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Isabel the Queen: Life and Times
Isabel of Castile was one of the most influential monarchs ever known, the central figure in some of the most potent and far-reaching events in world history. She supported the Spanish Inquisition (which tortured and punished or had executed thousands of baptized Christians accused of
practicing Judaism). She waged a successful war against Muslim Granada. And bent upon overseas expansion (she was after all the grand-niece of Prince Henry the Navigator), Isabel sponsored Christopher Columbus. Yet questions remain as to her actual role in these and other events. Why did she
introduce the Inquisition? Why did she expel the Jews from Spain and the Muslims from Castile? Was it bigotry or piety or something else? And how aware was she of the injustices committed against New World peoples? For such a notable and controversial figure, much about Isabel has remained a
mystery.
Now, in Isabel the Queen , Peggy K. Liss proposes answers and provides both a sweeping biography of a Queen who had a profound impact on history, and a vivid portrait of a vanished, turbulent world. We see young Isabel as a poor relation at the corrupt court of her half-brother, Enrique IV
(known as The Impotent), where she became a pawn in a civil war between the king and the great nobles. We learn how Isabel survived plots to disinherit her, how she won her way to succession, and why she secretly married Fernando, Prince of Aragon. And we witness the unprecedented ceremony in which
Isabel assumed the crown alone, without Fernando, thereby paving the way for her daughter and other women to rule in their own right. Peggy Liss works through the fact and fiction, legend and opinion that have swirled around Isabel to reveal for the first time how her goals for Spain, her piety,
and swelling power culminated in the remarkable year of 1492. (A variety of sources--documents, chronicles, literature, art, and architecture--reveal Isabel's attitudes towards religion, politics, and royal policy.) And finally, she shows us the older Isabel, who, having won the respect of Europe,
suffered a series of family tragedies ruining her plans and her health and bringing her unprecedented reign to an end in 1504 with her death at the age of fifty-three.
Based on years of research, travel, and reflection, Isabel the Queen brings to life the people, places, and events that surrounded one of history's most dynamic monarchs. In these pages we meet the mind of the ruler who left her country with an imperial legacy of power and glory, and a vision
of conquest, that was to endure over the centuries.
practicing Judaism). She waged a successful war against Muslim Granada. And bent upon overseas expansion (she was after all the grand-niece of Prince Henry the Navigator), Isabel sponsored Christopher Columbus. Yet questions remain as to her actual role in these and other events. Why did she
introduce the Inquisition? Why did she expel the Jews from Spain and the Muslims from Castile? Was it bigotry or piety or something else? And how aware was she of the injustices committed against New World peoples? For such a notable and controversial figure, much about Isabel has remained a
mystery.
Now, in Isabel the Queen , Peggy K. Liss proposes answers and provides both a sweeping biography of a Queen who had a profound impact on history, and a vivid portrait of a vanished, turbulent world. We see young Isabel as a poor relation at the corrupt court of her half-brother, Enrique IV
(known as The Impotent), where she became a pawn in a civil war between the king and the great nobles. We learn how Isabel survived plots to disinherit her, how she won her way to succession, and why she secretly married Fernando, Prince of Aragon. And we witness the unprecedented ceremony in which
Isabel assumed the crown alone, without Fernando, thereby paving the way for her daughter and other women to rule in their own right. Peggy Liss works through the fact and fiction, legend and opinion that have swirled around Isabel to reveal for the first time how her goals for Spain, her piety,
and swelling power culminated in the remarkable year of 1492. (A variety of sources--documents, chronicles, literature, art, and architecture--reveal Isabel's attitudes towards religion, politics, and royal policy.) And finally, she shows us the older Isabel, who, having won the respect of Europe,
suffered a series of family tragedies ruining her plans and her health and bringing her unprecedented reign to an end in 1504 with her death at the age of fifty-three.
Based on years of research, travel, and reflection, Isabel the Queen brings to life the people, places, and events that surrounded one of history's most dynamic monarchs. In these pages we meet the mind of the ruler who left her country with an imperial legacy of power and glory, and a vision
of conquest, that was to endure over the centuries.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 1, 2011
A few things to note before reading this review:
1. I am a major history buff. I read all sorts of history books, from non-fiction to fiction, and first-source documents. I usually dislike heavily revisionist history, but I still read them all the same. This is more an academic book and extremely research heavy. The writing can be dense at times, and simply unbearable for the more action-driven readers. If you’re a fan of only fiction or streamline, popular non-fiction, you may not enjoy this book as much.
2. This is a non-fiction book that details (surprise), the life and times of Isabella. This means that while there is intrigue, war, and politicking, it is still historical non-fiction, not heavily researched historical fiction (for an excellent example of one such book, see Legacy). The tone of the novel is academic and “omnipotent;” the author knows what will happen, and wants us to know what she has in mind.
3. Full disclosure: I wrote a mini thesis on the rise and fall of the kingdom of Granada, which heavily involved Isabella and Fernando. I will try to be as objective as possible, though my previous research experience will undoubtedly color my view of Liss and Isabella.
4. Upon re-reading, my review is definitely more Isabella-heavy than Liss-heavy. In fact, I created my “BAMF” shelf because of Isabella’s awesomeness. You have been warned. But, in all seriousness, Liss is really good, and if any of what I say interests you keeping in mind the notes above, you really can’t go wrong with Liss.
