Queen Isabella I
Marriage in Europe
April 22, 1451 - November 26, 1504
Role of Women: 1450-1750
Isabella was crowned queen of Castile in 1474, only 3 days after the death of Henry IV, her half-brother who took the throne after the death of her father, King John II of Castile. This began the War of Castilian Succession; due to the fact some believed Juana, Henry's daughter, was the true queen. In 1476, Isabella and Ferdinand won the war and put an end to those who doubted their right to rule.
In Europe, arranged marriages were common, and most parents chose husbands for their daughters. In Italy however, women started to resist the idea, and made appeals to the Catholic Church. Many women were successful in their disputes because the church believed that both the bride and groom should agree with the marriage. In Isabella's case, Henry IV ineffectively arranged for her marriage with many other men. Instead, she made her own decision to marry Prince Ferdinand without Henry's approval, and ended up having a successful marriage.
Ferdinand and Isabella were married on October 19, 1469. This would make Isabella 18 years old at the time of her marriage. This is relatively young compared to Europe between 1600 and 1850. During that time, it was common for men and women to marry sometime in their mid to late twenties. The reason for this trend was the belief that a couple should establish a household and the necessary resources to support a family. Throughout the rest of the world, however, most women were married in their late teens.
With the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united. Together, they were able to expand and reunite Spain by reconquering lands previously controlled by the Moors. Furthermore, the Spanish Inquisition was enacted, forcing all non-Catholics to leave the empire, which became entirely Roman Catholic. Isabella was nicknamed "The Catholic" by the pope because of her determination to "purify the faith."
Despite her many achievements, most people recognize Isabella as the sponsor for the voyages of Columbus in 1492. In return, the newly discovered lands were brought under the control of Spain, which benefited from trade with the Americas. Isabella also strongly believed the native people should be treated fairly, and not used as slaves. She spoke out against others who attempted to use the Native Americans in an unjust way. In her will, she even expressed her worry about the treatment of the natives by other nations.
Isabella was also interested in the arts. She learned Latin, and also served as a patron for many artists and scholars. She collected many pieces of artwork in addition to establishing several educational institutions throughout her reign.
Patriarchal societies have been dominant throughout history. However, in parts of Southeast Asia, certain aspects of culture were in favor of women. For example, a couple would move into the bride’s village instead of the husband’s, as was customary in China. Also, the groom paid a dowry to the bride, instead of the other way around, as it was in Europe. In the markets of Southeastern Asia, women made up a significant percent of the traders and owners of businesses. This surprised many European merchants who were not used to trading with women. Even with such a significant role in the economic aspect of society, power in the government still resided in the hands of men. Women were depicted as faithful and dependent. Isabella's actions would not fit this interpretation of a woman. In the Spanish monarchy, Isabella exhibited equal influence in the government and was responsible for much of its success.
"Tanto monta, monta tanto- Isabel como Fernando"
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