Ferdinand and Isabella

1
Ferdinand and Isabella
2
Life Sketch

• The marriage in 1469 of royal cousins, Ferdinand
  of Aragon (1452-1516) and Isabella of Castile
  (1451-1504), brought stability to these two large
  Spanish kingdoms.
• The unification of Aragon and Castile started
  Spain on its path to becoming a nation.
• Eventually Spain developed into one of the
  worlds most powerful countries.

3
Accomplishments

• Isabella's niece, Juana, had bloodily disputed
  her succession to the throne in a conflict in
  which the rival claimants were given assistance
  by outside powers--Isabella by Aragon and Juana
  by her suitor, the king of Portugal.
• The Treaty of Alcaçovas ended the war in
  September 1479, and as Ferdinand had succeeded
  his father in Aragon earlier in the same year it
  became possible to link Castile with Aragon.

4
Accomplishments

• Ferdinand was a skillful diplomats in an age of
  great diplomats, and he assigned to Castile its
  predominant role in the dual monarchy.
• Both he and Isabella understood the importance of
  unity together they effected institutional
  reform in Castile and left Spain one of the best
  administered countries in Europe.

5
Later Life and Death

• Ferdinand and Isabella resumed the Reconquest,
  dormant for more than 200 years.
• In 1492 they captured Granada, driving the last
  Muslims from the country.
• They began a court of inquisition to eliminate
  all non-Christians from Spain.
• This sent Spain on the path to becoming one of
  the most powerful Catholic countries in the
  world.
• Isabella died in 1504.
• Ferdinand died in 1516.

6
Bibliography

• http//countrystudies.us/spain/7.htm
• www.Google.com