Isabella, Queen Of Castille Essay - 1,012 words

Isabella, Queen of Castille Until the 15th century, Spain was only a distant participant in the general movement of European affairs. The different kingdoms sharing the Spanish peninsula were individually too weak to pursue an energetic foreign policy. Spain was actually poorly developed country. The marriage of royal cousins, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, in 1469 brought stability to both kingdoms. Both understood the importance of unity; together they effected institutional reform, such as in the Spanish Reformation, and left Spain one of the best-administered countries in Europe. Spanish queen Isabelle was playing very important role in the development of Spain as a united, economically stable, and successful country.


Isabella was born in 1451. She was the daughter of King John II of Castille and of his second wife. In the age of 13, Isabella was brought to the court of King Henry IV, who was her half-brother in order to be controlled. When Isabella turned nine, Spanish monarchs and prices tried to arrange her marriage to different European monarchs. However, Isabella was against all this efforts and eventually left the Kings court in 1466, when a year before she had already decided to marry Prince Ferdinand of Aragon, who was younger than Isabella. Eventually, in 1469 Ferdinand, who by that time was King of Sicily, married Isabella in Valladolid.


This had ended various conflicts between kingdoms of Castille and Aragon, but they remained separate powers. In 1474, King Henry IV and Isabellas brother Enrique died, and Isabella became a Queen of Castille. In 1479, King John died and Ferdinand became new King of Aragon. After this time he made Isabella his successor, which would constantly result into unification of two kingdoms. Ferdinand and Isabella transformed Spain into a dual absolute monarchy. At the time of their rise to power, the crown had beaten off the last assault of the feudal world.


These great monarchs had the firm will necessary to restore order, and to fix the institutions and the governmental hierarchy. The King was the symbol of national and religious aspirations. The influence of Roman Law only increased this respect for the King, and in this case also the Queen. The Isabella and Ferdinand instituted royal councils, composed of: the Council of State, the Council of Justice, and the Council of Finance. The Council of Justice completely dominated judicial organization and was the essential organ of royal power. The Council of State was presided over by the sovereigns in person and it dealt with foreign affairs. The Council of Finance supervised the administration of public finances.


Eventually the persecution of the Moors and Jews led to the organization of the fourth council, the Council of the Inquisition. The Sovereigns appointed a grand inquisitor as its president, and three ecclesiastics and two doctors of law assisted him. The Sovereigns eventually lost control over this council and had to yield to it. Sovereigns were justice itself, and therefor ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: isabella, spain, council, ferdinand, spanish

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