How much do you know about the true story of Queen Isabella the Catholic? In today’s article we will talk about one of the most important women in the history of Spain, her life and what she meant for the kingdom.
In Isabel la Católica’s article we will talk about:
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Elizabeth’s Childhood
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Henry IV
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Ferdinand, King of Sicily and Prince of Girona
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Elizabeth, queen of Castile
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death of the queen
Elizabeth’s Childhood
Isabel I of Castile, also known as Isabel la Católica, was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres (Castilla) on April 22, 1451 and died in Medina del Campo on November 26, 1504. She belonged to the Real home from TrastamaraHis parents were Juan II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal.
Previously, Juan II had been married to María de Aragón and they had a son, who would be Henry IV. Then Isabel was born and two years later, her brother Alfonso was born from his marriage to Isabel of Portugal.
Henry IV was crowned, when she was only three years old he had already become King of Castile (1454). While he ascended the throne, she went with her mother and her brother to Arévalo, but this was not an easy situation since her mother began to have episodes of madness.
Years later Alfonso and Enrique IV faced each other and, in 1468 Alfonso diesAlthough it was believed that he had died of the plague, the doctor found no sign of the disease, so it was believed that he could have been poisoned.
Henry IV
Henry IV, his brother, was considered a weak man and undecided that it was not valid to govern a kingdom like that of Castile. Also known as “The Impotent”.
The advisers of Enrique IV urged him to recognize his daughter as the future heiress of the kingdom when the disputes with Isabel began to be stronger, but the reality is that it was believed that she was an illegitimate daughter, specifically the daughter of Enrique Beltran de la CuevaDuke of Albuquerque.
He finally recognized Elizabeth as the heir to the throne in the Pact of the Bulls of Guisando in 1468 in which she was proclaimed as Princess of Asturias but also, an agreement is reached that he will be the one to give the go-ahead to his future consort.
Since then Henry IV constantly seeks suitors for Isabel, suitors who bring benefits to her personally without caring who would marry her, such as Carlos Principe de Viana, King Alfonso V of Portugal, the Duke of Guyenne brothers of Louis XI of France
Ferdinand, King of Sicily and Prince of Girona
While Isabel had to face her different suitors, John II of Aragon tried to negotiate the marriage of his son Fernando with Isabel.
Her advice considered him the best suitor with only one inconvenience, they were united by a family bond since both were cousins (his grandparents, Fernando de Antequera and Enrique III, were brothers) so a papal bull would be necessary beforehand.
Despite the attempts that were made to get the Pope to sign the bullanever signed as he feared the consequences that this could bring about with Enrique IV, but he sent Don Rodrigo Borgia to Spain to facilitate this link with a supposed bull from the previous Pope Pius II in favor of Fernando, so that he could marry whoever he wanted despite 3rd degree family ties.
All this was due to the fact that Isabel would never agree to marry without the permission of the Pope since she was very religious.
Finally, on March 5, 1469, Isabel escaped from Ocaña where she was watched by Juan Pacheco and Fernando, King of Sicily and Prince of Gironacrossed Castile disguised as a young man and on October 19, 1469 they were married in the Palacio de los Vivero in Valladolid.
Elizabeth, queen of Castile
Despite the fact that Enrique IV tried to disinherit Isabel and appointed his daughter Juana as his successor, part of the nobility supported Isabel so that after the disputes she became queen of Castile (1474) based on the Treaty of the Bulls of Guisando . Behind the War of the Castilian Succession which took place between 1475 and 1480.
She was considered a straight and stern mother, making her children understand that they were children of kings, so they should behave as such, all while caring for and protecting them.
During Elizabeth’s reign, the Reconquest where she occupied a key place as in the surrender of Granada. She was a woman who emanated her strength and her values to all who saw her, so much so that King Ferdinand asked her to appear once before the troops and the sight of her revitalized them all. The Pope recognized them as the Catholic Monarchs.
He also supported Christopher Columbus, the establishment of the Holy Inquisition (1480), the religious unification of the Hispanic Crown (forced conversion of Muslims and Jews), the evangelization of the indigenous, etc.
death of the queen
Before Isabel died, she experienced painful moments with her relatives: the death of her only son, the madness of her daughter Juana, the death of her first-born, among many other disasters that did not make her lose her faith in God.
He finally died November 26, 1504 in the Royal Palace of Medina del Campo, Valladolid. His remains were later transferred to the Royal Chapel of Granda together with those of Fernando el Católico.