Isabella is the daughter of Juan II, King of Castile, and his second wife, Infanta Isabella of Portugal. After the death of his father in 1454, Isabella's elder brother, Enrique IV, became king of Castile. Due to his inability to produce offspring, this ruler was nicknamed "The Powerless" (Spanish: El Impotente) - it is believed that his first wife, Blanca of Aragon, Princess of Vian, remained a virgin after 13 years of marriage, which ended in divorce. The king married a second time to João of Portugal, sister of King Alphonse V of Africa, who also, it was said, having remained untouched after her wedding night, soon took a lover of Beltrán de la Cueva. The girl she gave birth to, Juana, was perceived by everyone as the fruit of adultery and received the nickname "Beltraneja" in honor of her alleged father. The king also divorced his second wife. These factors - the impotence of King Enrique, the betrayal of Queen Juana and the dubiousness of her daughter Juana made the issue of succession relevant. The nobility forced King Enrique to name his younger brother Alfonso (XII) Contender as heir (Isabella was the middle child). The king initially agreed, assuming that Alfonso would marry his daughter Juana Beltraneja, but changed his mind some time later. The Cortes, having taken control of Alfonso and proclaimed him heir, entered into a struggle with King Enrique (Battle of Olmedo, 1467). All of Castile was divided into two hostile camps: the northern provinces were for Enrique, the southern - for Alfonso. A year later, at the age of 14, Alfonso died, and the hopes of the rebellious nobles focused on Isabella. But she rejected their advances, remaining loyal to her brother, and he officially proclaimed her heir to the throne. Finally, in 1468, an agreement was signed at the Guisando Bulls, by virtue of which Isabella was recognized as the heir to the throne (Princess of Asturias), and the king undertook not to force her into an unwanted marriage for her, and she undertook not to marry without the consent of her brother. The king had already officially neglected his intended daughter, Juana Beltraneja, who, in turn, was taken in 1457 by her uncle, the Portuguese king Alphonse V, in order to secure his claims to Castile. But the marriage was annulled by Pope Sixtus IV due to close relationship. Enrique IV tried to marry his sister Isabella, offering her several candidates, but she rejected his option, choosing Ferdinand, Prince of Aragon. The marriage with Ferdinand was concluded on October 19, 1469, in secret, since King Enrique did not give his permission for him. The bridegroom's retinue arrived in Castile disguised as merchants. In addition, since the bride and groom were cousins, permission from the pope was required. The required document was fabricated and permission was granted retroactively. Ferdinand Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Aragon, by virtue of the marriage contract, was obliged to live in Castile, observe the laws of the country and do nothing without the consent of Isabella, thus becoming a prince consort with the future queen. Enrique declared his sister violated the contract and deprived of the throne. But Isabella's supporters rose up in defense of her rights, and civil strife resumed; among them, Enrique died, and the Cortes, in 1475, recognized Isabella as queen. However, both kingdoms continued to maintain autonomy - their institutions of power, as well as other social and economic structures, were completely separate, in Castile and Aragon they even spoke different languages. During her almost 30-year reign, rich in events, Isabella managed to raise the royal power of Castile to an unprecedented height. The self-government of the Castilian grandees and the independence of the cities were severely limited by the introduction of the hermandade; Cortes increasingly lost their independence and submitted to royal absolutism. The same fate was experienced by 3 spiritual and knightly orders of Castile (Santiago, Calatra and Alcantara), after Isabella made her husband their Grand Master. In religious matters, Isabella sought to limit the dependence of the Castilian church on the Roman curia and further subordinate it to royal authority. 
