María Enríquez de Luna
Duchess of Gandia / ducal regent / artistic patron
Regent of Gandia, 1497–1511; died 1539
Duchess and regent
María Enríquez de Luna governed the Duchy of Gandia as regent from 1497 to 1511 after the death of her husband Juan de Borja. Her role combined responsibility for the family succession with the administration of a territorial estate. The palace’s account credits her with improving the finances, selling Italian possessions and reorganising the seigneurial archive.
Patronage beyond the palace
She supported the enlargement of Gandia’s church of Santa María and its elevation to collegiate status. The artists associated with this work included Pere Compte, Damià Forment and Paolo de San Leocadio. The latter received commissions for the church, the convent of Santa Clara and her ducal residence. Her patronage therefore connected the palace with the religious and artistic life of the town.
A change of role
In 1511 she transferred the duchy to her son Juan. She later entered Santa Clara in Gandia as María Gabriela and died there as abbess in 1539. Her association with the palace belongs to a longer life that included both ducal government and religious retirement.
Related residence
Palau Ducal: history and visiting information · Rooms and decoration
Sources reviewed 2026-10-12.