The Catholic Monarchs #982637

The Catholic Monarchs explores one of the most decisive periods in Spanish history: the reign of Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon. Their marriage transformed the political balance of the Iberian Peninsula and laid the foundations for a powerful monarchy capable of influencing Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic world.

From the War of Castilian Succession and the conquest of Granada to the Alhambra Decree, the Spanish Inquisition, and the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, this book examines the achievements, ambitions, and contradictions of an extraordinary age. It also follows the rise of Cardinal Cisneros, Spain's rivalry with France in the Italian Wars, the tragedy of Juana la Loca, and Fernando's final years as regent.