Being a year older than her husband, Isabella was distinguished by her beauty, intelligence, energy, sublime and adamant character, she was distinguished by perseverance, God-fearing and arrogance. She spent her time on campaigns, where, sitting on a horse, she herself often commanded detachments, then in the office, where, together with her secretaries, she read and compiled state papers. In the appearance of the queen, the greenish-blue eyes, characteristic of the Trastamara dynasty, stood out. The complexion was delicate, the hair was golden, the stature was short, and the physique was not particularly graceful. Nevertheless, they noted that in her appearance there was an innate nobility and dignity. Since she spent her childhood away from the court and was not considered as an heiress, her education was rather weak. She was taught to read, write and have good manners. Embroidery remained her favorite pastime and a rest from public affairs. She subsequently had to make up for many gaps in her education herself. 1492 was a landmark year for the reign of Isabella, it combined several major events: the patronage of Columbus and his discovery of America, as well as the expulsion of Jews and Moors from Spain. The edict ordered all the Jews of Spain to either be baptized or leave the country within a three-month period; those remaining after this period were declared outlaws. The Jews fled either to Portugal (where history repeated itself 30 years later), from there to the north of Europe, or to Italy, the Ottoman Empire, and the countries of North Africa. For the Jews, the exile was a national catastrophe. Formally, the edict applied to all followers of Judaism, regardless of ethnicity. The meaning of the decree was to deprive the Jews of the protection of the law, that is, it made them defenseless against criminal encroachments and deprived them of the right to a lawful trial. Of course, under such conditions, no commercial and financial activity, which was the main occupation of the Spanish Jews, was possible. To return under the protection of the law, it was enough to be baptized, but most of the Jews chose to maintain their faith and emigrated from Spain. 
In the last years of her life, Isabella turned from a legendary heroine into a melancholic recluse. She became slow and sullen. Of her four daughters, the eldest died, the youngest was far away in England, the third in Portugal, the fourth, John, the most beautiful and spiritual, was soon destined to go crazy. Isabella died in 1504, leaving her daughter, Joanna, already at that time suspected of being unbalanced, as heir to all her possessions. Therefore, special conditions were stipulated in the will. She was buried in the Royal Chapel in Granada. 
Her daughter, Joanna the Mad
The relationship between Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon is one of the most famous love stories. This royal couple entered into an official marriage in 1469. Ten years later, Ferdinand became King of Aragon, leading to an important dynastic union. The rulers of Castile and Aragon actually became one family, in fact, this is what led to the unification of Spain.
Ferdinand of Aragon
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon lived together from 1469. Ferdinand was born in the town of Sos in 1452.
He reigned for forty years, and thanks to happy circumstances, as well as his own talents, he played a key role in medieval European politics. He achieved the official unification of Aragon and Castile, during his reign the Reconquista ended, the discovery of America took place.
It was under him that Spain entered the time of true prosperity. Together with his matchmaker, Maximilian I, he became one of the architects of the "World Empire", which his grandson would later build.
The result of his reign was the formation of a strong power in Spain. He had many enemies, whom he was able to defeat not only with his strength, but also with cunning. He prepared for his heir a colossal state that retained its traditions, laws, and complete autonomy.
Isabella of Castile
Isabella of Castile became one of the founders of the Spanish state. She was a fanatical Catholic, having managed to establish Christianity in a country in which completely different, including hostile, religions existed for many years.
She was a fairly strong ruler, at times showing unjustified cruelty, but there were also deeds that adorned her reign. But in general, historians perceive her as a very controversial woman who was a very influential person in European politics.
She was born in the family of Juan II - the Castilian king. When she was born, Spain was going through hard times. The country consisted of scattered independent kingdoms. Moreover, if Aragon and Castile were Christian states, then in their neighboring Granada, the Muslim religion prevailed, since the Moors predominantly lived there. Isabella was brought up as a true Christian, the rejection of non-Christians was cultivated in the family. Therefore, even as a child, she began to dream of expelling them from the country.
At the age of four, she lost her father, her mother was forced to leave the palace, because her stepson, who was a greedy and mercenary man, took the throne.
Engagement to Ferdinand
An important landmark event in her life was her engagement to the young heir to the throne of Aragon. Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon first met in 1469. They immediately liked each other. The future queen was initially told a lot about the future groom, so she managed to fall in love with him in absentia. What happens infrequently, reality did not deceive her. Ferdinand was tall and charming, very self-confident.
The first years of family life
Their beginning of family life was very successful. Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, whose biography is given in this article, already in 1470 had their first child. It was a girl. Four years later, Isabella's brother Heinrich died. After that, she officially became Queen of Castile. It was after this that the two largest Spanish states were reunited. There was a favorable occasion to oppose the Muslim Granada, which frankly annoyed many, including those in the royal palace.
