Catholic Monarchs: Ferdinand And Isabella

Hernán de Pulgar, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile’s chronicler, wrote “Although they are monarchs, they are human beings”. Just like any people. Ferdinand and Isabella had beliefs, emotions, opinions and made mistakes. Ferdinand and Isabella were given the name “Catholic Monarchs” by Pope Alexander VI in 1496 due to their beliefs and how they promoted Christianity in their reign. Ferdinand and Isabella were very ambitious leaders who wanted themselves and Spain to be very powerful, as the Castilian monarchy controlled most of western Spain while the Aragonese monarchy controlled some of eastern Spain. Having recently gotten power by uniting Aragon and Castile, their power was still unstable, and many threats were coming towards

Navarre was a small and independent territory that didn’t pose a threat to Aragonese and Castilian power, but it would later be conquered by Ferdinand in 1506. However, Muslim-ruled Granada posted a threat to Ferdinand and Isabella’s new and powerful kingdom. Diego de Valera, a 15th century Spanish writer and historian, believed that they were “chosen by God to increase the Christian religion.” Isabella and Ferdinand were told and believed that they were the rightful leaders. They were cousins, and were both part of the House of Trastámara in Spain and were told that their job was to restore the Visigothic empire, which was conquered by Arab troops in the 8th century, and promote the Roman Catholic religion. In their conviction and familial power, they were convinced that their power relied on them spreading

Therefore, they took the next step in their mission by persecuting Jews. Jews were already put in a vulnerable position in Spanish society and forced to pay special taxes. Ferdinand and Isabella treated the Jews similarly to the way that they treated the Muslims. Jews were given an option to convert, leave, or be killed. Spanish authorities issued an order stating, “Depart and never return. All Jews and Jewesses of whatever age they may be who live, reside and exist in our said kingdoms”. Jews were forced to leave Spain, leaving behind their goods and money and bringing with them only what they could carry. William Hickling Prescott, a 19th century American historian, said that the Spanish officials and soldiers were “breaking into houses, violated their most private sanctuaries, scattering their costly collections and furniture, and cosigning the wretched proprietors to indiscriminate massacre, without regard to sex or age”. Peter Martyr of Anghiera, a 15th century humanist scholar, wrote, “My sovereigns were the wisest of men to think of exterminating that despicable and infected herd [Jews].” Even a humanist believed that killing and expelling Jews from Spain would be a good course of action. Isabella and Ferdinand’s ambitious actions were completely endorsed by their Catholic subjects. At this point, Ferdinand and Isabella had already killed so many people that