5. Apologies in advance for tangents and the occasional satiation of my inner (actually, outer, too) nerd.
Now, please proceed onto the gush fest for the queen of late-medieval queens, Isabella I.
Not many people know about Isabella in the English-speaking world. Those who do know of her recognize her as the woman who helped Columbus "discover" the Americas. It's understandable, in some ways. My reading peers being mostly English speakers and readers, we are granted a wealth of literature on similarly strong-willed and powerful queens, such as Elizabeth I and Victoria and, oddly, the French Eleanor of Aquitaine, though it makes sense since her husband Henry II was King of England and her son was Richard the Lionheart.
In light of the number of authors who specialize in the above figures, more is the pity that we hardly have any quality English literature on one of the most overlooked yet fascinating queens of all, Isabella of Castile.
Don't get me wrong--in Spain, Isabella has maintained a status as the holy Catholic queen, untouchable and unshakable, glorious and illustrious, set upon an equally high (or higher) pedestal that we place Elizabeth I. But outside the Spanish-speaking world, very little is known. Few are familiar with the propaganda war she initiated with her then husband-to-be, Fernando (Anglicized as Ferdinand), that led her to her rocky ascension to the throne. (A rather dirty and ruthless propaganda war that relegates contemporary election time advertising and political maneuverings to child's play, I might add. She institutionalized the saying Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando, which translates into "One and the same, Isabella the same as Ferdinand" that placed her on equal standing as her husband. Keep in mind that Fernando was not a pushover; he was ruthless, clever, and ambitious. Machiavelli, in describing the attributes of a powerful leader, once said: "A prince must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves," referring to Fernando in everything but name. To keep in check a man like Fernando in a highly patriarchic and religious society, Isabella had to be stronger and smarter that the fox and lion prince. Besides that, she was madly wealthy as the heir of then-prosperous Castile and was considered quite the catch for any politically ambitious man.
Isabella was also a woman with far-reaching vision. Spain was not really “Spain” until Isabella and Fernando. Rather, Spain was the Iberian peninsula, resembling more a collection of rowdy, divisive kingdoms with eons-old grudges that shared a border with the powerful (although dwindling) Muslim kingdom of Granada. While Fernando wanted to wage a vanity war against the Italian Kingdom of Naples, which he considered the ancient territory of his homeland Aragon, Isabella was thinking bigger. She wanted to unite Spain in territory, mind, and religion. She did this by first ousting the “outsiders,” instigating the Granadan War and after the conquest uniting the Spanish kingdoms into one cohesive unit. The rest is, how they say, history.
In describing momentous events such as the two above, however, Liss presents more than just a timeline of important wars and dates. In explaining the stages of Isabella’s reign, she presents her findings in a way that poses more questions than answers. For example, Isabella was the main impetus behind the Granadan war, an almost decade-long war that really put to the spotlight the root of Isabella’s motivations and ambitions. Was Isabella an intolerant religious fanatic who wiped out the corrupt and dwindling Muslim kingdom in a long and costly war for the sake of God? Or was it a calculated political move that would establish the foundations for a unified Spain of the future? Questions about the true psychology of a leader in a time of heavily politicized situations that required concealment and trickery emerge often in historical literature. It's like choosing two puzzle pieces out of a set of one thousand. Do those puzzle pieces fit together, and how so? If not, why?
The beauty of Liss’s writing is that she captures Isabella’s mindset as well as she explains political undercurrents, and she presents both perspectives simultaneously and cohesively. She poses questions, and while she presents her point of view, she leaves room for inquiry. Much of this is due to Liss’s vast knowledge on the subject; frankly, her research is quite impressive. Liss presents in excruciating detail the political and social situation of a time lost to us long ago, while maintaining the epic vision of the “birth” of Spain. She breathes life into one of the most mysterious queens of all time, preserving her mystic status while grounding her at the same time. It is a testament to Isabella’s intelligence and will that she is still so very well known in our age when women too easily faded into obscurity or remain as vilified figures that are subject to revisionist history. It isn’t a too terrible crowd that luckily for us spawned interesting literature, which includes among its ilk Agrippina, Marie Antoinette, and Cleopatra. However, even if those women have gained recognition through their infamy or popular curiosity, their names do not approach the gravitas of monarchs like Isabella I. Peggy Liss understands this and paints a realistic portrait of a woman who was once arguably the most powerful woman in Christendom.
I really wish there were more English literature on Isabella. But this is a good place to start to get an expansive picture of a fascinating woman, especially if you’re an aspiring history author who is looking for some solid research material. *wink*
Five stars for great writing, stupendous research, and a fascinating subject.
1. I am a major history buff. I read all sorts of history books, from non-fiction to fiction, and first-source documents. I usually dislike heavily revisionist history, but I still read them all the same. This is more an academic book and extremely research heavy. The writing can be dense at times, and simply unbearable for the more action-driven readers. If you’re a fan of only fiction or streamline, popular non-fiction, you may not enjoy this book as much.
2. This is a non-fiction book that details (surprise), the life and times of Isabella. This means that while there is intrigue, war, and politicking, it is still historical non-fiction, not heavily researched historical fiction (for an excellent example of one such book, see Legacy). The tone of the novel is academic and “omnipotent;” the author knows what will happen, and wants us to know what she has in mind.