A brief biography of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon confirms that they hastened to make the most of this opportunity. Their interests and life values completely coincided, therefore, from 1480, the united army waged war against the Moors.
War with the Moors
Contemporaries of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon noted that it was not possible to participate in wars for a long time because of the rulers' addiction to campaigns and risky adventures. Isabella herself endured, along with men, many hardships of military life, but at the same time she managed to give birth to ten children from her husband. Five of them died in infancy, but the rest were able to survive.
At the same time, outwardly, the queen did not at all resemble a warlike lady. On the contrary, she was a rather frail woman with pale skin and attractive brown hair.
royal offspring
The children of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon constantly accompanied their parents on all military campaigns. They lived modestly, the younger ones wore the clothes of the elders, they did not bathe in luxury at all.
The queen did not leave them in the palace, accustoming them to hardships and hardships from an early age. She herself devoted a lot of time to their upbringing, especially religious, as she was fanatically devoted to God. Especially the royal couple pinned their hopes on their son Juan, foreseeing that he would become their successor.
Isabella also sincerely loved her daughter Juana, who often reminded her of her mother. The girl was just as nervous and quick-tempered. But her fate was tragic. Juana became the wife of Philip of Burgundy, bore him a son, but then mental problems made themselves felt, she lost her mind. When her husband died, she was taken to a remote castle, where she died in complete oblivion.
Tragically died and the son of Isabella - Juan. At the age of 19, his life unexpectedly ended for everyone. After that, Isabella became especially irritable and gloomy. Yes, and relations with Ferdinand went wrong.
Problems in family life
The marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon was only at first unclouded. Over time, two strong natures began to compete, conflicts constantly arose. After the death of their son, the couple became very distant from each other. Ferdinand had a mistress, whom he practically did not hide from his wife, and Isabella began to devote herself completely to religion, turning into a real man-hater.
Until the end of her life, she did not recover from grief. Therefore, the love story of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, which began so rosy, has a sad ending. Heartbroken for her dead children, she turned into a decrepit woman who was completely uninteresting and unneeded by her husband.
The only consolation she found was that her romantic dream, which she dreamed of as a child, had come true.
Victory over Granada
On January 2, 1492, a landmark event in Spanish history took place. The Moors surrendered Granada. Ferdinand and Isabella solemnly entered the palace, located in the Alhambra. From that day began the history of a single Spanish nation.
Moreover, the queen managed to destroy the religious diversity she hated. Catholicism finally entrenched itself on Spanish soil. An edict was issued according to which the entire non-Christian population had to leave Spain as soon as possible. Jews and Muslims then found themselves under the heavy yoke of the Inquisition.
By the way, the revival of the Inquisition in 1480 became the darkest page of her reign. Since then, for several hundred years, Spain has been known as a country that is irreconcilable to other faiths, all non-Catholics were subjected to repression.
Money for the expeditions of Columbus
Another great achievement of this married couple was the support of the adventurous traveler Christopher Columbus, who discovered America. They supported his expedition, in which he sought to prove to everyone that the earth is not flat, but spherical, so you can swim to India if you sail west.
He traveled to all European courts in search of help, but none of the monarchs wanted to spend money on this project. Columbus first appeared at the reception of Isabella in 1485. But at that time the war with the Moors was in full swing, the outcome of which interested her more than anything else. She invited him to return when she won the war.
When Columbus returned, Isabella, being an adventurer by nature, caught fire with his ideas. But the more cold-blooded and prudent Ferdinand only calculated how much this expedition could cost. He declared that this was too expensive a project, but Isabella sharply objected to him. She was ready to take on all the expenses. Recently, they often disagreed on a variety of issues.
Discovery of new lands by the navigator
However, it was not easy to find money. The Spanish treasury was heavily devastated after the war. For a long time she could not decide to get involved in this risky venture. The last argument of Columbus was the desire to turn to the French king if she refuses. True, Isabella did not know that he had already contacted him, and he refused.
