-
Apr 22, 1451
Isabel's birth
Isabel was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, a village in Ávila, Spain. Her mother was Isabel of Portugal and her father was Juan II of Castilla. -
1454
Isabel's brothers
Isabel's half brother reached the throne and became King Enrique IV of Castilla. Isabel and her younger brother, Alonso, went to live with their mad mother. In this time, Isabel spent most of her time reading and learning by her own. -
1461
Isabel travels to Segovia
Isabel and her brother Alonso travelled to the court in Segovia to be closer to their half brother, Enrique IV, and his wife who was going to have a child, Juana ("la Beltraneja"). -
1468
Alonso dies and Isabel becomes princess
With only fifteen years old, Isabel's brother, Alonso was poisoned and died. That same year Isabel became the Princess of Asturias because of the Treaty of Guisando's Bulls ("Tratado de los Toros de Guisando"). -
1469
Isabel's wedding
Isabel married Prince Fernando II of Aragón, son of King Juan II of Aragón. The wedding was in secret because it was against her half brother's, Enrique IV, wishes. -
1470
Isabel's first daughter
Isabel gave birth to her first daughter, Isabel of Aragón. She successively married two kings of Portugal, Alfonso and Manuel I. She died in 1497. -
1474
King Enrique IV dies
King Enrique IV died and Isabel became Queen of Castilla instead of Juana, Enrique's daughter, because of an agreement that was signed some years before (The Guisando's Treaty). -
Period: 1475 to 1479
The Civil War in Castilla
The people that were in favor of Queen Isabel I, fighted agaist the ones who were in favor of Juana I of Castilla. The war finished with the Treaty of Alcovas, in which Fernando and Isabel were recognised as king and queen of Castilla, in exchange of giving some concessions to Portugal. -
1478
Isabel's first son
Isabel gave birth to her first son, Juan of Aragón. He married Margarita of Austria but because of his bad health, he died in 1497, so he didn't reach the throne of Castilla and Aragón. -
1479
Isabel's second daughter
Isabel gave birth to her second daughter, Juana of Castilla. She married Felipe of Hansburgo (Felipe the Beauty), brother of Margarita of Austria. After her mother's dead, she became the queen of Castilla and Aragón. She was called "Juana the mad" and after her husband's death, she lived her last 47 years locked up in Tordesillas, first by her father and then by her son, Carlos I. -
1480
The "Holy" Inquisition
Isabel established the "Holy" Inquisition, a religious organization that was in charge of controlling the religious practice in the territory. -
1482
Isabel's third daugther
Isabel gave birth to María of Aragón. She married Manuel I of Portugal, the second and last husband of her sister Isabel. She died in 1517. -
Period: 1482 to 1492
The Granada War
Isabel and her children were always close to Fernando during war time, they used to be prepared and help their army to do their best. Isabel's help was decisive in the surrender of Baza, in Granada, she visited the soldiers, that were in the front line of battle, to encourage them and when the enemy saw her, they gave up; they surrendered to their brave queen and not to their fighting king. She also made a great job helping in the field hospitals after the battles. -
1485
Isabel's fourth daughter
Isabel gave birth to her last daughter, Catalina of Aragón. She married Enrique VIII of England and she died in 1536. -
1492
The discovery of America
Isabel sopported and subsidized Cristobal Colón's expeditions to América. Then she began the mission to evangelize indigenous people. -
1496
The Catholic Kings
Fernando and Isabel received the title of "Catholic Kings" from Pope Alexander VI. -
Nov 26, 1504
Isabel's death
She suffered a serious illness, a dropsy, that ended his life. After her death, King Frenando II ruled until he died, in 1516, and Carlos I became King of Castilla, Aragón and all their colonies. Isabel was an excepcional woman and she will be remembered because of her courage and great work for her people and kingdom.