Isabella I of Castile

Isabella I of Castile (1451 - 1504) was Queen of Castile from 1474 to 1504, Queen Consort of Aragon and Sicily.

Popularly known as Isabella la Católica, a title he gave them to her and her husband Fernando the Pope Alexander VI by a special bull. It is what is known to the royal couple by the name of Catholic Monarchs, who would use title onwards almost all the Kings of Spain.

She married in 1469 with Fernando of Aragon. She and her husband won the Nasrid kingdom of Granada and took part in a net of marriage alliances that made their grandson, Carlos, inherit the crowns of Castile and Aragon, and other European territories were to become Holy Roman Emperor.

Isabella gave support to Christopher Columbus in search of the West Indies, which led to the discovery of America. This event would have on the future conquest of the lands discovered and the creation of the Spanish Empire.

Isabella lived 53 years, of which 30 years he ruled as queen of Castile and 26 as queen consort of Aragon alongside Fernando II.

Isabella of Castile, daughter of Juan of Castile and his second wife Isabella of Portugal, was born on Holy Thursday 1451. Two years later, his brother Alfonso was born. Previously, the fruit of the marriage between John II of Castile and Maria of Aragon, and therefore brother of Isabella, was born Henry, who accede to the throne in 1454 by the name of Henry IV.

On the death of her father in 1454, Isabella was sent with her mother in the Castle of Arevalo, where attacks would witness her mother madness. Although her father had left important testamentary impositions for her mother, King Henry IV of repeatedly fails.

In 1461 Isabella and her brother were taken to the Court, to be near the birth of the daughter of kings, Dona Juana de Castilla.

Some nobles fought and gave King Henry Alfonso support to of 12 years, to depose Henry in what is called the "charade of Avila." Isabella stood beside Alfonso during this time. However, in 1468, Alfonso died poisoned.

Despite pressure from the nobles, Queen Isabella proclaimed rejected while Henry IV was alive. By contrast, her brother got the proclaimed Princess of Asturias (Crown Princess), in a ceremony known as the Concordia Guisando. Isabella was established as heir to the crown, above Juana of Castile, her niece and goddaughter baptism. Thereafter, the king initiated diplomatic contacts with other royal houses to reach an agreement that will bring him a double benefits.

Henry IV agreed the link between Isabella and King Alfonso V of Portugal, as in Guisando Concordia had agreed that the marriage of Isabella be held with the approval of the Castilian monarch. The proposed project also entailed marrying his daughter Juana, with Crown Prince Juan, son of Alfonso V of Portugal. In this way the king wanted to move to Portugal and Isabella, on the death of her husband, the thrones of Castile and Portugal would go directly to John II of Portugal and his wife, Juana. Isabella refused.

Following the refusal of Isabella, the king tried to marry the Duke of Guienne, brother of King Louis XI of France. Again, Isabella refused.

Meanwhile John II of Aragon tried to negotiate secretly with Isabella's wedding to his son, Fernando. Isabella felt that was the best candidate for husband, but they were cousins ​​needed a papal bull exonerate them of inbreeding. The Pope did not sign this document, fearing the negative consequences that this act could attract him.

People close to an alleged forged Isabella bull issued in 1464 by the late Pope Pius II, in favor of Fernando, which was allowed to marry any princess to join him a bond of consanguinity. Isabella in 1469 was accepted and signed the marriage. For the betrothal and fearing that Henry IV abort their plans, with the excuse of visiting the grave of her brother Alfonso, Isabella escaped Ocaña, where he was guarded by Don Juan Pacheco. For his part, Fernando crossed Castile in secret, disguised as a boy of mule traders. Finally, on 19 October of that same year married in the Palacio de los Vivero in Valladolid.

The marriage of Isabella cost confrontation with his brother, the king. In 1471 Pope Sixtus IV sent Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia as papal legate to arrange the various political issues in the Iberian Peninsula. With him he brought the bull of Simancas that dispensed the princes of consanguinity Isabella and Fernando. Borgia negotiated with them: give them the papal bull in return they grant him the town of Gandia his son Pedro Luis. Isabella and Fernando fulfill their part of the deal in 1485.

The death of Henry IV, was proclaimed Queen Isabella of Castile. War then broke Castilian Succession. Among the supporters of Isabella and her niece Juana. Alcaçovas Treaty ended the dispute, recognizing as kings Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile in exchange for certain concessions to Portugal. After the war he built Isabella Monastery of St John of the Kings.

She was a woman of great character and very choice. He instructed his children that had a range of obligations for their sons of kings, and that they had sacrificed a lot for this reason. He took with him during military campaigns, but also ensured their welfare always, as evidenced by the value before the riot that took place in Segovia Castle in 1476. There had installed the kings court and eldest her daughter lived there under the protection and care of her friend Beatrice of Bobadilla and her husband, the governor Andres de Cabrera. This was of Jewish origin and was accused of wanting to take advantage of the trust that had kings. The tumult became a riot when some provocateurs disguised as peasants, and concealed weapons, harangued the people to oust the governor. Towards the castle dirigó a mass of angry people, peasants armed with tools, stones and sticks. The Queen was with Cardinal Mendoza when she heard what happened. Afraid of risk that could run her daughter, Queen mounted her horse and, accompanied by three guards, rode for 60 miles to Segovia. At the entrance to the city, the bishop tried to stop the great danger, but Isabell did not hear the bishop's advice and went to the castle. She entered and left the door open for them to enter all the mutineers to expose their complaints. After studying the complaints, holds office Andres de Cabrera. Her people kept faith from that time.

During the military campaigns of Fernando, Isabella always remained in the rear with her children and provide the necessary slope. His help was instrumental in the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada.

Isabella believed Columbus projects, despite much criticism and political backlash court and scientists. During her reign there were events of great significance for the history of Spain: the establishment of the Holy Inquisition, the creation of the Holy Brotherhood, the incorporation of the Kingdom of Granada, religious unification of Hispanic Crown and forced conversion (so death penalty) of Jews and Muslims.

Isabella had five children of Ferdinand (who had had other children before their marriage):

- Isabella (1470 - 1489) Princess of Asturias. Queen of Portugal. She died in childbirth with their first child.

- John (1478 - 1497) Prince of Asturias. He died of tuberculosis.

- Joanna I of Castile. Princess of Asturias and later Queen of Castile.

- Mary. Queen of Portugal by her marriage to Manuel I of Portugal (widower of her sister).

- Catalina. Princess of Wales by her marriage to Prince Arthur of Wales (which was widowed) and, later, Queen of England for her marriage to Henry VIII.

At the end of her days, the family misfortunes were primed in her. The death of her only son and abortion of the wife, the death of her eldest daughter and her grandson Michael, the madness of her daughter Joanna and slights of Philip the Handsome, and the uncertainty of her daughter Catalina after English death of her husband, the plunged into a deep depression that made full mourning dress. It is said that upon hearing the sad news of the death of her son said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be your name."

Detained in Medina del Campo, when ill with uterine cancer that led her to the grave, and commanded to give mass for her soul, sure and aware the next order, called Extreme Unction and the Blessed Sacrament. She was buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada.