Catholic Monarchs: Formation of Spain
Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married in 1469. This marriage marked the beginning of a new state called the Hispanic Monarchy. It covered the crowns of both kingdoms, although each maintained its own institutions of government.
Internal Policy
Castile was the most powerful territory. Its new additions were easier to control, which explains the monarchs’ preference for this kingdom. On the other hand, in the Crown of Aragon, the king’s power was more limited.
Internal policy had the objective of strengthening the powers of the state. To achieve this, the Holy Brotherhood was created in Castile in 1476. It acted to maintain order on the roads and also served as the monarchs’ army.
Another goal was to keep the Church under their authority through the Spanish Inquisition. The monarchs also improved aspects of church life and training, highlighting the work of Cardinal Cisneros.
They pursued religious uniformity, aiming for everyone to practice the same religion. This led to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, affecting about 70,000 people. Most went into exile in Portugal, Morocco, etc., while about 50,000 Jews chose to convert to Christianity, although they were watched and persecuted by the Inquisition.
Persecution of the Mudejars (Muslims) soon began, and they would be expelled from Castile and Aragon in 1502 and 1526 respectively.
Foreign Policy
Their foreign policy had three main goals:
Unification of the Iberian Peninsula
The first step was the conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada in 1492. The second was the annexation of the Kingdom of Navarre, a territory disputed by the Catholic Monarchs and France. King Ferdinand annexed Navarre to the Crown of Castile in 1512. The latest attempt to unify the peninsula was through marriage alliances with Portugal.
Expansion in the Mediterranean and Atlantic
In the Mediterranean, the aim was to stop the French from occupying the Kingdom of Naples. Another focus was North Africa, where they conquered territories like Melilla, Oran, and Tripoli. On the Atlantic, they conquered the Canary Islands, a strategic location on trade routes. This policy culminated with the discovery of America in 1492.
Diplomatic Relations and Alliances
The Spanish Crown sought allies against France, notably England, the Papacy, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Formation of a Modern State
The Catholic Monarchs did not unify the political structures of their kingdoms; the ‘foral’ legislation and institutions of each kingdom remained intact. However, they sought to strengthen royal power, especially in Castile, implementing authoritarian and centralized institutional policies. The aim was to create a strong monarchy relative to the nobility, towns, and the Church.
Reforms in Castile
- Reorganized the Royal Council of Castile in 1480, leading to the aristocracy losing political influence.
- Created new positions, such as royal secretaries (officials with legal training and the monarchs’ confidence) and viceroys (representatives of the sovereign).
- Reduced the role of the Cortes of Castile, as some of its functions were absorbed by the councils.
- Revitalized the figure of the corregidor (royal representative in towns), which favored royal authority.
- Reorganized the Crown’s judicial system.
Reforms in Aragon
In Aragon, reforms were minor, highlighting the introduction of the viceroy and the ‘insaculación’ (balloting) system for selecting officials.