Isabella I

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Isabella I, portrait by an unknown artist; in the Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain.—Archivo Mas, Barcelona

(born April 22, 1451, Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Castile—died Nov. 26, 1504, Medina del Campo, Spain) Queen of Castile (1474–1504) and of Aragon (1479–1504). Daughter of John II of Castile and León, she married Ferdinand V in 1469. Her reign began with civil war over her succession (1474–79), but in 1479 the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon came together in the persons of their rulers, though they remained separately governed. In a long campaign (1482–92), Isabella and Ferdinand succeeded in conquering Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain. In 1492 Isabella approved support of Christopher Columbus's journey to the New World. That same year she was involved in the expulsion of the Jews under the Inquisition. Along with her spiritual advisers, she reformed the Spanish churches.

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