The Catholic Monarchs: Unifying Spain Through Marriage and Conquest
The Spanish Monarchy of the Catholic Monarchs
The marriage of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon gave rise to the Spanish monarchy. This was a dynastic union of two crowns, where each kingdom continued to be governed by its own laws, forming a state composed of territories that shared only a single monarchy. The laws, currency, institutions, and courts of each kingdom remained distinct within the new monarchy, with laws requiring signatures from representatives of both kingdoms.
The Catholic Monarchs agreed on the need to incorporate all the kingdoms of the new monarchy, either through military conquest or diplomacy. This expansion policy was carried out in phases:
Conquest of the Moorish Kingdom of Granada
The war launched by the Catholic Monarchs against the kingdom of Granada marked the end of the Reconquista of al-Andalus. The campaign was framed as a crusade against the infidels and lasted ten years. On January 2, 1492, Granada and its last king, Boabdil, surrendered, handing the keys to the Alhambra to the Catholic Monarchs.
Ferdinand’s diplomatic skill led to the recovery of territories that his father had ceded to the King of France. Andalusian traders’ support facilitated the occupation of the Canary Islands.
Annexation of Navarre
The kingdom of Navarre was in the hands of a French dynasty, and its inhabitants were divided between supporters of the monarchy and those advocating closer ties with Castile. Ferdinand of Aragon used this as a declaration of war against the King of France to occupy Navarre. Despite the occupation, Navarre retained its own laws.
Marriage Policy with Portugal
The Catholic Monarchs also pursued the annexation of Portugal through a strategic marriage policy.
Foreign Policy and Alliances
The Catholic Monarchs devoted significant effort to foreign policy, a joint endeavor of both crowns. They implemented a strong marriage policy, formalizing partnerships with European kingdoms. Much of their diplomatic efforts and marriage policy aimed to consolidate the power of the Crown of Aragon and protect its interests. A key objective was to contain the French monarchy. To isolate France, the Catholic Monarchs established alliances with England, the Netherlands, and the Papacy.
Defense Against the Turks
The fight against the Turks was a constant concern, as one of their objectives was to expand the Christian kingdom and halt the Turkish advance in the Mediterranean.
Assertion of Royal Authority
The Catholic Monarchs also agreed on the need to impose their authority. They first subdued the nobility and ecclesiastical lords by force of arms. Then, they recovered some of the real estate held by the lords. Having dominated the nobility and clergy, the Monarchs employed a number of institutions to assert royal authority. They created a standing army and a permanent corps of ambassadors to strengthen their foreign policy. Another important figure was the magistrate, whose role was to represent royal power in towns and cities, presiding over municipalities.
The Holy Brotherhood was also created. The King reorganized the Royal Council, sidelining the great nobility and introducing lawyers and secretaries from the lower nobility and bourgeoisie.
The Cortes represented the most privileged social groups, and their most important task was to swear allegiance to the King, making him accept the laws of each territory and vote on new taxes. The Cortes lost their significance as the Kings rarely convened them, meeting only when the monarch needed more financial resources.
Despite the reforms, the poor roads of the time and the Crown’s resource constraints hindered the development of a modern administration. The Catholic Monarchs continuously traveled around the country to administer justice and strengthen their authority, rather than establishing a fixed capital.