According to legend, Isabella had to pawn her own jewels in order to raise money to finance the expedition. But, most likely, this is just a beautiful fiction. As a result, the money was found, and on August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail on three ships with a crew of 90 people. As we all know, instead of India, he discovered America, which became an even more significant milestone in history. True, Columbus himself did not know about this until the very end of his life.
He returned to Spain without the promised riches, but Isabella was so impressed by his stories about new lands that she agreed to finance all his subsequent expeditions. As a result, it was possible to organize a colony on the island of Hispaniola. So the Europeans entrenched themselves on the new continent. He named the colony after Queen Isabella. After all, it was she who helped him realize his dream.
These are the main achievements of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. You will find the years of life of the rulers in this article. Isabella, born in 1451, died in 1504 when she was 53 years old. Ferdinand was born in 1452. He died in 1516, when he was 68 years old. This is one of the most famous married royal couples in world history.
Age: 53
Birthplace: Madrigal de las Altas Torres
place of death: Medina del Campo
Occupation: Queen of Castile and Leon
Marital status: married
Isabella of Castile - Biography
The favorite historical heroes of the Spaniards are kings Ferdinand and Isabella, the unifiers of the country. But if Ferdinand did not stand out against the background of the rulers of his time, then his wife was a completely unusual person. No wonder her descendants called her "Madonna of Monarchs".
Isabella of Castile left an indelible mark not only in the history of Europe and America, but also in ... chess. Before her, the queen, in Persian "minister", was a weak piece, moving only one square. In honor of her, who adored chess, the queen became known as the queen and began to move in any direction, acting boldly and decisively. Isabella herself always did this, while carefully - like in chess - calculating her moves.
She had to learn patience and caution from childhood. In her time, in the place of Spain, there were several feudal kingdoms, the rulers of which had long entered into family marriages, which led to degeneration. The mother of Princess Isabella of Portugal, born in 1451, showed clear signs of insanity. The half-brother Enrique, the son of Juan II of Castile from his first marriage, who became king after the death of his father, was also not quite normal.
He married twice, but never got an heir, for which he received the nickname Impotent (or more harmoniously - Powerless). In fact, Enrique simply could not stand women - from his youth he was in love with his page Juan Pacheco, whom he eventually made a marquis. Then the favorite was pushed aside from power by the second wife of the king, the beautiful and treacherous Juana of Portugal.
While all these events were taking place, Isabella lived with her mother in her native province of Avila. According to Castilian law, women had no right to the throne, and the young infanta was waiting for a monastery or forced marriage in the interests of the crown. They taught her very little: to read, to embroider and to pray, and she sincerely fell in love with all three classes. In her prayers, she asked the Mother of God to quickly take her out of the gloomy castle of Alvaro from the servants-spies and completely crazy mother.
She was heard: at the age of ten, Enrique ordered to bring the girl and her brother Alphonse to Segovia, to the royal court. The queen was supposed to give birth to his long-awaited heir, but instead of the desired son, Juan's daughter was born, nicknamed Bertran Hoy: everyone was sure that her father was not Enrique, but the young courtier Bertran de la Cueva.
In anger, the king sent the traitor away, which caused a civil war; in the general confusion, Alphonse was proclaimed king, but the young prince was quickly poisoned.
His supporters offered the throne to Isabella, but she refused to seek power by force. She much preferred to pray in the quiet palace chapel and read the classics of antiquity in her father's library. After reading about the queens of antiquity - Semiramis, Cleopatra, Theodore - she promised herself to surpass them.
And above all, to expel the Moors from Spain, who had owned part of the peninsula for more than 700 years. By that time, only Granada remained under their rule, but Isabella intended to erect a cross there, although this would require the unification of the efforts of the Spanish kingdoms - Castile, Aragon, Navarre. Before they were never united, and the word "Spain" itself has not been used since Roman times. But if God tells Isabella to resurrect this forgotten country, then so be it.
