King Ferdinand of Aragon

Ferdinand II (1452 – 1516) was King of Aragon from 1479 until his death in 1516. As the husband of Queen Isabella I of Castile, he was also King of Castile from 1475 to 1504. He reigned jointly with Isabella over a dynastically unified Spain; together they are known as the Catholic Monarchs. Ferdinand is considered the de facto first king of Spain, and was described as such during his reign, even though, legally, Castile and Aragon remained two separate kingdoms until they were formally united by the Nueva Planta decrees issued between 1707 and 1716. The Crown of Aragon that Ferdinand inherited in 1479 included the kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia, and Sicily, as well as the Principality of Catalonia. His marriage to Isabella is regarded as the "cornerstone in the foundation of the Spanish monarchy". They played a major role in the European colonization of the Americas, sponsoring the first voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. That year the couple defeated Granada, the last Muslim state in Western Europe, thus completing the centuries-long Reconquista. Following Isabella's death in 1504, the couple's daughter Joanna became queen of the Crown of Castile. That year, after a war with France, Ferdinand conquered the Kingdom of Naples. In 1507 he became regent of Castile on behalf of Joanna, who was alleged to be mentally unstable. In 1506, as part of a treaty with France, Ferdinand married Germaine of Foix, with whom he had no surviving children. In 1512 he conquered most of the Kingdom of Navarre, ruling all the territories comprising modern-day Spain until his death in 1516. He was nominally succeeded by his daughter Joanna, but power was soon assumed by her son Charles I (later Holy Roman Emperor Charles V).

REQUIRED READING:

Chapter 5, "Birth of the Spanish World"

This book is a popular history of Spain and the Spanish Empire from prehistoric times to the present day. It provides description and analysis of political, social, economic and cultural events over the centuries, which together shaped the history of this distinctive country. The book offers 60 illustrations and maps, including 16 pages of color photographs, as well as lists of historic places to visit at the end of each chapter. There is a dynastic chart, suggested readings, and index.

Reviews:

"The dramatic historical pageant of Spain . . . engages the reader from first page to last." —Midwest Book Review, January 2000

"Written in a style that clearly allows the reader to grasp the intricacies of Spain's historical elements." —Spain 21 Magazine, Spring 2001

"A vivid account of the country's origins and development as a nation." —David Baird, Lookout Magazine

"By far the best introduction for students in English to Spain's history and culture." —Paul Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Spanish, UCLA

"For a readable and thorough but not over-long account of Spanish history, The Story of Spain is hard to beat." —Lonely Planet Guide to Spain, 2002 edition

"The title of this work prepares us for what it is—a history of Spain." —Ruth Bennett, CUNY, Hispania Magazine

RECOMMENDED READING:

This is the best biography of Isabella in English.

"[An] immensely provocative figure... [who] successfully maneuvered in an almost exclusively male world of politics." —Kathryn Harrison, The New York Times Book Review

"In a fascinating portrait, Downey sketches a monarch both adored and demonized, and makes the case that Isabella laid the foundation for the first global superpower." —BBC.com

"A strong, fascinating woman, Isabella helped to usher in the modern age, and this rich, clearly written biography is a worthy chronicle of her impressive yet controversial life." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Institute Library Call Number: 946.20 Ell IMP pb

The most comprehensive, balanced, and accessible account of the dramatic rise and fall of imperial Spain.