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A Level History Spain Ferdinand and Isabella Course Notes
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A* Standard Ferdinand and Isabella Notes for A Level AQA Spain. Written by an A* student who will study History at University.
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SPAIN- HISTORY A-LEVEL 2019-2021
The Catholic Monarchs
,Topic 1 - Accessions of Ferdinand and Isabella -
The Key Features of the Marriage Agreement-
• Isabella was to rule as Queen as Castile no power in Aragon.,]
• Equally, Ferdinand was not to rule in Castile, he had to acknowledge the supremacy of his wife in all matters.
• Ferdinand will live in Castile, not leave unless he gets permission from Isabella.
• He could not conduct political business without consent of Isabella.
• Laws and declarations would be singed jointly.
• Ferdinand would supply money 100,000 gold florins and troops 4,000 if needed.
• The Children would be brought up in Castile.
• Ferdinand promised to respect Aragonese Fueros.
• Ferdinand has no right to rule Castile if Isabella died.
• They married October 19th, 1469
Unity?
The Crowns were intended to keep separate, the differences between Castile and Aragon meant it unlikely that a dynastic
marriage would unify them. PERSONAL union, two monarchs collaborated, and it was only them who were any join. A
successor could inherit both. There were still areas of the Iberian peninsular not under their control. FP would be a
interest.
Henry IV’s Rule
Growing instability in his latter period of his reign, the disputed succession was a key issue- Isabella and Joanna “La
Beltranjea’” the Bastard. Alfonso of Portugal was prepared to join the struggle. Nobel power on the up.
The War of Succession
Isabella’s Character?
Half Brother of Henry IV. Determined and Dynamic, independent, she insisted on her marriage to Ferdinand
over Alfonso. She visited many towns and dealt with issues in person.
She attempts consolidated her position and rule by…
- Promises, titles, grants, taxation.
- Deviance and Duplicitous Tactics, undermining opposition noble like Marquis of Villena by offering his
vassals royal protection if they rebel.
- Force- Towns could be forced into surrendering if they did not comply e.g. Cordoba, she ordered
execution of Juan de Cordoba for holding the alcazar at Toledo against her.
Joanna’s Supporters?
- Several major noble families, Archbishop Carillo, King Alfonso and France.
Isabella fortified strategic points and concluded a truce with Moors of Granada.
Nobel Support?
She was prepared to award her followers with Royal Patronage through…
- Title and appointments, Cardinal Mendoza Chancellorship, Enriquez Admiral of Castile.
- She confirmed the award of noble titles (hidalgos) and grants mercedes) distributed under Henry IV.
- She promised to investigate the tax collection process (by which taxes were collected and then passed
onto the nobility – there were persistent accusations that relatively little tax ever reached the nobility.
- She also launched a propaganda campaign, she attacked motives of Joanna and Alfonso, based on Joanna
illegitimacy, she claimed people only supported Jo for personal gain.
,The Military Role of Ferdinand-
He was vital as a military leader in the war of succession, he directed military actions vs rebellious towns,
operations vs the Marquis of Villena, the most significant opponent among the nobility. He also helped to deal
with Portugal, the Battle of Toro fought on 1 March 1476, although not a victory for either side, but it had the
effect of helping to ensure that Isabella’s growing position was secure – it has been said that the battle was
“Not a military victory, but a political victory” for Isabella. Portugal did not continue its offensive.
Support of the towns
- Isabella had to actively work to try to secure the support of the towns. This was in many ways more
problematic than dealing with the nobility in these early years.
- She adopted policies of ‘attraction’ – offering privileges, guarantees and liberties if a town would
submit to her.
- Use of ‘corregidores’ to apply a direct presence of royal influence, only 44 towns had corregidores
by 1479.
Formation of the “Hermandad”
- Resurrection of this medieval institution under royal control, these “brotherhoods” were intended
to provide ability to restore order in local areas, they existed a little in some towns.
- In 1476 the establishment of the “Santa Hermandad” was the ability of the crown of Castile to tap
into resources which could be used vs Resistance if necessary.