In 1468, at the "Bulls of Gisando" - prehistoric stone sculptures near Alava - Enrique and Isabella signed an agreement under which she became the heir to the throne. For this, she agreed to obey the king in choosing a husband, but very soon broke her promise. The bridegroom proposed to her, the King of Portugal Alfonso V the African, was middle-aged, short and swarthy, and Isabella rejected him (later Juana Bertraneja became his wife. - Approx. ed.). And then she refused several more suitors, including the brothers of the English and French kings. She had her own candidate in mind - Prince Ferdinand of Aragon, who was a little younger than her. An alliance with him would allow her not only to unite Spain, but also to preserve the necessary freedom of action in marriage.
Angered by her stubbornness, Enrique flatly refused to pass her off as Ferdinand. I had to act secretly: with the help of the Archbishop of Toledo, Isabella offered the groom a marriage contract, according to which he undertook to rule together with her and recognize her as the only ruler of Castile. Ferdinand - more precisely, his father Juan II of Aragon - agreed to this, although he secretly expected to take possession of his future wife's possessions. In October 1469, the prince and his entourage secretly arrived in the Castilian city of Val ladolid under the guise of merchants.
Isabelle and Ferdinand. miniature of the turn of the 15th century.
The archbishop also secretly married them in the city cathedral. Before the wedding, they first saw each other - and were not disappointed. Ferdinand was small, but slender and handsome, while Isabella had a delicate complexion, brown hair and amazing greenish-blue eyes. Whether they loved each other is hard to say - both before and after marriage, Ferdinand had mistresses and illegitimate children. The couple communicated ceremoniously and rather coldly, as required by Spanish etiquette, but were extremely attached to each other and always observed equality, following the motto placed on their common coat of arms: Tanto Monta, Monta Tanto, Isabel como Fernando - “both are equally important. Isabella and Ferdinand.
Upon learning of their marriage, Enrique became angry and disinherited his sister, promising the throne to Juana Bertraneja. In addition, his emissaries complained to the Pope that the newlyweds were too closely related, which was true. The pope refused to allow the marriage, but Isabella ordered the necessary document to be forged. A year later, their first child, Isabella, the future Queen of Portugal, was born with Ferdinand. Following her, four more children were born: Prince Juan, who died in his youth, Juana, who became the Duchess of Burgundy, Maria, the future Queen of Portugal, and Catherine, who became Queen of England, the ill-fated wife of Henry VIII.
After the death of Enrique the Powerless in 1474, a crowd gathered in the main square of Segovia. Some demanded to give power to Isabella, others to Juana, and others generally rejected the "woman's kingdom", offering the throne to Ferdinand. In the midst of the debate, Isabella with a firm step went out to the audience and presented a will in which her brother recognized her as heiress. Without letting anyone come to their senses, she convened the Cortes (council of estates.), Who obediently swore allegiance to the new queen.
Here is what Rafael Sabatini tells about the events in Segovia:
“... During the war with Portugal, the Catholic overlords entrusted their eldest daughter, Princess Isabella, to the care of Andres de Cabrera - the seneschal of the castle in Segovia - and his wife, Beatrice de Bobadilla. Cabrera, a demanding and impartial man, at one time removed Alonso Maldonado from the post of lieutenant, replacing him with his wife's brother Pedro de Bobadilla. Maldonado plotted to avenge himself. He asked Bobadilla's permission to take some blocks of stone from the castle, on the pretext that he needed them for his own house, and sent some of his men to take them out. These men, hiding weapons under their clothes, entered the castle, stabbed the sentry and captured Bobadilla himself, while Maldonado and the rest of his men captured the castle. The inhabitants, hearing the noise, fled to the fortress tower together with the infanta, who by that time was five years old. Fortified there, they repelled the onslaught of Maldonado. Having stumbled upon this barrier, the rebel ordered Bobadilla to be put forward and threatened the besieged that if they did not surrender, he would immediately execute the prisoner.
To this threat, Cabrera firmly replied that in no case would he open the gates to the rebels.
In the meantime, many citizens flocked to the castle, alarmed by the noise and armed just in case. Maldonado skillfully inspired them that, in order to protect their interests, he opposed the unbearable tyranny of Governor Cabrera, and urged him to defend freedom hand in hand with him and complete such an excellent work begun. The common people for the most part took his side, and Segovia was in a state of real war. There were continuous battles in the streets, and soon the gates of the city itself were in the hands of the rebels.