3. Full disclosure: I wrote a mini thesis on the rise and fall of the kingdom of Granada, which heavily involved Isabella and Fernando. I will try to be as objective as possible, though my previous research experience will undoubtedly color my view of Liss and Isabella.
4. Upon re-reading, my review is definitely more Isabella-heavy than Liss-heavy. In fact, I created my “BAMF” shelf because of Isabella’s awesomeness. You have been warned. But, in all seriousness, Liss is really good, and if any of what I say interests you keeping in mind the notes above, you really can’t go wrong with Liss.
5. Apologies in advance for tangents and the occasional satiation of my inner (actually, outer, too) nerd.
Now, please proceed onto the gush fest for the queen of late-medieval queens, Isabella I.
Not many people know about Isabella in the English-speaking world. Those who do know of her recognize her as the woman who helped Columbus "discover" the Americas. It's understandable, in some ways. My reading peers being mostly English speakers and readers, we are granted a wealth of literature on similarly strong-willed and powerful queens, such as Elizabeth I and Victoria and, oddly, the French Eleanor of Aquitaine, though it makes sense since her husband Henry II was King of England and her son was Richard the Lionheart.
In light of the number of authors who specialize in the above figures, more is the pity that we hardly have any quality English literature on one of the most overlooked yet fascinating queens of all, Isabella of Castile.
Don't get me wrong--in Spain, Isabella has maintained a status as the holy Catholic queen, untouchable and unshakable, glorious and illustrious, set upon an equally high (or higher) pedestal that we place Elizabeth I. But outside the Spanish-speaking world, very little is known. Few are familiar with the propaganda war she initiated with her then husband-to-be, Fernando (Anglicized as Ferdinand), that led her to her rocky ascension to the throne. (A rather dirty and ruthless propaganda war that relegates contemporary election time advertising and political maneuverings to child's play, I might add. She institutionalized the saying Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando, which translates into "One and the same, Isabella the same as Ferdinand" that placed her on equal standing as her husband. Keep in mind that Fernando was not a pushover; he was ruthless, clever, and ambitious. Machiavelli, in describing the attributes of a powerful leader, once said: "A prince must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves," referring to Fernando in everything but name. To keep in check a man like Fernando in a highly patriarchic and religious society, Isabella had to be stronger and smarter that the fox and lion prince. Besides that, she was madly wealthy as the heir of then-prosperous Castile and was considered quite the catch for any politically ambitious man.
Isabella was also a woman with far-reaching vision. Spain was not really “Spain” until Isabella and Fernando. Rather, Spain was the Iberian peninsula, resembling more a collection of rowdy, divisive kingdoms with eons-old grudges that shared a border with the powerful (although dwindling) Muslim kingdom of Granada. While Fernando wanted to wage a vanity war against the Italian Kingdom of Naples, which he considered the ancient territory of his homeland Aragon, Isabella was thinking bigger. She wanted to unite Spain in territory, mind, and religion. She did this by first ousting the “outsiders,” instigating the Granadan War and after the conquest uniting the Spanish kingdoms into one cohesive unit. The rest is, how they say, history.
In describing momentous events such as the two above, however, Liss presents more than just a timeline of important wars and dates. In explaining the stages of Isabella’s reign, she presents her findings in a way that poses more questions than answers. For example, Isabella was the main impetus behind the Granadan war, an almost decade-long war that really put to the spotlight the root of Isabella’s motivations and ambitions. Was Isabella an intolerant religious fanatic who wiped out the corrupt and dwindling Muslim kingdom in a long and costly war for the sake of God? Or was it a calculated political move that would establish the foundations for a unified Spain of the future? Questions about the true psychology of a leader in a time of heavily politicized situations that required concealment and trickery emerge often in historical literature. It's like choosing two puzzle pieces out of a set of one thousand. Do those puzzle pieces fit together, and how so? If not, why?
The beauty of Liss’s writing is that she captures Isabella’s mindset as well as she explains political undercurrents, and she presents both perspectives simultaneously and cohesively. She poses questions, and while she presents her point of view, she leaves room for inquiry. Much of this is due to Liss’s vast knowledge on the subject; frankly, her research is quite impressive. Liss presents in excruciating detail the political and social situation of a time lost to us long ago, while maintaining the epic vision of the “birth” of Spain. She breathes life into one of the most mysterious queens of all time, preserving her mystic status while grounding her at the same time. It is a testament to Isabella’s intelligence and will that she is still so very well known in our age when women too easily faded into obscurity or remain as vilified figures that are subject to revisionist history. It isn’t a too terrible crowd that luckily for us spawned interesting literature, which includes among its ilk Agrippina, Marie Antoinette, and Cleopatra. However, even if those women have gained recognition through their infamy or popular curiosity, their names do not approach the gravitas of monarchs like Isabella I. Peggy Liss understands this and paints a realistic portrait of a woman who was once arguably the most powerful woman in Christendom.
I really wish there were more English literature on Isabella. But this is a good place to start to get an expansive picture of a fascinating woman, especially if you’re an aspiring history author who is looking for some solid research material. *wink*
Five stars for great writing, stupendous research, and a fascinating subject.
October 14, 2022
Pt.1 Princess -
1. Walls and Gates, Castile, 1451 - birth of Isabel
Birthplace: Madrigal de las altas torres, agricultural town
Father passed at 3 + mother became crazy after childbirth or after death of Juan
After death, moved to Arevalo
Hercules said to have founded Segovia, Avila, Arevalo and Salamanca.
