Reconquista, Aragon Expansion, and Spanish Unification
Main Stages of the Reconquista
In the 10th century, the Christian frontier was located at the Douro River. During the 11th century, Ferdinand I expanded beyond the Ebro Valley, and his son, Alfonso VI, conquered Toledo in 1085. In the 12th century, Alfonso I the Battler conquered Zaragoza in 1118. Aragon and the Catalan counties joined in 1137, occupying the Ebro Valley and reaching the Castilian border at the Guadiana River under Alfonso VII. The 13th century saw the Christian kingdoms defeat the Almohads at the Battle of Navas de Tolosa. St. Ferdinand advanced along the Guadalquivir Valley, conquering Córdoba and Murcia, and signed the Treaty of Almizra with James I of Aragon. James I also began the occupation of the Balearic Islands and the Levantine coast. Alfonso III dealt with the Portuguese Algarve. In the 14th century, Castile engaged in political maneuvering, culminating with Sancho IV and Alfonso XI defeating the Marinids at the Battle of Salado and conquering Algeciras.
Expansion of the Crown of Aragon
Peter III the Great added Sicily to Aragon after the Sicilian Vespers, wresting it from the Angevins. His successor, James II, ceded the island to his brother Frederick in exchange for rights over Corsica and Sardinia. Sicily was re-annexed to Aragon after the death of Martin the Younger. During James II’s reign, the Almogavars seized the Duchies of Athens and Neopatria. The conquest of Sardinia also began. Under Peter IV the Ceremonious, the Kingdom of Majorca was reincorporated into the Crown of Aragon after the Battle of Llucmajor in 1343. He also incorporated the duchies of Athens and Neopatria and conquered Corsica. Finally, Alfonso V the Magnanimous conquered Naples in 1442. Upon his death, the kingdom was separated and given to his son Ferrante.
The Dynastic Union
In 1469, the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon took place. This union, which lacked the blessing of King Henry IV, led to the War of Succession. Henry IV was supported by a sector of the Castilian nobility, Alfonso V of Portugal, and Louis XI of France. Isabella was backed by another sector of Castilian nobility, Aragon, England, and Burgundy. After Henry IV’s death in 1474, Isabella was proclaimed Queen of Castile, but her claim wasn’t fully recognized until the Treaty of Alcáçovas in 1479. The Concord of Segovia in 1475 established joint rule, but Castile and Aragon retained their distinct political identities and institutions.
Conquest of Granada and Navarre
The conquest of Granada occurred in three stages: 1. (1484-1487): Western towns like Alora, Ronda, Vélez-Málaga, and Málaga were taken. 2. (1488-1490): The eastern part of the kingdom was conquered. 3. (From 1490): The siege of Granada began in 1491, culminating in the city’s surrender in January 1492. The Kingdom of Navarre, which had maintained its independence, was incorporated into Castile in 1512.
Italian and North African Politics
Ferdinand’s intervention in Italy began when King Ferrante of Naples was ousted by Charles VIII of France. The Treaty of Granada aimed to divide Naples between France and Spain, but conflict arose, leading to the Spanish victory at Garigliano. The Treaty of Lyon granted Naples to the Spanish monarchy. North African policy focused on suppressing piracy and evangelization, leading to the capture of strategic locations. However, these gains were gradually lost due to renewed focus on Italy.
20. The Discovery of America
In 1486, Christopher Columbus presented his plan to reach the Indies by sailing west to Ferdinand and Isabella. The Capitulations of Santa Fe in April 1492 granted Columbus the titles of Admiral, Viceroy, and Governor of the discovered lands. In October 1492, Columbus reached the Americas. Realizing the discovery was a new continent, the Crown revoked some of Columbus’s powers and began organizing the territory, which became known as America. The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.