Imperial Spain, 1474–1560

Imperial Spain, 1474–1560

The Unification of Spain

  • In 1469, Isabella of Castile married Ferdinand of Aragon, uniting the two most important Spanish kingdoms.
  • After the death of King Henry IV in 1474, Isabella was declared queen of Castile with her husband as co-monarch.
  • The consolidation of the rule of Isabella and Ferdinand, known as the Catholic Monarchs, led to the formation of a unified Spain.

The Conquest of Granada

  • The Catholic Monarchs aimed to solidify their rule by completing the Reconquista, the Christian re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
  • In 1492, the Kingdom of Granada, the final stronghold of the Moors in Spain, fell to the combined Castilian-Aragonese forces, ending almost eight centuries of Muslim rule in Spain.

The Spanish Inquisition

  • Initiated by the Catholic Monarchs in 1478, the Spanish Inquisition was a powerful force for religious conformity in Spain.
  • The Inquisition aimed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and suppress heresy. Jews, Muslims, Protestants, and other non-Christians were especially targeted.

Christopher Columbus and the New World

  • In 1492, Genoan explorer Christopher Columbus reached the Americas under the sponsorship of the Catholic Monarchs. This marked the beginning of the Age of Discovery.
  • The success of Columbus’ voyages created the opportunity for Spain to establish its vast colonial empire in the Americas.

Habsburg Dynasty

  • Through strategic marriages, the Catholic Monarchs combined their kingdom with Austria and the Netherlands under the Habsburg Dynasty. Ferdinand and Isabella’s grandson, Charles, became the most powerful monarch in Europe.
  • Charles V succeeded Ferdinand as king of Aragon and co-monarch of Castile with his mother Joanna, uniting Spain under a single rule.

Expansion Under Charles V

  • Charles V strove to keep the vast Habsburg Empire intact and fend off the Ottoman Empire, which threatened Spain and Europe as a whole.
  • Charles also faced the challenge of the Protestant Reformation during his reign, and despite his efforts, was unable to restore Catholic unity across Europe.

Philip II and the Golden Age

  • After Charles V’s abdication, his son Philip II became the king of Spain. His reign is considered the height of Spain’s power and influence, often referred to as Spain’s Golden Age.
  • Under Philip II, Spain reached its peak in power, wealth, and cultural influence with the conquest of the Portuguese Empire, the ongoing exploitation of the Americas, and the flourishing of the arts and literature.

The Powers of Europe

  • Despite its immense power under Charles V and Philip II, Spain faced challenges and rivals. It struggled with the Protestant-led rebellion in the Netherlands and threats from England under Elizabeth I, resulting in the unsuccessful Armada of 1588.
  • Imperial Spain had much influence in the world but overstretching resources and religious conflict eventually led to its decline.