1454: Enrique -> war against the Muslim emirate of Granada = a necessary step to bring Jerusalem back to Christianity
building churches over mosques to reconsecrate them and dedicating them to St Michael
- 10 years: moved to her brother Enrique's court
2. The Wrong King (1461-1467)
- Enrique IV: most probably imponent. Daughter Juana, probably not his => secured throne for Isabel.
- he loses favor when he is not battling the moors and an opposition forms;
3. The Right Marriage (1467-1469)
- 1468: Alfonso, Isabel's brother, dies of the bubonic plague
- Pacheco interested in Castile crown
- Fernando & Isabel: instant attraction that would lead to long-lasting love.
- Married by consuming their marriage in front of eye witnesses.
4. To the crown (1469-74)
- Fernando + Isabel go after Enrique to establish Isabel as the rightful heir to the crown;
- Isabel's first child, named Isabel => also established that plenty more heirs are to be expected;
5. A royal heritage: perception & reality
6. Contests: 1475 - the battle to keep the Castilian crown
7. Resolutions: 1475 - 1477
8. To the sea: 1477 - 1478
- Guadalupe: Isabel's paradise.
- Instilling order of Castilian monarchy in Seville = highest source of income;
- Taking control of borders close to Africa, in order to control import of gold.
9. Signs and revelations: 1478
- a son, Juan, is born in Seville, June 30 - "The Desired One", who would redeem Spain from evil.
10. Inquisition (1478 - 1485)
- inquisition was hoped to differentiate between true conversos and fake ones, to protect the sincere Christians;
- Converso refers to the Jews that converted during the mass baptisms of 1391 or thereafter, and their descendents;
- Nicolo Franco was the papal legate charged in 1475 to look into the converso problem in Castile.
- Isabel's approach: propose programs gradually, in order to build consensus among the people;
- Conversos still had strong connections to Jewish faith and practices, because of how their culture had evolved;
- 1481: 6 conversos, burned at stake, after secret denunciation and without public trial;
11. Readying (1478 - 81)
- 1479: peace with Portugal finally confirmed. Isabel married off to Afonso, heir to Portugal's kingdom.
- 1484-85: preparation of single compendium of Castilian law.
- nobles retained their economical powers, but had much less political influence
12. The Queen's War I (1482-85)
- Civil strife in Granada, to the royal's advantage
- Preparing (1482): first attack on the Moors is bad, but the Spanish don't retreat. Great engines of war were ordered. War against all Unbelievars/enemies of Catholic faith, but also an enterprise of recovery or territorial reconquest.
- A retreat & a prize (1483)
- Gaining the Vega (1484)
13. The Queen's War II (1486-92): Turks preparing for another attack in the West.
- Malaga (1487)
-> Boabdil promises to hand over Granada to the reys, when he will be able and in turn, reiceve a place in the eastern part of the kingdom.
-> Malaga capitulates months later, due to starvation.
-> Isabel & Fernando entered the city only after Talavera reconsecrated Malaga and all mosques became churches.
-> All Jews were taken out of Malaga and completely locked up, until ransom would be paid.
-> Most malaguenos became and remained slaves, since ransom for them was not paid.
- New Faces (1487-89)
-> los reyes go back to Aragon
-> Henry VII suggests marriage between Arthur and Catalina, who was only 3 years old/ treaty of Medina del Campo
- Baza (1489)
-> Campaign against Baza, to hem in al-Zagal, who after months, also surrenders
-> No battle, only negotiations
-> December 30, the royals wrote that the war was over
- Royal Wedding (1490)
-> Afonso of Portugal, 5 yrs younger than the infanta Isabel
-> Wedding was needed, because relations with Portugal were deteriorating;
-> 1491: Afonso falls from a horse and dies; the infanta returns to Castile;
-> New plans to go against Granada, but now there is some resistance from the populace;
-> When wanting to lay siege at Granada, Boabdil turned over initial plans, which was considered rebellion by the kings;
-> June 1492: Prince Juan comes of age at 13 and is knighted by Kind Fernando;
-> November 25, 1491: formal capitulation of Granada
Part III. Toward Empire
14. The View from Granada: The Grand Design (1492)
- with peace achieved, the next step was to advance into Africa and the Atlantic
- New military objective: Conquer Jerusalem, bring it back to Christianity, under the Spanish crown;
- a complex monetary and banking system emerged, with Seville as leading center.
15. The Expulsion of Jews (1492)
- decree given in Granada, whereas the Jews were invited to leave Spain within 3 months.
18.The Catholic Kings (1492 - 1499)
- 1492: the king is attacked and his life is in danger; From this point on, the queen is not only filled with sadness, but becomes much more contemplative.
- coming face to face with death, Isabel requests an overview of all that she owes others to start settling her debts;
- Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros - the queen's new confessor, who awakens the desire in her to study the life of Christ and the cross, as a way to get closer to God
- Pedro Gonzalez de Medoza, "the third king of Spain"
- Juan dies from the flu, after being married to Margaret of Habsburg.
- August 24, 1498, Isabel, the eldest daughter, dies in childbirth
19.The Queen and Her Daughter (1499 - 1504)
- upon return to Granada, there were still many Muslims left -> Cisneros threatened and held sermons to them, in hope they will get baptized.
