Isabella. The "Catholic Monarch" who started the Holy Inquisition and sent Columbus to the ends of the Earth. He was in favor of torture, but against slavery
Isabella was born on April 22, 1451 and was the daughter of the King of Castile, John II. She may have been born a princess, but by the time she became queen, she had to go through "forty waves".
After the death of her father in 1454, the throne was taken over by her half-brother, Henry V. In 1467, the nobles of Castile revolted against him and asked him to name his younger brother, Alfonso, as his successor.
Alfonso died a year after the agreement was formalized and then the nobles asked for Isabella to be named successor.
To end the war between the king and the nobles, Isabella came to the following conciliation with her brother: Henry would call her successor, she would take his leave before she got married, but he too could not impose a "groom" on her. .
Illegal marriage
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| The secret marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand. |
Isabella was in great demand as a bride. Beyond her beauty, which was praised by all who knew her, it was a turbulent time for the kingdoms of Europe, who were constantly striving to form alliances through marriage. Her brother tried to marry her to many European monarchs, but she rejected them all.
She decided who her future husband would be and arranged everything secretly from her brother.
On October 19, 1469, she married Ferdinand, son of the King of Aragon.
In order not to get news from them, Isabella's brother, their wedding took place outside Castile.
To leave the palace, Isabella pretended to be going to the grave of her brother Alfonso, while Ferdinand crossed Castile disguised as a servant.
Religious persecution and the Inquisition
Spain had not experienced religious strife and bigotry. The "factions" of Christians, Muslims and Jews lived harmoniously. The highlight was the city of Toledo, where the mixing of different cultures led to artistic masterpieces.
But all good things come to an end.
In 1478 Ferdinand and Isabella decided to unite their subjects under Catholicism and ordered the mass persecution of Jews and Muslims.
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| The tradition of the Muslims in Ferdinand and Isabella |
They instituted the Inquisition, the "religious court," which for decades would apply some of the most inhumane torture in history. It started in the Kingdom of Castile, but quickly spread throughout Spain.
The official "premiere" of the Holy Inquisition took place in Castile in 1481, where six people were burned at the stake.
Many Jews and Muslims "converted" to avoid punishment.
The stigma, however, followed them and at the first opportunity, they were arrested and brutally tortured, while the most unfortunate were burned alive.
In 1492 the royal couple issued a final order.
All the Jews of Spain had four months to convert to Catholicism or be exiled once and for all from their homeland.
Huge numbers, some historians say 200,000, others 40,000 left and left behind homes, friends and huge fortunes.
Pope Sixtus IV named Ferdinand and Isabella "Catholic Monarchs" to honor their efforts for "religious purification."
The discovery of the "New World"
1492 was an important year for Isabella. Christopher Columbus was among the thousands of people he sent to "abroad".
Of course, Columbus did it of his own free will. He had approached the queen in order to ask her to finance his mission, that is, to find a new way for the Indians.
Isabella agreed and Columbus embarked on the historic journey that changed the world map.
He returned a year later, after discovering the "New World". He brought with him gold and natives, who were destined for slaves. Isabella opposed the idea of slavery, but Columbus disobeyed her orders.
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| Ferdinand and Isabella welcome Columbus |
By 1498, many ships from the "West Indies" had arrived, full of natives for sale, some of which belonged to Columbus himself.
Isabella ordered the ship's captains to return the natives to their homeland and set them free.
He was so angry that he replaced Columbus as governor of Hispaniola.
It is said, however, that when the great explorer returned to Spain and appeared before the queen old, afflicted and with chains on his hands, she burst into tears and forgave him at once.
Queen Isabella passed away on November 26, 1504, at the age of 53. He left behind a kingdom in its heyday and an eternal mark on religious history and human civilization.