Page 18 - All About History - Issue 19-14

Kings & Queens

Top 5 facts

ISABELLA OF

CASTILE

UNIFYING FORCE OF SPAIN AND

DEFENDER OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH

01 SHE WAS

THE FIRST

WOMAN ON A US

DOLLAR COIN
In 1893, just over 400
years after Columbus’s
fateful voyage, a coin
was issued in the United
States with Isabella’s
image on it. That same
year she also became the ISABELLA OF CASTILE
Spanish, 1451-1504
first woman featured on
a commemorative US Also known as Isabella
Brief the Catholic, Isabella
postage stamp, when she Bio was the queen of
Castile and Leon
from 1474 to 1504.
was shown alongside During her reign she cleared
Columbus on the eight- the kingdoms of enormous
debt, introduced a number of
governmental reforms, brought
cent stamp. the crime rate to the lowest in
years and was responsible for
the unification of Spain.

Columbus wouldn’t She created the Henry VIII was her She had a marriage
02 have found 03 Spanish Inquisition 04 son in law 05 prenuptial
America without her Isabella and her husband Ferdinand Of her seven children, two were When Isabella of Castile married
It was with Isabella’s backing that II established the notorious Spanish stillborn. Five lived to see adulthood, Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469 they
Christopher Columbus was able to Inquisition to ensure that Jews and one of whom was Joanna, nicknamed joined their two kingdoms together,
afford his voyage that led to the Muslims who had recently converted ‘Joanna the mad’ for her mental although they maintained elements
discovery of the New World, which to Christianity were keeping to their instability. However, her daughter of independence. Before their union
brought wealth and new lands to new faith. She also commanded that Catherine of Aragon went on to a prenuptial was signed saying they
Spain. When Native Americans were all Jews and Muslims in Spain who become the first wife of Henry VIII, would share power under the saying
brought back as slaves Isabella refused to convert to Christianity be making Isabella the grandmother of ‘tanto monta, monta tanto’ – ‘equal
demanded they be set free. immediately exiled. Queen Mary I of England. opposites in balance.’

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