- 1501: Muslim uprising -> another mass wave of baptism ensured and passage to Africa was granted for those defeated; it was forbidden for Muslims to stay, as it was considered that they interrupted the indoctrination of the converts;
- 1501: Miguel, the grandson of Isabel dies -> Juana, married to Philip of Burgundy, is next in line of succession;
- Maria married to Manoel of Portugal (widower of her sister Isabel) - sped up also by Portugal's need for an heir
- Maria had a happy marriage and a long life, mothering 7 children during her marriage to Manoel
- Catalina to be sent over to England only after Arthur turned 14, when they could consummate they marriage -> to counteract any deals Philip had discussed of marriage with his sister Margaret instead;
- Juana had a daughter with Philip, Leonor and a son, Charles, who would become King Charles I. of Spain and Charles V., the Holy Roman Emperor
- Charles was engaged to Claudia, daughter of Louis XII, but the royals strongly wanted Juana and Charles to stay in Spain, so that he could grow in the Spanish ways
- When Arthur dies of the plague, Isabel broaches the subject of having Catalina marry crown prince Henry, against at detriment of Margaret, sister of Philip
-1501: Juana starts showing signs of mental distress ("Juana la Loca")
- French vs. Spanish war in Italy in Naples, where it was clear that the Spanish would be winning -> Henry VII signs the contract for Catalina's marriage to future Henry VIII.
-As Juana's mental distress progressed, it also started to become visible that what ailed Isabel was actually a tumor -> Juana still showed 0 interest in affairs of state;
- Consumed by fever, on October 12 1504, Isabel signs her will.
- A codicil is added November 23 and she dies on November 26.
1. Walls and Gates, Castile, 1451 - birth of Isabel
Birthplace: Madrigal de las altas torres, agricultural town
Father passed at 3 + mother became crazy after childbirth or after death of Juan
After death, moved to Arevalo
Hercules said to have founded Segovia, Avila, Arevalo and Salamanca.
1454: Enrique -> war against the Muslim emirate of Granada = a necessary step to bring Jerusalem back to Christianity
building churches over mosques to reconsecrate them and dedicating them to St Michael
- 10 years: moved to her brother Enrique's court
2. The Wrong King (1461-1467)
- Enrique IV: most probably imponent. Daughter Juana, probably not his => secured throne for Isabel.
- he loses favor when he is not battling the moors and an opposition forms;
3. The Right Marriage (1467-1469)
- 1468: Alfonso, Isabel's brother, dies of the bubonic plague
- Pacheco interested in Castile crown
- Fernando & Isabel: instant attraction that would lead to long-lasting love.
- Married by consuming their marriage in front of eye witnesses.
4. To the crown (1469-74)
- Fernando + Isabel go after Enrique to establish Isabel as the rightful heir to the crown;
- Isabel's first child, named Isabel => also established that plenty more heirs are to be expected;
5. A royal heritage: perception & reality
6. Contests: 1475 - the battle to keep the Castilian crown
7. Resolutions: 1475 - 1477
8. To the sea: 1477 - 1478
- Guadalupe: Isabel's paradise.
- Instilling order of Castilian monarchy in Seville = highest source of income;
- Taking control of borders close to Africa, in order to control import of gold.
9. Signs and revelations: 1478
- a son, Juan, is born in Seville, June 30 - "The Desired One", who would redeem Spain from evil.
10. Inquisition (1478 - 1485)
- inquisition was hoped to differentiate between true conversos and fake ones, to protect the sincere Christians;
- Converso refers to the Jews that converted during the mass baptisms of 1391 or thereafter, and their descendents;
- Nicolo Franco was the papal legate charged in 1475 to look into the converso problem in Castile.
- Isabel's approach: propose programs gradually, in order to build consensus among the people;
- Conversos still had strong connections to Jewish faith and practices, because of how their culture had evolved;
- 1481: 6 conversos, burned at stake, after secret denunciation and without public trial;
11. Readying (1478 - 81)
- 1479: peace with Portugal finally confirmed. Isabel married off to Afonso, heir to Portugal's kingdom.
- 1484-85: preparation of single compendium of Castilian law.
- nobles retained their economical powers, but had much less political influence
12. The Queen's War I (1482-85)
- Civil strife in Granada, to the royal's advantage
- Preparing (1482): first attack on the Moors is bad, but the Spanish don't retreat. Great engines of war were ordered. War against all Unbelievars/enemies of Catholic faith, but also an enterprise of recovery or territorial reconquest.
- A retreat & a prize (1483)
- Gaining the Vega (1484)
13. The Queen's War II (1486-92): Turks preparing for another attack in the West.
- Malaga (1487)
-> Boabdil promises to hand over Granada to the reys, when he will be able and in turn, reiceve a place in the eastern part of the kingdom.
-> Malaga capitulates months later, due to starvation.
-> Isabel & Fernando entered the city only after Talavera reconsecrated Malaga and all mosques became churches.
-> All Jews were taken out of Malaga and completely locked up, until ransom would be paid.
-> Most malaguenos became and remained slaves, since ransom for them was not paid.
