viewed as a prominent intermediary of foreign influences in Hungary, most notably for bringing Renaissance art and Italian culture, her role in diplomacy is still not fully appreciated. By a close reading of the relations of papal legate Angelo Pecchinoli (1488–1490) and other sources, this paper examines the important role of Queen Beatrice in foreign relations. Given her familial connections and gender, Beatrice heavily complemented her husband’s goals and efforts, adding a feminine component to the rulership. Using a whole set of tools, such as gifts, affective performance, or correspondence, she was able to act as a proper diplomatic agent.