Page 62 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

60  INTRODUCING SP AIN

The Catholic Monarchs

The foundation of the Spanish nation-state was laid by Isabel I
of Castile and Fernando II of Aragón (see p74). Uniting their
lands in military, diplomatic and religious matters, the
“Catholic Monarchs”, as they are known, won back Granada,
the last Moorish kingdom, from Boabdil. The Inquisition
gave Spain a reputation for intolerance, yet in art and
architecture brilliant progress was made and the voyages Spain’s Exploration of
the New World
of Columbus opened up the New World.
Route of Columbus’s
first voyage
Tomb of El Doncel (15th century)
This effigy of a page who died in the fight
for Granada combines ideals of military
glory and learning (see p386).

Alhambra
Boabdil, the grief-
stricken king, moves
forward to hand over
the keys to Granada.

The Inquisition
Active from 1478, the Inquisition
(see p278) persecuted those
suspected of heresy with
increasing vigour. This member
of the Brotherhood of Death
took victims to the stake.

Baptizing Jews
After the Christian
reconquest of The Fall of Granada (1492)
Granada, Jews
were forced to This romantic interpretation by Francisco
convert or leave Pradilla (1846 –1921) reflects the chivalry of
Spain. The con­ Boabdil, ruler of Granada, as he surrenders
versos (converted the keys of the last Moorish kingdom to the
Jews) were often Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel,
treated badly. following ten long years of war.

1454 Enrique IV, Isabel’s 1478 Papal bull authorizes
half-brother, accedes to Castilian Inquisition with
throne of Castile 1465 Civil Tomás de Torquemada
war erupts as Inquisitor General
in Castile
Torquemada
1450 1460 1470 1480
1451 Birth 1469 Marriage of Fernando 1479 Fernando
of Isabel and Isabel in Valladolid unites becomes
of Castile Castile and Aragón Fernando II
1474 Death of Enrique IV leads to civil war; Isabel of Aragón
Statue of Isabel in a park
near the Royal Palace triumphs over Juana la Beltraneja, Enrique’s
supposed daughter, to become queen

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