- New Faces (1487-89)
-> los reyes go back to Aragon
-> Henry VII suggests marriage between Arthur and Catalina, who was only 3 years old/ treaty of Medina del Campo
- Baza (1489)
-> Campaign against Baza, to hem in al-Zagal, who after months, also surrenders
-> No battle, only negotiations
-> December 30, the royals wrote that the war was over
- Royal Wedding (1490)
-> Afonso of Portugal, 5 yrs younger than the infanta Isabel
-> Wedding was needed, because relations with Portugal were deteriorating;
-> 1491: Afonso falls from a horse and dies; the infanta returns to Castile;
-> New plans to go against Granada, but now there is some resistance from the populace;
-> When wanting to lay siege at Granada, Boabdil turned over initial plans, which was considered rebellion by the kings;
-> June 1492: Prince Juan comes of age at 13 and is knighted by Kind Fernando;
-> November 25, 1491: formal capitulation of Granada
Part III. Toward Empire
14. The View from Granada: The Grand Design (1492)
- with peace achieved, the next step was to advance into Africa and the Atlantic
- New military objective: Conquer Jerusalem, bring it back to Christianity, under the Spanish crown;
- a complex monetary and banking system emerged, with Seville as leading center.
15. The Expulsion of Jews (1492)
- decree given in Granada, whereas the Jews were invited to leave Spain within 3 months.
18.The Catholic Kings (1492 - 1499)
- 1492: the king is attacked and his life is in danger; From this point on, the queen is not only filled with sadness, but becomes much more contemplative.
- coming face to face with death, Isabel requests an overview of all that she owes others to start settling her debts;
- Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros - the queen's new confessor, who awakens the desire in her to study the life of Christ and the cross, as a way to get closer to God
- Pedro Gonzalez de Medoza, "the third king of Spain"
- Juan dies from the flu, after being married to Margaret of Habsburg.
- August 24, 1498, Isabel, the eldest daughter, dies in childbirth
19.The Queen and Her Daughter (1499 - 1504)
- upon return to Granada, there were still many Muslims left -> Cisneros threatened and held sermons to them, in hope they will get baptized.
- 1501: Muslim uprising -> another mass wave of baptism ensured and passage to Africa was granted for those defeated; it was forbidden for Muslims to stay, as it was considered that they interrupted the indoctrination of the converts;
- 1501: Miguel, the grandson of Isabel dies -> Juana, married to Philip of Burgundy, is next in line of succession;
- Maria married to Manoel of Portugal (widower of her sister Isabel) - sped up also by Portugal's need for an heir
- Maria had a happy marriage and a long life, mothering 7 children during her marriage to Manoel
- Catalina to be sent over to England only after Arthur turned 14, when they could consummate they marriage -> to counteract any deals Philip had discussed of marriage with his sister Margaret instead;
- Juana had a daughter with Philip, Leonor and a son, Charles, who would become King Charles I. of Spain and Charles V., the Holy Roman Emperor
- Charles was engaged to Claudia, daughter of Louis XII, but the royals strongly wanted Juana and Charles to stay in Spain, so that he could grow in the Spanish ways
- When Arthur dies of the plague, Isabel broaches the subject of having Catalina marry crown prince Henry, against at detriment of Margaret, sister of Philip
-1501: Juana starts showing signs of mental distress ("Juana la Loca")
- French vs. Spanish war in Italy in Naples, where it was clear that the Spanish would be winning -> Henry VII signs the contract for Catalina's marriage to future Henry VIII.
-As Juana's mental distress progressed, it also started to become visible that what ailed Isabel was actually a tumor -> Juana still showed 0 interest in affairs of state;
- Consumed by fever, on October 12 1504, Isabel signs her will.
- A codicil is added November 23 and she dies on November 26.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2016
My knowledge of Isabel, Queen of Castile, has been limited to what you learn about her involvement in the “discovery” of the Americas and the Inquisition and the fictional interpretation of her life in The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner. I endeavored to read this book as an assignment from class and selected it from the class syllabus, but I was very pleased to find out that this book was referenced as one of Gortner’s sources in his novel.
Isabel the Queen brings the reader into the world of Isabel by introducing the rule and times of her father, Juan, and half-brother, Enrique. The author includes this information as a means of establishing what Isabel had as her professional examples and to show the differences when Isabel became the Queen. I think that this worked well, but I did get a little tired reading statements like, “and it proved a costly mistake whose lessons would not be lost on Isabel” (Kindle loc. 757). The author makes it VERY clear with these kinds of statements to draw the divisions between Isabel and her brother especially.
This book was chock full of information on not just Isabel as a person, but also the world of Spain and Europe around her. It was very dense and not a book that you finish in a short period of time, believe me, it will take you awhile to read it all; this is certainly more of a research book than a fun reading book. However, you will come away from it with a new knowledge and appreciation of the time.
Any discussion of Isabel inevitably wades in the water of controversy with the portrayal of the Columbus expedition as well as the handling of the Spanish Inquisition and persecution of the Jews and Muslims. Liss doesn’t shy away from these controversial subject and does lay out the information, both positive and negative, but she doesn’t take a firm stance in either direction. As the book was originally published around the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ expedition and then was republished around the 500th anniversary of the death of Isabel it makes sense that she treads carefully around these subjects in order to take advantage of these dates.
I came away from this book with a much more concrete sense of who Isabel was as a person and as a Queen. I would recommend this book, but just know it might be a little denser than you are looking for.
This review was previously featured on The Maiden's Court blog.
Isabel the Queen brings the reader into the world of Isabel by introducing the rule and times of her father, Juan, and half-brother, Enrique. The author includes this information as a means of establishing what Isabel had as her professional examples and to show the differences when Isabel became the Queen. I think that this worked well, but I did get a little tired reading statements like, “and it proved a costly mistake whose lessons would not be lost on Isabel” (Kindle loc. 757). The author makes it VERY clear with these kinds of statements to draw the divisions between Isabel and her brother especially.
