Queen isabella and king ferdinand biography definition us history

They married on October 19, , in the city of Valladolid ; Isabella was 18 years old and Ferdinand a year younger. Most scholars generally accept that the unification of Spain can essentially be traced back to the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella. Their reign was called by W. Prescott "the most glorious epoch in the annals of Spain".

Spain was formed as a dynastic union of two crowns rather than a unitary state, as Castile and Aragon remained separate kingdoms until the Nueva Planta decrees of — The court of Ferdinand and Isabella was constantly on the move, in order to bolster local support for the crown from local feudal lords. The title of " Catholic King and Queen " was officially bestowed on Ferdinand and Isabella by Pope Alexander VI in , [ 4 ] in recognition of their defence of the Catholic faith within their realms.

Ferdinand and isabella significance

At the time of their marriage on October 19, , Isabella was eighteen years old and the heiress presumptive to the Crown of Castile , while Ferdinand was seventeen and heir apparent to the Crown of Aragon. They met for the first time in Valladolid in and married within a week. From the start, they had a close relationship and worked well together.

Both knew that the crown of Castile was "the prize, and that they were both jointly gambling for it". They were second cousins; to marry they needed a papal dispensation.