Shortly before her birth, the king issued a pragmatic sanction to ensure the succession of his firstborn. Booklist rubin succeeds admirably in recounting the story of spains greatest queen and the impact of her reign on her country and the world a first rate exposition. She is frequently referred to as isabel the catholic, an honorary title she received from the pope himself. Isabel i, 22 april 1451 26 november 1504 was queen of castile from 1474 and queen consort of aragon from 1479, reigning over a dynastically unified spain jointly with her husband ferdinand ii.
Isabella, the heir to the castle crown and ferdinand, the heir to the aragon crown got married to each other on october 19, 1469, which finally led to the unification of what we now know as spain. Christopher columbus and queen isabella of spain consummate. The queens vow follows the rarelyexplored life of isabella of castile, best known as something a warrior and yes, ive actually read all of them. There is a short reference list included to assist the reader. Thoughtful and comprehensive biography of isabella the warrior queen of spain. Novel about the early years of spain s warrior queen isabella i, who united the country, started the inquisition, and sent columbus to discover a new world. Henry later named isabella his successor, but withdrew his support when she married ferdinand ii of aragon in 1469. Another biography of isabella, isabella, the warrior queen by kirsten downey, was published by anchor books of penguin random house in 2014. An artful, sensitive biography a prerequisite for understanding isabella is understanding the period and rubin excels at delineating both. Isabella i, queen of castile 14741504 and of aragon 14791504, ruling the two kingdoms jointly from 1479 with her husband, ferdinand ii of aragon. Juana was born on november 6, 1479, as the second daughter of queen isabella i of castile and king ferdinand ii of aragon.
Her brother, enrique iv, who was the king of castile, wanted her to marry her off. In 1474, when castile was the largest, strongest, and most populous kingdom in hispania present day spain and portugal, a twentythreeyearold woman named isabella ascended the throne. Columbus arrives as a supplicant at the court of queen isabella of spain, hoping for cash and three tall ships. She was the daughter of john iii of castile and his second wife isabel of portugal. Queen isabella i of castile 1451 1504 was an influential monarch who helped to unite the different regions of spain and make spain a leading power in europe and the americas. They were called the catholic monarchs because they strongly supported the roman catholic church. Queen isabella, regarded as one of spains greatest rulers, died on november 26, 1504 in medina del campo. She was highly intelligent, strongwilled, and a devoted catholic. Henry iv died in december 1474, and isabella was proclaimed queen of castile. Apr 01, 2019 you can download and read books for free with file format epub pdf and kindle version download and read book the queen s vow. A civil war erupted as juana made her bid for the crown, supported the portuguese king, alfonso v.
Juana eventually abandoned her claims, taking the veil in 1480, and removing all obstruction toward making isabellas claim to the throne of castile unquestioned. Born into the second and less important family of the castilian king, downey explores the hard scrabble life of the princess and her younger brother left in a back water castle in a lawless and unsettled land. You can download and read books for free with file format epub pdf and kindle version download and read book the queens vow. Isabella i, 22 april 1451 26 november 1504 reigned as queen of castile from 1474 until her death. Ferdinand and isabella kids britannica kids homework help. Downey has written a fascinating book that is feminist, but only insofar as the life of isabella was female. Jun 15, 2017 so when isabella of castile the remarkable queen who helped shape spains identity and her husband ferdinand of aragon expelled their jews in 1492, they did so to loud applause. Isabella ii, 183368 the dynastic war between isabelline liberalism and carlism was a savage civil war between urban liberalism and rural traditionalism, between the elder daughter of ferdinand vii by his fourth wife, maria cristina, isabella was proclaimed queen on her fathers death in 1833. She is best known for creating a unified spain and for sponsoring the voyages of christopher columbus. To seize power in spain, queen isabella had to play it smart bold, strategic, and steady, isabella of castile navigated an unlikely rise to the throne and ushered in a.
An engrossing and revolutionary biography of isabella of castile, the controversial queen of spain who sponsored christopher columbuss journey to the new world, established the spanish inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in historyborn at a time when christianity was dying out and the ottoman empire was aggressively expanding, isabella was inspired in her youth. Conservative catholics in spain and the americas have for centuries idealized isabella as a regal virgin mother figure, the perfect catholic queen and wife who purified spanish religion and culture. Queen isabella 14511505 daughter of king john ii of castile and queen isabella of portugal has been accredited for some of the most famous accomplishments of medieval spain. Downey is a good writer telling the story of queen isabella and the uniting of spain. Queen isabella i, queen of castile and leon, was born april 22nd, 1451, and died november 26, 1504. Isabella ii of spain, as a child public domain isabella was born in madrid on 10 october 1830 as the eldest daughter of king ferdinand vii of spain and his fourth wife, who was also his niece, maria christina of bourbontwo sicilies. She was prone to moodiness and melancholy and preferred solitude. Their rule effected the permanent union of spain and the beginning of an overseas empire in the new world, led by christopher columbus under isabellas sponsorship.
