The Catholic Monarchs and the Foundation of Modern Spain

The Dynastic Union of Castile and Aragon

At the end of the 15th century, the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon, established an authoritarian monarchy on the Iberian Peninsula.

In 1469, Isabel married Fernando, the Crown Prince of Aragon. When the King of Castile died, a civil war broke out between the followers of Juana la Beltraneja and those of Isabel. The conflict ended in 1479 with the victory of Isabel. In the same year, Fernando became the King of Aragon. This resulted in the dynastic union of Castile and Aragon. Each kingdom retained its own institutions, laws, language, currency, and internal boundaries.

Domestic Reforms: Centralizing Power

Weakening the Power of the Nobility

• A permanent army.
• Military Orders under the monarchs' control.
• The royal treasury was given greater powers to control and administer tax collection.
• A Council of experts to advise monarchs about territories (most importantly the Councils of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre) and specific matters (Council of Military Orders, Council of the Inquisition, etc.).
• The judicial system of audiencias.
• A militia, the Santa Hermandad (Holy Brotherhood), to fight crime in rural Castile.

Reducing the Autonomy of the Kingdoms

• The power of the General Cortes was reduced.
• The position of Viceroy was created.
• The Inquisition was established in Castile in 1478 to persecute false conversions; it was a religious court.

Restricting Urban Oligarchies

• In Castile, the monarchs appointed the mayors.
• In Aragon, the sortition system selected officials by lottery.

Improving International Relations

• The diplomatic corps, which represented monarchs in other kingdoms, was expanded.

Religious Policy and Unity

One of the main objectives was to establish religious unity in their domains. Consequently, the Jews and Muslims were expelled.

Persecution of the Jews

The Jews were persecuted by the Christian population towards the end of the Middle Ages. In the 15th century, this anti-Semitism increased. Those who agreed to convert were known as conversos and were investigated and persecuted by the Inquisition to prevent them from practicing their old religion in secret.

The Mudéjars and Moriscos

The Mudéjars were Muslims who lived in Christian territories. They were expelled from Castile in 1502 and from Aragon in 1526. Those who converted were known as Moriscos; they were also persecuted by the Inquisition. Because Mudéjars were primarily farmers, their departure had a negative impact on agriculture.

Foreign Policy and Expansion

The Catholic Monarchs' main objectives were the unification of the Iberian Peninsula, the isolation of France, the consolidation of the Crown of Aragon in the Mediterranean, and expansion across the Atlantic.

Diplomatic and Military Strategies

• Diplomatic strategies: Union with Portugal and the isolation of France.
• Military: On the Iberian Peninsula, the last existing Muslim state surrendered in 1492.