Ferdinand II | Biography, Facts, Accomplishments, & Isabella I

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border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain">Ferdinand II</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain">Introduction & Top Questions</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref346257"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain#ref346257">Early life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref346258"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain#ref346258">Marriage to Isabella and unification of Spain</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref346259"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain#ref346259">The Spanish Inquisition, conquest of Granada, and voyages of Columbus</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref346260"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain#ref346260">Death and legacy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/19015-004-D4F10370/Ferdinand-II-Isabella-I-polychromy-relief-gilt.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/16496" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/15/19015-004-D4F10370/Ferdinand-II-Isabella-I-polychromy-relief-gilt.jpg" alt="Ferdinand and Isabella" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-050-0A6463AF/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/241957" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-004-788BE130/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg" alt="Christophe Colomb a la cour d'Isabelle I" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-050-1BB0D33A/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/146663" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-004-84E78C74/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg" alt="Ferdinand II" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/166770-050-8805ACF2/Christopher-Columbus-support-chromolithograph-Isabella-I-Spain-1884.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/198119" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/166770-004-935741FC/Christopher-Columbus-support-chromolithograph-Isabella-I-Spain-1884.jpg" alt="Christopher Columbus" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/139522-050-9A74BE7F/Jews-Isabella-Spanish-Tomas-de-Torquemada-expulsion.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/197409" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/139522-004-A444E0AB/Jews-Isabella-Spanish-Tomas-de-Torquemada-expulsion.jpg" alt="Spanish Inquisition" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/petition-Ferdinand-and-Isabella-ships-Columbus-Pinta/75918" data-href="/media/1/204490/75918" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/87/81687-138-46DE4E22/petition-Ferdinand-and-Isabella-ships-Columbus-Pinta.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Enjoy a dramatization of Christopher Columbus petitioning Spain's king and queen for three ships" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.spainthenandnow.com/spanish-history/catholic-monarchs-politics" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Spain Then and Now - Ferdinand and Isabella: Catholic Monarchs. Politics.</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.academia.edu/61065376/_2021_Ferdinand_II_of_Aragon_1479_1516_Encyclopedia_of_Medieval_Royal_Iconography_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Academia - [2021] "Ferdinand II of Aragon (1479-1516)", Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography, 1</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/ferdinandaragon.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Luminarium - Biography of Ferdinand II of Aragon</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=ferdinand1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Heritage History - Biography of Ferdinand the Catholic</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.wga.hu/tours/spain/ferdina2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Web Gallery of Art - Biography of Ferdinand II</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Ferdinand II of Sicily, Ferdinand III of Naples, Ferdinand V, Ferdinand the Catholic, Fernando el Católico</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Tarsicio-de-Azcona/133" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Tarsicio de Azcona</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Emeritus Professor of Church History, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. Author of <i>Isabel la Católica.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Tarsicio de Azcona</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname: </dt> <dd> Ferdinand the Catholic</dd> </dl> <dl> <dt>Spanish: </dt> <dd>Fernando el Católico</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>March 10, 1452, Sos, <a href="/place/Aragon-region-Spain">Aragon</a> [Spain]</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>January 23, 1516, Madrigalejo, <a href="/place/Spain">Spain</a> (aged 63)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Ferdinand III of Naples</dd> <dd>Fernando el Católico</dd> <dd>Ferdinand II of Sicily</dd> <dd>Ferdinand V</dd> <dd>Ferdinand the Catholic</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Title / Office: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/king-monarch">king (1479-1516)</a>, <a href="/place/Aragon-region-Spain">Aragon</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/king-monarch">king (1479-1516)</a>, <a href="/place/Castile-region-Spain">Castile</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Notable Family Members: </dt> <dd>spouse <a href="/biography/Isabella-I-queen-of-Spain">Isabella I</a></dd> <dd>father <a href="/biography/John-II-king-of-Aragon-and-Navarre">John II</a></dd> <dd>daughter <a href="/biography/Catherine-of-Aragon">Catherine of Aragon</a></dd> <dd>daughter <a href="/biography/Joan-queen-of-Castile-and-Aragon">Joan</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Role In: </dt> <dd><a href="/event/Reconquista">Reconquista</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/Spanish-Inquisition">Spanish Inquisition</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Who was King Ferdinand II?