This book was chock full of information on not just Isabel as a person, but also the world of Spain and Europe around her. It was very dense and not a book that you finish in a short period of time, believe me, it will take you awhile to read it all; this is certainly more of a research book than a fun reading book. However, you will come away from it with a new knowledge and appreciation of the time.
Any discussion of Isabel inevitably wades in the water of controversy with the portrayal of the Columbus expedition as well as the handling of the Spanish Inquisition and persecution of the Jews and Muslims. Liss doesn’t shy away from these controversial subject and does lay out the information, both positive and negative, but she doesn’t take a firm stance in either direction. As the book was originally published around the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ expedition and then was republished around the 500th anniversary of the death of Isabel it makes sense that she treads carefully around these subjects in order to take advantage of these dates.
I came away from this book with a much more concrete sense of who Isabel was as a person and as a Queen. I would recommend this book, but just know it might be a little denser than you are looking for.
This review was previously featured on The Maiden's Court blog.
December 29, 2013
Mention Queen Isabel of Spain and where do people’s minds jump? Christopher Columbus, Inquisition, Reconquista.
Where did this strong-minded queen, who grew up in an extreme patriarchy, gain her determination to act as she did?
Events which took place during her early life may well have taught young Princess Isabel that a monarch must be strong. When her father the king died, her half-brother Enrique took the crown. Princess Isabel lived with her mother (also Isabel) in a small, out-of-the-way castle. She was very much aware that she and her mother had been shunted aside by the new king. On the other hand, the former queen and the Princess were hardly moldering in obscurity. The castle lay at the crossroad of several trade routes, and an enormous yearly faire attracted merchants from all over.
King Enrique was a weak king, easily swayed by his favorite courtiers. In fact, he seemed content to let them rule while he hunted and enjoyed his menagerie of exotic animals. When he conducted war, the king seemed to make a mockery of it all, reminding his fiery knights of the value of each human life, and ordering them not to cut down fruit trees. King Enrique didn’t show the moral courage a Catholic Majesty should, by passing laws against Jews and Muslims in his territory. Instead, he allowed them to live in the royal city, and even gave them prestigious posts.
(In Granada, the Muslim rulers often had Jewish advisors.)
Most embarrassing of all, he seemed incapable of siring an heir on his wife… and rumors abounded that he allowed his favorites to engender a daughter on his wife. King Enrique had to produce medical proof that he was capable of siring children, but his daughter was called by someone else’s name.
Isabella learned from her half-brother that a king – a monarch – must listen to advisors but hold royal opinion above all; must conduct war with vim and vigor and viciousness,; must hold moral war against infidels within the kingdom: a powerful trifecta which led her to a reign filled with powerful acts.
Contrasting with King Enrique of Castile was Prince Henrique the Navigator of Portugal. His bold and daring voyages no doubt influenced the future Queen’s opinion of one Genoese sailor, Cristoforo Colombo.
King Enrique changed his mind several times about who his half-sister would marry, and whether she or his (his?) daughter would inherit Castile. Perhaps that, too, influenced the princess. A monarch must never change her mind. Ever. Even if she’s wrong. Not that Divine Will would allow a moral monarch to be wrong – therefore a monarch must remain forever moral, and keep divine favor.
Behind every great man is a great woman – and behind this great Queen was another great Queen. Princess Isabel’s mother Isabel was a strong character, daughter of a strong character. She taught young Isabella of strong queens from Castile and Portugal, and of Joan of Arc who heard divine voices and fought and led armies. Also, she and the local priests taught the princess that a woman must be modest and chaste, and not bold in her speech.
The princess must have snickered behind her pious agreement.
On the other hand, Isabel the Queen balanced the two. She was queen-regnant of Castile, a ruler in her own right – but she was a dutiful wife to her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. She was a good mother to her young daughter Isabel, but she rode her horse all around Spain while in her ninth month, and her son was still-born.
As to Inquisition – they never killed Jews, only heretic Christians. Once Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand had conquered the land that once belonged to their Visigoth ancestors (which, centuries ago, the Muslims had dared to conquer – no, treacherously steal! How dare someone take someone else’s land by conquest!) they turned their cleansing sword on the unbelievers within their own borders: Convert, leave, or die. Many converted, and no one believed that it was legitimate religious zeal. The new conversos were watched for Judaizing tendencies.
With the estates of heretic split between the Crown and the Church, no wonder Queen Isabel insisted that accusations be kept anonymous, lest accusers be afraid to come forth.
What effect did the Inquisition have on children? The chapter on Inquisition tells us that several years after the inquisition started, but before the expulsion, the prince and his friends were playing Inquisition. They drew lots as to who would be the judge and who, the accused. The junior judges “read the sentences, stripped the condemned, and were tying them to the stake when an older page…. Ran to the Queen’s apartments. Isabella… hiked her skirts and hurried out , to find the boys at the point of garroting their victims.” Isabella smacked the prince, then had the children untied and wrapped in cloaks. It seems that children really do play in imitation of their elders.
Isabel. Powerful Queen, sponsor of burning people alive, sponsor of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Her life makes an interesting story. I’m glad I didn’t live through it.
5 stars.
