Isabella I of Castile

22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504

Isabella I was Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504, and with her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon laid the foundations of a unified Spain. Their reign saw the completion of the Reconquista with the conquest of Granada, the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, and the sponsorship of Christopher Columbus's voyages. She is one of the most consequential monarchs in Spanish history.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Isabella I of Castile.

Life events

Born at Madrigal de las Altas Torres
22 April 1451

Isabella was born to King John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal in the town of Madrigal de las Altas Torres.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Recognized as heir to the Castilian throne by the Treaty of the Bulls of Guisando
19 September 1468

Her half-brother King Henry IV recognized Isabella as Princess of Asturias and heir presumptive to Castile.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Ferdinand of Aragon at Valladolid
19 October 1469

Isabella secretly married Ferdinand, heir to the crown of Aragon, a union that would eventually join Spain's two most powerful kingdoms.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Proclaimed Queen of Castile
13 December 1474

On the death of Henry IV, Isabella had herself proclaimed Queen of Castile in Segovia, triggering a war of succession against supporters of Joanna la Beltraneja.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Established the Spanish Inquisition with Ferdinand
November 1478

Isabella and Ferdinand obtained a papal bull from Sixtus IV authorizing the establishment of the Inquisition in Castile.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Victory in the War of the Castilian Succession
4 September 1479

The Treaty of Alcáçovas ended the succession war with Portugal, securing Isabella's throne.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Completed the conquest of Granada
2 January 1492

The surrender of Granada, the last Muslim state in Iberia, ended the centuries-long Reconquista.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Issued the Alhambra Decree expelling Jews from Castile and Aragon
31 March 1492

Isabella and Ferdinand ordered practicing Jews to convert to Christianity or leave their kingdoms.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Sponsored Christopher Columbus's first voyage
17 April 1492

Isabella and Ferdinand agreed to finance Columbus's westward expedition, which reached the Americas in October 1492.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Died at Medina del Campo
26 November 1504

Isabella died at the Royal Palace in Medina del Campo and was buried in the Royal Chapel of Granada.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