It is believed that Beatrice de Bobadilla herself, having escaped unrecognized from the castle, slipped out of Segovia and brought the queen news of what had happened and the ensuing danger to her daughter.
Hearing about it. Isabella immediately rushed to Segovia. The leaders of the rebellion, having learned about her appearance, did not dare to go so far in defiance as to close the gates in front of her. Nevertheless, they had the audacity to ride out to meet her and try to prevent the entry of her retinue. The queen's advisers, seeing the mood of the crowd, urged her to be prudent and give in to their demands. But her pride only flared at this cautious advice.
“Remember,” she exclaimed, “that I am the Queen of Castile, that this city is mine, that there can be no conditions for my entry into it. I will enter, and with me - all those whom I consider it necessary to see near me.
With these words, Isabella sent an escort ahead and entered the city through the gates captured by her supporters, and then broke through to the castle.
An angry crowd flocked there: it pressed against the gate, trying to break inside.
The queen, ignoring the exhortations of the Spanish Cardinal and Count Benavente, who were with her, ordered the gates to be thrown open and let through as many as could fit. The people poured into the courtyard of the castle, noisily demanding the extradition of the seneschal. A frail, beautiful young queen came forward, alone and fearless, and when there was an astonished silence, she calmly addressed the crowd:
"What do you want, people of Segovia?"
Captivated by her purity, seized with awe of her greatness, they forgot their anger. Already resigned, the residents complained about Cabrera, accusing him of oppression and asking Isabella to remove the governor.
The queen immediately promised to grant this request, which led to an abrupt turn of events: from the crowd, who had been spewing threats and curses a few minutes ago, now there were shouts of cheers.
She ordered that representatives be sent to her, who would state the reasons for dissatisfaction with the rule of Cabrera, and return to their homes and labors, leaving her to judge the administration.
When Isabella became acquainted with the charges against Cabrera and was convinced of their groundlessness, she declared his innocence and reinstated him, and the defeated people humbly obeyed her decree ... "
However, her husband, the failed husband of Isabella Alphonse of Portugal, stood up for the honor of Juana. The new war continued for several years, until Alphonse, along with Bertraneja, was kicked out. However, Isabella had to endure a new power struggle - this time with her own husband. Arriving in Castile, he began to behave like a sovereign ruler, and Isabella had to strictly indicate his place.
Isabella and Ferdinand. Live portraits.
To the credit of Ferdinand, he resigned himself and began to help his wife in every possible way in her bold innovations. Having put things in order in power, the "Catholic kings" began to establish it throughout the country. Civil wars and the impotence of Enrique led to rampant crime. To deal with it, Isabella established the "hermandade" - the first police force in Europe, which consisted of armed local residents. Having limited the independence of the feudal lords and cities, the queen took up the church, gently transferring it from submission to Rome into her own.
In 1480, the Inquisition was founded, headed by the confessor of Isabella, the Dominican monk Thomas Torquemada. In Spain, the Inquisition persecuted mainly heretics and opponents of power. However, without much fanaticism: for 20 years, the "bloody" Torquemada burned up to ten thousand people, while witch hunts in other European countries claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
Having built a "vertical of power", the queen set about realizing her goal - the conquest of Granada. The army led by Ferdinand moved to the important port of Malaga, collecting a record number of cannons for the siege. Isabella participated in the siege and more than once, mounted and in armor, appeared before the army to inspire them. Once an enemy scout rushed at her with a dagger, but the faithful squires managed to stab him. As a result, Malaga fell, and the army moved to the last stronghold of the Moors - Granada.
Its emir, Boabdil, dragged out negotiations, trying to get help from the Moroccan sultan. During the long siege, Isabella made a vow not to bathe until the fortress fell. It is not known if she expected to wait three years. It is said that over time, her underwear acquired a yellowish tint, which since then the Spaniards call the color "isabel". In January 1492, Boabdil, having lost hope, left his Alhambra fortress. On the hill from which he last looked at his native city, there remained a village called "Moor's Sigh".