She was, in fact, one of the pivotal characters of world history. Mar 24, 2010 without avoiding the ravages of the inquisition, these books personalise the life stories of the great monarchs, isabella and ferdinand, who unified spain, brought law to an unruly land and had. Ferdinand and isabella kids britannica kids homework. Her father died when she was three and then her brother henry iv took the thrown. Juana was a fretful, ailing baby that slowly developed into a sullen and timid child. Queen isabella was a strict catholic and, amongst contemporaries, was. Dec 07, 2012 queen isabella was known as a virtuous and humble person to the extent that all clothing worn by king ferdinand was spun and sewn by either the queen or her daughters. Europes first great queen, by giles tremlett, won the elizabeth longford prize for historical biography in 2018. Queen maria christina became regent on 29 september 1833, when her threeyearold daughter isabella was proclaimed sovereign on the death of the king.
An engrossing and revolutionary biography of isabella of castile, the controversial queen of spain who sponsored christopher columbuss journey to the new world, established the spanish inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in history. Without avoiding the ravages of the inquisition, these books personalise the life stories of the great monarchs, isabella and ferdinand, who. Fullsize color reproduction of the entire original document, book of hours of isabella the catholic, queen of spain. Queen isabella i 14511504 was born in the spanish kingdom of castile. An engrossing and revolutionary biography of isabella of castile, the controversial queen of spain who sponsored christopher columbuss journey to the new world, established the spanish inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in. Jul 22, 2019 isabella i of spain april 22, 1451november 26, 1504 was the queen of castile and leon in her own right and, through marriage, became the queen of aragon.
Isabella of castile april 22, 1451 november 26, 1504 was a queen of castile and leon. Isabella was born in royal palace of madrid in 1830, the eldest daughter of king ferdinand vii of spain, and of his fourth wife and niece, maria christina of the two sicilies. Isabella i was one half of a 15thcentury power couple that united spain and helped propel the west towards global dominance. A breathtaking and monumental study of spains greatest queen, isabella, and her direct role in three historyturning events. It repudiates the works of lea and loeb, who seem to have established much about what people today think they know about spanish jews. Queen isabella was known as a virtuous and humble person to the extent that all clothing worn by king ferdinand was spun and sewn by either the queen or her daughters. Born in 1482, it was thought that her hand would be given in marriage to king james iv of scotland, but with the death of her oldest sister, isabella, queen of portugal, it became necessary for her. So when isabella of castile the remarkable queen who helped shape spains identity and her husband ferdinand of aragon expelled their jews in. Before the expulsion jews had held positions of power in spain and under isabel and ferdinand. When she was already a grown woman she devoted herself to the study of latin, and became an eager collector of books. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase a portrait of queen isabella ii of spain, with the caption she has throughout her life been betrayed by those who should have been most faithful to her. Book of hours of isabella the catholic, queen of spain. Isabellas failure to respond to growing demands for a more progressive regime, her questionable private life, and her political irresponsibility contributed to the. By reading the book, you will get an idea about how she became one of the most influential female rulers of the world.
Isabella i of spain april 22, 1451november 26, 1504 was the queen of castile and leon in her own right and, through marriage, became the queen of aragon. Their rule effected the permanent union of spain and the beginning of an overseas empire in the new world, led by christopher columbus under isabella s sponsorship. An engrossing and revolutionary biography of isabella of castile, the controversial queen of spain who sponsored christopher columbuss journey to the new world, established the spanish inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in historyborn at a time when christianity was dying out and the ottoman empire was aggressively expanding, isabella was. Since i knew queen isabella was the financier of columbus, a force behind the spanish inquisition, and the mother of katherine of aragon, first wife of henry viii, i thought i would find this book about her interesting, but that was an underestimation because isabella. Isabella of spain by william thomas walsh this book has a large amount of information about jews in medieval spain. When she was already a grown woman she devoted herself to the study of latin, and became an eager collector of books, of which she possessed a great number.