- Grants of troops and money were extracted from the towns through the “Santa Hermandad”-
despite calls for its disbandment it continued in existence, useful for raising troops in the Granada
war.
Failure of Portuguese
- They have been interested in Castile for some time under Henry IV. Alfonso invaded during the war
of succession and the only battle of significance even though inconclusive was Toro in March 1476.
- The birth of a daughter to Isabella in 1478 and the peace with France meant that Portugal had little
prospects. The Treaty of Alcacovas in 1479 declared that both sides would not press claims on each
other.
-
In what condition was the Crown of Aragon when it was inherited by Ferdinand in 1479?
- Catalonia had been affected by a form of civil war for the best part of a decade (this had furthered
the decline of Barcelona which had been occurring previously). Ferdinand’s father, John, stated that
“the principality is greatly destroyed” (be careful this is not the whole of the crown of Aragon, c.f.
rise of Valencia).
1478- Birth of John meant that line of succession was established and gave the impression god was with them,
the pope refused marriage of Joanna and Alfonso.
June 1479- Ferdinand became king of Aragon could use his resources, there was little troops from Aragon but
advice and supplies. e.g the famous oath taken by the Aragonese Cortes in Zaragoza when swearing allegiance
to the king – “We who are as good as you swear to you who are no better than we, to accept you as our king
and sovereign lord, provided you observe all our liberties and laws; and if not, not”.
, Royal Authority, Government,
Administration and Nobles.
“New Monarchy” – this term is sometimes used to refer to the rule of Isabella of Castile and
Ferdinand of Aragon (and even extending beyond Isabella’s death in 1504 up to the end of
Ferdinand’s reign in 1516).
The Key principles are…
- the unification of hitherto separate dynastic lands- with children,
- centralisation of political/military power in hands of monarch (aided by university trained
lawyers from the ‘middle classes’ – ‘letrados’)
- innovative/more efficient methods in government
- increased royal income
- reduction in noble power
- more royal power over the Church
- foreign policy that aimed at exerting control over peripheral areas of the state.
The methods and approaches did Isabella and Ferdinand use
to rule their kingdoms
Many of these were methods to control towns
1. Personal Rule
- Largely a personal government and rule, no rooted institutions or bureaucracy, not even a capital, there
were some bodies of power but not significant. They strengthened their grip on royal authority. A highly
peripatetic rule, the royal presence was key here.
- The constant movement around Castile was vital in meeting, discussing, and providing the royal presence
to enhance the measures of control and governance which were required. This style of kingship was
essential when there was no centralised administration, no standing army, little bureaucracy (especially in
the provinces) and insecurity of royal revenue. Indeed, to some extent it could be argued that the
peripatetic monarchy was able to offset the (costly) requirements for many of these things.
- Until 1504 every Castilian town had received at least one royal visit – some larger ones (Burgos, Seville,
Toledo) received over 10.
- Ferdinand exercised royal authority through his wife’s status
- The exercise of such authority was rather easier in Castile than in Aragon, where it was always subject to
the ‘fueros’ and other such strictly upheld restrictions on royal authority. Yet, at the same time there
was never any attempt to unite the kingdoms; they were always treated separately.
- Of course, there was a problem – extended absence of Ferd. in Castile meant that he had to rely on
viceroys and regents in his Aragonese kingdoms. During his 37-year reign (1479-1516) he spent less than
four years in Catalonia, less than three in Aragon, only six months in Valencia.
- It was the sheer effort of the monarchs that meant this personal peripatetic rule worked, . Kamen, p.17 –
“the king and queen were fully aware that their own personal presence was the strongest
guarantee of law and order.”
- The monarchs pursued conservative policies not new ones controlling castile and spent the majority of
the time there, close attention payed to the operation of the policies and it was backed up by personal
appearances Kamen reinforces this by emphasising the essentially medieval concept of the monarchs’
kingship – “there was much emphasis on the fact that the monarchs carried out their duties faithfully:
‘she was much inclined to do justice’,
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