Now the queen was relieved to wash herself. According to legend, in memory of this “royal ablution”, the soap, which in the time of Isabella, the Spaniards began to make from olive oil and the ashes of local herbs, was called “Castilian”. It quickly conquered all of Europe, because it was fragrant and, most importantly, white, and not brown, like what has been made from time immemorial from the so-called "wooden oil" - also olive oil, but obtained not from the pulp of olives, but from the seeds . By the way, thanks to Isabella, olives, most of which were collected just in Granada, began to be used in Spain not only for the production of oils and marinades, but also in confectionery. At the court of the queen, they were served as a dessert, boiled in honey.
Three months after the surrender of Granada, March 31, 1492. Isabella and Ferdinand signed the Edict of Alhambra, for which the queen is most condemned by posterity. It was an edict for the expulsion from both kingdoms - Castile and Aragon - Jews who had lived there for centuries. They were allowed to take out only what could be carried away in their hands, and gold and silver were confiscated completely. Only those who were baptized could stay, but these "Marranos" were closely monitored by the Inquisition - do they secretly perform Jewish rituals? At first, Muslims were treated milder, but over time they, too, began to be forbidden to practice their faith and own wealth. Half a century later they were expelled after the Jews; the country lost many skilled and hardworking peasants, artisans and merchants.
In the same year, 1492, a third important event occurred, which at first few people noticed. In August, three small ships sailed from the port of Paloe, commanded by the Italian emigrant Cristobal Colon, who had received orders from the queen to find a western route to Asia. Ferdinand said that this dubious enterprise would cost too much, but Isabella said emphatically: then Castile would finance it herself. According to legend, the queen even sold her jewelry to equip the Colon expedition. Six months later, the navigator, known to us under the name of Christopher Columbus, returned, having discovered unknown islands - part of the new mainland, later called America.
Having met with Isabella, he presented her with modest gifts - shells, bird feathers and six half-naked natives. The courtiers considered this a brazen mockery, but the queen gave Columbus money for a new expedition. A generation later, American gold flooded into Spain.
The world empire was still ahead, as was the great Spanish literature, painting, theater. However, Isabella patiently prepared their appearance: she built temples and schools, set up printing, welcomed poets and artists at the court. During her reign, the first collections of ballads and popular prints appeared - a source of knowledge for an illiterate people. Libraries were intended for the literate, where manuscripts were kept not only in Latin, but also in Hebrew and Arabic; the queen was at enmity with someone else's faith, but not with someone else's knowledge. Under her rule, Castile became not only the economic, but also the cultural center of Spain, and the local dialect "Castigliano" became the basis of the literary language.
British historian Dorothy Severin writes of the queen: “She used her power, wealth and influence to ensure that most of the songs published during her reign shared her views on government and showed the advantages of Catholicism. She encouraged well-known writers, generously rewarded courtiers and nobles - everyone who created moralizing poems and treatises - and instructed even civil servants to take up a pen.
Mrs. Severin notes that Isabella was no less a remarkable woman and ruler than Elizabeth of England, but Elizabeth is now known all over the world, and Isabella only in Spain. The historian sees the reason for this in the fact that Spain lost the battle for world domination to England. True, this happened much later, and if Isabella lived at that time, it is not known who would have won this fight.
Juan Flanders. manifestation of the holy spirit.
The health of the queen, undermined by fasting and prayer, deteriorated over the years. At the age of 50, she made a will, making her eldest daughter Juana, the wife of the Burgundian duke Philip of Habsburg, heiress. Her husband could not become heir, because he still had no rights to the Castilian throne. Alas, Juana inherited the disease of her ancestors - insanity.
Juana of Castile
Isabella saw this when her daughter came to visit her in Spain. It was a terrible blow - the beautiful and cheerful Juana was always her favorite, the queen saw in her an extension of herself. In deep sadness, she supplemented the will with a clause according to which, if Juana was unable to take the throne, Ferdinand would become regent with her - but only regent, not king. And so it happened when, in November 1504, Isabella died in Medina del Campo.
Soon her husband married again - the 18-year-old daughter of the Comte de Foix, hoping that she would have children capable of ruling Spain. But their only son died as a baby, and Duke Philip announced that a new marriage deprives his father-in-law of the rights to the throne, and he himself began to rule Castile.
