Catholic Monarchs and the Rise of Early Modern Spain (1479–1516)

The Catholic Monarchs (1479–1516)

The Catholic Monarchs (1479–1516). In the second half of the fifteenth century, the Iberian Peninsula still existed as separate realms: the Crown of Aragon, Castile, Portugal and Navarre. Granada remained Muslim. Under the reign of the Catholic Monarchs the following events took place:

Major developments during their reign

• Beginning of the unification of the kingdoms.
• Completion of the Reconquista.
• Discovery of America.
• Spain establishes its hegemony in the western Mediterranean.
• Spain is organized as a modern state.

There was an economic recovery after a serious crisis in the sixteenth century.

The Modern State of the Catholic Monarchs

A modern state requires a sense of nationhood that covers the whole territory under one authority. In foreign policy it must boast strong power. In Spain the first step towards unity was taken by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella in Valladolid in 1469. This marriage led to the struggle for the succession to the Castilian throne between Juana la Beltraneja and Isabella. In 1479 a peace was signed that ended the civil war. This accomplished the first step toward the union of Aragon and Castile.

In Castile, royal action was directed against forces that could challenge central authority. The monarchs implemented more effective control measures. The kings possessed most authority, but the centralization and complexity of government required them to delegate some functions.

End of the Reconquista

This was the culmination of the Reconquista. The war lasted almost eleven years (1481–1492). The Muslims were reduced to the city of Granada.

Expulsion of the Jews

During the fifteenth century in Spain and in Europe, the idea that political unity should be accompanied by religious unity grew stronger. The Jews generally lived in cities and engaged in economic activity, and over time they became the object of hostility. From the fourteenth century, a number of massacres against Jews occurred, and to end this situation the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 decreed the expulsion of all Jews who wished to practice their religion.

Charles V of Germany and I of Spain

Charles V was the grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella. He was born in the Low Countries. At the death of Juana la Loca, he inherited the Habsburg lands and was already on the throne of the Holy Roman Empire; he was then called to the throne of Spain. He could not speak Spanish and had a different cultural background, and therefore he was not well received in Spain. He raised taxes and spent large sums on the imperial army, which was very expensive. The revolt against Charles V lasted two years. The Spanish rejected a foreigner occupying the Spanish crown. He was resisted by the Spanish people; he sent an army and executed three ringleaders. Castile was depressed and the population was frightened. After two years, Charles V returned to Spain to learn Spanish and its culture, and only then did Spain begin to accept him.