The Catholic Monarchs: Unifying Spain and Shaping a New Era
The Dynastic Union of Castile and Aragon
The marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1469 marked the dynastic union of two major Hispanic crowns: Castile and Aragon. However, this union was purely dynastic, not political, as neither Isabella nor Ferdinand intended to create a unitary and centralized monarchy.
TheConcordia de Segovia stipulated the conditions under which the monarchs would rule on an equal footing across all their territories. Crucially, each kingdom retained its own laws, institutions, and borders.
Objectives and Territorial Expansion
One of their primary objectives was the religious and territorial unity of the Iberian Peninsula. To achieve this, they pursued several strategies:
- Portugal: Attempts were made to incorporate Portugal, though direct annexation was not achieved. Instead, the alliance was consolidated through a strategic marriage policy.
- Navarre: Navarre was joined to the Crown of Castile in 1512.
- Granada: The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada was conquered in 1492 after a prolonged war.
Religious Unification Policies
The policy of religious unity was rigorously pursued:
- The expulsion of the Jews in 1492.
- The forced conversion of Muslims (Moriscos) in 1502.
Succession and the Consolidation of Power
Upon the death of Queen Isabella in 1504, Ferdinand became regent of Castile, a regency he shared with their daughter Joanna and her husband Philip of Burgundy. Philip briefly became King of Castile before his untimely passing. Following Ferdinand’s death in 1516, and a brief regency by Cardinal Cisneros, the union effectively solidified under Charles I, who inherited both crowns.
The Unequal Union: Castile’s Dominance
From its inception, the union was inherently unequal:
- Castile: Was significantly larger, had a greater population, and its American territories greatly favored the strengthening of royal power.
- Aragon: Possessed a weaker monarchy, characterized by a pactist system. Its economy was based on extensive Mediterranean trade in oriental products, and its Cortes (parliaments) exerted considerable control over the king.
The Catholic Monarchs: Conquest and Unification
The Granada War and the End of Al-Andalus
The War of Granada brought Castile the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula, culminating the process of the Reconquista and marking the definitive end of Al-Andalus. Internal civil wars within Granada also contributed significantly to the Castilian victory after ten years of intense fighting (1482-1492).
Despite the Nasrid rulers paying parias (tributes) and their emirs being declared vassals of Castile, the border remained a source of ongoing tension. In 1481, Muslims captured Zahara, to which Christians responded with the conquest of Alhama by Diego Ponce de León in 1482.
Though not a major battle, the capture of Málaga in 1485 was particularly brutal, and its Muslim inhabitants were enslaved in revenge for their fierce resistance. Subsequently, Ferdinand and Isabella entered Granada and the Alhambra.
Under the terms of the capitulations signed with King Boabdil, the Muslim population was initially allowed to retain their religion, language, and customs. However, this peaceful coexistence was short-lived. Cardinal Cisneros initiated a progressive erosion of the signed agreements, leading to forced conversions. Public discontent erupted in rebellions in the Albaicín and the Alpujarras. These clashes were harshly repressed, forcing the population to either convert to Christianity or leave Spain. Most reluctantly accepted baptism, and thereafter, these converted Muslims began to be called Moriscos.
The Annexation of Navarre
Navarre joined the Kingdom of Castile in 1512. Ferdinand, eager to isolate France, responded to the proposed marriage between the heir of Navarre and the French king’s daughter by militarily occupying Pamplona in 1512. In 1515, he formally annexed the Kingdom of Navarre to the Crown of Castile. However, this annexation was on equal footing, meaning Navarre retained its rights, institutions, and its own Cortes.