Philip Habsburg and Juana of Castile.
Soon he too died; the inconsolable Juana drove his embalmed corpse around the country, assuring him that he was alive and was about to wake up. As a result, Ferdinand took over power, finally making Spain truly united. He imprisoned Juan in the castle of Tordesillas, and made her son the heir and ruler of a vast empire over which the sun did not set.
The dynasty of Ferdinand and Isabella gave way to the Habsburgs. Despite this, the Spaniards forever retained a reverent attitude towards los reyes catolicos - the Catholic kings. Especially to Isabella, who in the era of male domination boldly proved the right of a woman to live, pray and love according to her own choice, and not according to someone else's orders.
Medina del Campo, Spain
2. Juan of Asturias
3. Juana the Mad
4. Mary of Aragon
5. Catherine of Aragon
Isabella I of Castile, also Catholic(Spanish) Isabel I la Católica listen)) (April 22 - November 26) - Queen of Castile and Leon. Wife of Ferdinand II of Aragon, whose dynastic marriage marked the beginning of the unification of Spain into a single state.
life path
Origin and question of succession
Marriage to Ferdinand
F. Gallego, "Madonna of the Catholic Monarchs" depicts Ferdinand and Isabella with children standing before the Mother of God
The marriage with Ferdinand was concluded on October 19, it is assumed that in Valladolid (although there is a version that he was concluded in the Alcazar of Segovia). The marriage was secret, since King Enrique did not give his permission for it. The bridegroom's retinue arrived in Castile disguised as merchants. In addition, since the bride and groom were cousins, permission from the pope was required. The required document was fabricated and permission was granted retroactively.
Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Aragon, by virtue of the marriage contract, was obliged to live in Castile, observe the laws of the country and do nothing without the consent of Isabella, thus becoming a prince consort with the future queen.
Enrique declared his sister violated the contract and deprived of the throne. But Isabella's supporters rose up in defense of her rights, and civil strife resumed; among them, Enrique died, and the Cortes, in the city, recognized Isabella as queen.
Dynastic Union of Castile and Aragon
At the same time, the Cortes decided that the government of the state should exclusively belong to Isabella, that Ferdinand could participate in it only as her authorized representative, that acts of appointment to office and pronouncement of court sentences should be made on behalf of both spouses, that their names should be minted on coins, but the treasury and the army of Castile and León must be at the exclusive disposal of Isabella.
However, both kingdoms continued to maintain autonomy - their institutions of power, as well as other social and economic structures, were completely separate, in Castile and Aragon they even spoke different languages.
Fight with Portugal
First of all, they suppressed the ongoing civil strife over the succession to the throne, which was complicated by the invasion of Castile by the Portuguese king Alfonso V, who supported the rights of his niece and, at the same time, the bride - Juana Beltraneja. This struggle continued until October. Alphonse V, who was defeated at Toro, was forced to make peace and renounce his claims to the Castilian throne.
During her almost 30-year reign, rich in events, Isabella managed to raise the royal power of Castile to an unprecedented height. The arbitrariness of the Castilian grandees and the independence of the cities were severely curtailed by the introduction of the hermandade; Cortes increasingly lost their independence and submitted to royal absolutism. The same fate was experienced by 3 spiritual and knightly orders of Castile (Santiago, Calatra and Alcantara), after Isabella made her husband their grand master. In religious matters, Isabella sought to limit the dependence of the Castilian church on the Roman curia and further subordinate it to royal authority.
1492
Ferdinand of Aragon, portrait by Master of the Magdalene legend
Notes
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See what "Isabella of Castile" is in other dictionaries:
Also the Catholic daughter of John II, King of Castile, and his second wife, the Infanta of Portugal, b. in 1450. Her childhood passed among the struggle of the parties that accompanied the reign of her father and especially her brother, Henry IV (1454 74), nicknamed ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Isabella of Castile- (1451 1504) Queen of Castile from 1474, daughter of King Juan II. She was raised away from the court of her reigning brother Henry IV. Distinguished by religiosity and beauty; rumors of her lofty virtues drew crowds of admirers. In 1469… … Medieval world in terms, names and titles