Where did this strong-minded queen, who grew up in an extreme patriarchy, gain her determination to act as she did?
Events which took place during her early life may well have taught young Princess Isabel that a monarch must be strong. When her father the king died, her half-brother Enrique took the crown. Princess Isabel lived with her mother (also Isabel) in a small, out-of-the-way castle. She was very much aware that she and her mother had been shunted aside by the new king. On the other hand, the former queen and the Princess were hardly moldering in obscurity. The castle lay at the crossroad of several trade routes, and an enormous yearly faire attracted merchants from all over.
King Enrique was a weak king, easily swayed by his favorite courtiers. In fact, he seemed content to let them rule while he hunted and enjoyed his menagerie of exotic animals. When he conducted war, the king seemed to make a mockery of it all, reminding his fiery knights of the value of each human life, and ordering them not to cut down fruit trees. King Enrique didn’t show the moral courage a Catholic Majesty should, by passing laws against Jews and Muslims in his territory. Instead, he allowed them to live in the royal city, and even gave them prestigious posts.
(In Granada, the Muslim rulers often had Jewish advisors.)
Most embarrassing of all, he seemed incapable of siring an heir on his wife… and rumors abounded that he allowed his favorites to engender a daughter on his wife. King Enrique had to produce medical proof that he was capable of siring children, but his daughter was called by someone else’s name.
Isabella learned from her half-brother that a king – a monarch – must listen to advisors but hold royal opinion above all; must conduct war with vim and vigor and viciousness,; must hold moral war against infidels within the kingdom: a powerful trifecta which led her to a reign filled with powerful acts.
Contrasting with King Enrique of Castile was Prince Henrique the Navigator of Portugal. His bold and daring voyages no doubt influenced the future Queen’s opinion of one Genoese sailor, Cristoforo Colombo.
King Enrique changed his mind several times about who his half-sister would marry, and whether she or his (his?) daughter would inherit Castile. Perhaps that, too, influenced the princess. A monarch must never change her mind. Ever. Even if she’s wrong. Not that Divine Will would allow a moral monarch to be wrong – therefore a monarch must remain forever moral, and keep divine favor.
Behind every great man is a great woman – and behind this great Queen was another great Queen. Princess Isabel’s mother Isabel was a strong character, daughter of a strong character. She taught young Isabella of strong queens from Castile and Portugal, and of Joan of Arc who heard divine voices and fought and led armies. Also, she and the local priests taught the princess that a woman must be modest and chaste, and not bold in her speech.
The princess must have snickered behind her pious agreement.
On the other hand, Isabel the Queen balanced the two. She was queen-regnant of Castile, a ruler in her own right – but she was a dutiful wife to her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. She was a good mother to her young daughter Isabel, but she rode her horse all around Spain while in her ninth month, and her son was still-born.
As to Inquisition – they never killed Jews, only heretic Christians. Once Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand had conquered the land that once belonged to their Visigoth ancestors (which, centuries ago, the Muslims had dared to conquer – no, treacherously steal! How dare someone take someone else’s land by conquest!) they turned their cleansing sword on the unbelievers within their own borders: Convert, leave, or die. Many converted, and no one believed that it was legitimate religious zeal. The new conversos were watched for Judaizing tendencies.
With the estates of heretic split between the Crown and the Church, no wonder Queen Isabel insisted that accusations be kept anonymous, lest accusers be afraid to come forth.
What effect did the Inquisition have on children? The chapter on Inquisition tells us that several years after the inquisition started, but before the expulsion, the prince and his friends were playing Inquisition. They drew lots as to who would be the judge and who, the accused. The junior judges “read the sentences, stripped the condemned, and were tying them to the stake when an older page…. Ran to the Queen’s apartments. Isabella… hiked her skirts and hurried out , to find the boys at the point of garroting their victims.” Isabella smacked the prince, then had the children untied and wrapped in cloaks. It seems that children really do play in imitation of their elders.
Isabel. Powerful Queen, sponsor of burning people alive, sponsor of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Her life makes an interesting story. I’m glad I didn’t live through it.
5 stars.
August 23, 2014
An excellent biography of a pivotal Spanish queen. The author explores Isabel's childhood, ascent to the throne of Castile, and the various policies she pursued as queen, such as the Reconquista, the Inquisition, and funding Columbus's explorations. The personality of Isabel which emerges does not appear to have been pleasant, as Liss explains that Isabel viewed vengeance as justified and including Jewish expulsion from neighboring realms in the marriage negotiations of her children. Leaving little untouched, Liss makes a good case for Isabel's personal influence as a monarch and lasting influence on her descendants.
July 7, 2010
A nice book, if a bit hagiographical. The author spends a bit too much time on what I think are rather trivial concerns (like the 4 pages of a speech given to Isabella by Talavera), but it's an excellent introduction to Isabella's personality.
May 24, 2008
Women can rule as ruthlessly as men. The writing is dense but the story of the conquest of Spain and the inquisition is amazing.
July 20, 2016
Easy to read and yet factually written, I learned fascinating stories about Isabel's world and life that I had never known before. Very helpful in my report for Spanish class!
March 16, 2015
Link to my review of this book:
http://flhwnotesandreviews.com/2015/0...
http://flhwnotesandreviews.com/2015/0...
April 8, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed, but, struggled rather a lot, although it did get better towards the end, with the way the book was written, because really, there were just so many commas.
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