Isabella grew up well educated and became a very strong willed person. Henry was charged for being a tyrant so isabellas other brother took control until his death. One of the grandest examples of the prayer book is queen isabella s book of hours. The warrior queen turned out to be a treasure trove of fascinating information and stories. After a struggle to claim her right to the throne, she reorganized the governmental system, brought the crime rate to the lowest it had been in years. Her father had been married three times before, but he had only had two shortlived children with his second wife. The story of ferdinand and isabella is a royal romantic story. Her reign is notable for a number of important events, including the completion of the reconquista, the establishment of the spanish inquisition, and christopher columbus 1492 voyage, which the monarch supported and financed. Of all europes queens, argues giles tremlett, surely none had a greater impact than the queen of castile and aragon. They are also known for sending christopher columbus to explore the new world. Theresa breslins top 10 books about the spanish inquisition. The book is a biography of the famous queen of spain, isabella.
Ferdinand and isabella were the first king and queen of spain. She led a somewhat unsettled childhood and grew up in the shadow of her elder halfbrother king enrique of castile. Isabella was eighteen years old, while ferdinand was 17 years old at the time of their marriage. This is the only book ever written on queen isabella of spain. Nov 12, 2019 isabella i was a queen of castile and leon who lived between the middle of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th centuries. She married ferdinand ii of aragon, bringing the kingdoms together into what became spain under the rule of her grandson charles v, the holy roman emperor. An engrossing and revolutionary biography of isabella of castile, the controversial queen of spain who sponsored christopher columbuss journey to the new world, established the spanish inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in history born at a time when christianity was dying out and the ottoman empire was aggressively expanding, isabella was. The book covers the historic filled era of isabellas time growing up as a child, how she became queen, then how the kingdoms of aragon and castile were united to create what is present day spain. Isabella the catholic, sponsor of christopher columbuss explorations and. Queen isabella is honored for even higher and finer things than merely ruling spain, saving granada, christianizing and civilizing the new world, and bringing back to her country the justice and domestic peace lost by the mismanagement of her incompetent and degraded half brother, enrique iv. Through her succession to the castilian throne in 1479 isabella created a secular government.
Gortners vivid details blend with his deeply intensive research to recreate isabella and castile in a way that the reader will find compelling and immersive, bringing not just the queen but the whole nation to life. All, and i mean all of the other books are tailored to suit the common train of thought that a small few professional elite academics adhere to. A major biography of the queen who transformed spain into a principal global power, and sponsored the voyage that would open the new world. Gortner is a historical fiction about isabel of castile, the famous queen most popularly known for leading the spanish inquisition. She was the second child to john ii of castile and was never expected to reign in spain. The book of hours of isabella the catholic is one of the most elegant and exquisite renaissance manuscripts from belgium. Isabella i helped bring stability to her kingdom which ultimately contributed to the unification of spain. Her marriage to ferdinand ii of aragon became the basis for the political unification of spain under their grandson, charles i. This is an excellent, detailed and forensic book which examines and narrates a defining period of spanish and world history through the lens of the life of queen isabella of castile and which, like all good history, resonates with important questions for the modern day.
Mar 28, 2019 isabella triumphant isabella symbolized a new, united spain. Queen isabella and the unification of spain by nancy whitelaw. When she was three, her father died, making her halfbrother, henry iv, king. Some fellow catholics such as thomas aquinas viewed this as an act of injustice. The important role isabella played in designating the pope, liberating spain from centuries of muslim occupation, setting the stage for the growth of the americas, and most importantly, in my eyes disproving that queen juana was not crazy but the victim of a husband and a father whose intent was to destroy her which they did. Queen isabella by her example led the way in fostering the love of study, and in many respects her court recalls that of charlemagne.
Downey explains that child abuse in the families of royalty was passed on through the generations and affected the people that eventually became leaders. Every time i pick up something with gortners name on it, i am completely transported to a different time and place with powerful characters and a vivid setting that comes to life. Novel about the early years of spains warrior queen isabella i, who united the country, started the inquisition, and sent columbus to discover a new world. One of the grandest examples of the prayer book is queen isabellas book of hours. What are the best books on queen isabella i of spain. She wanted to marry someone from portugal to make a political ally. Queen isabella was born to john ii on april 22nd, 1451. Kirkusan excellent, welldeveloped picture of the complex, often contradictory forces of the european scene from which columbus sailed. Personality and training isabella was the daughter of the king of castile.
1591 1060 394 41 260 1451 1474 188 1218 1483 1474 380 1064 593 1447 425 20 64 1026 890 1582 517 165 603 834 244 588 798 737 1267 283 742 452 247 47 458 600 90