Isabella of Castile

Isabella of Castile (Spanish: Isabel, Ysabel or Isabela — only Isabel is used in modern Spanish; the equivalent English name is Elizabeth, but she has always been known as Isabella in English) (April 22, 1451 – November 26, 1504) was Queen of Castile and Leon. With her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon she was the co-ruler of a unified Spain. This monarch is known by a variety of other names including Isabel I of Castile and Isabel La Católica ("the Catholic").

Later years

Isabella, a very religious person, received with her husband the title of Catholic monarchs by Pope Alexander VI, a pope whose secularism won no approval by her. Along with the physical unification of Spain, Isabella and Ferdinand embarked on a process of spiritual unification, trying to bring the country under one, their faith. As part of this process, the inquisition became institutionalized. After an uprising in 1499, the Treaty of Granada was broken in 1502 and Muslims forced to either get baptized or to be expelled. Isabella's confessor, Cisneros was named Archbishop of Toledo and instrumental in a program of rehabilatation of the religious institutions of Spain, laying the groundwork for the later counter-reformation. As chancellor he exerted more and more power.

Related Topics:
Catholic monarchs - Alexander VI - Cisneros - Toledo - Counter-reformation

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She and her husband had created an empire and later years are consumed with administration and politics, also in part to assure succession and to link to the other rulers in Europe. Politically this can be seen as attempts to outflank France and to unite the Iberian peninsula. By early 1497 all the pieces seemed to be in place: Juan, the crown prince got married to Margaret of Austria, establishing the connection to the Habsburgs, the oldest daughter, Isabelle, was married to the Manuel I of Portugal, and Juana was to get married to another Habsburg prince. However, her plans for these children did not work out. Juan died shortly after his marriage. Isabella died in childbirth and her son Miguel died at the age of two. Queen Isabella's titles passed to her daughter Juana the Mad ('la Loca,') whose marriage to Philip the Handsome was troubled. Isabella died in 1504, before Philip and Ferdinand became enemies.

Related Topics:
Europe - Margaret of Austria - Habsburg - Manuel I of Portugal - Juana the Mad - Philip the Handsome

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She is entombed in Granada in the Capilla Real, which she ordered built, alongside her husband, her daughter Juana and her husband Philip, and her grandson Miguel. The museum alongside the Capilla Real contains her crown and scepter.

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