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Ferdinand II was the king of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Aragon-region-Spain\">Aragon<\/a> and king of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Castile-region-Spain\">Castile<\/a> (as Ferdinand V) from 1479, joint sovereign with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Isabella-I-queen-of-Spain\">Queen Isabella I<\/a>. As Spanish ruler of southern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Italy\">Italy<\/a>, he was also known as Ferdinand III of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kingdom-of-Naples\">Naples<\/a> and Ferdinand II of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sicily\">Sicily<\/a>. He united the Spanish kingdoms into the nation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Spain\">Spain<\/a>." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What were King Ferdinand II\u2019s parents\u2019 names?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "King Ferdinand II\u2019s parents\u2019 names were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/John-II-king-of-Aragon-and-Navarre\">John II of Aragon<\/a> and Juana Enr\u00EDquez. " } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What was King Ferdinand II like?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In portraits, King Ferdinand II appears with soft, well-proportioned features, a small, sensual mouth, and pensive eyes. His literary descriptions are more complicated, although they agree in presenting him as good-looking, of medium height, and a good rider, devoted to games and to the hunt. 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As Spanish ruler of southern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Italy</a>, he was also known as Ferdinand III of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kingdom-of-Naples" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Naples</a> and Ferdinand II of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sicily" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sicily</a>. He united the Spanish kingdoms into the nation of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spain</a>.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What were King Ferdinand II’s parents’ names?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>King Ferdinand II’s parents’ names were <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-II-king-of-Aragon-and-Navarre" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John II of Aragon</a> and Juana Enríquez. </p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What was King Ferdinand II like?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>In portraits, King Ferdinand II appears with soft, well-proportioned features, a small, sensual mouth, and pensive eyes. His literary descriptions are more complicated, although they agree in presenting him as good-looking, of medium height, and a good rider, devoted to games and to the hunt. He had a clear, strong voice.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is King Ferdinand II best known for?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>King Ferdinand II is known for uniting the Spanish kingdoms into the nation of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spain</a>, supporting the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-Inquisition" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spanish Inquisition</a> (1478–1834), sponsoring <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christopher Columbus</a>’s voyages of exploration across the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Ocean</a>, and commencing Spain’s entry into the modern period of imperial expansion.</p></div></div></div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref26442"></span>Ferdinand II</strong> (born March 10, 1452, Sos, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Aragon-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Aragon</a> [Spain]—died January 23, 1516, Madrigalejo, Spain) was the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/king-monarch" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">king</a> of Aragon and king of Castile (as Ferdinand V) from 1479, joint <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="sovereign" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereign" data-type="MW">sovereign</a> with Queen Isabella I. (As Spanish ruler of southern Italy, he was also known as Ferdinand III of Naples and Ferdinand II of Sicily.) He united the Spanish kingdoms into the nation of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spain" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Spain</a> and began Spain’s entry into the modern period of imperial expansion.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref346257"> <h2 class="h1">Early life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Ferdinand was the son of <span id="ref26443"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-II-king-of-Aragon-and-Navarre" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John II</a> of Aragon and Juana Enríquez, both of Castilian origin. In 1461, in the midst of a bitterly contested succession, John II named him <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/heir-apparent" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">heir apparent</a> and governor of all his kingdoms and lands. Ferdinand’s future was assured when he came of age, in 1466, and when he was named king of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sicily" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sicily</a>, in 1468, in order to impress the court of Castile, where his father ultimately wished to place him. In addition to participating in court life, the young prince saw battle during the Catalonian wars.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">John II was careful about Ferdinand’s education and took personal charge of it, making sure that Ferdinand learned as much as possible from experience. He also provided him with teachers who taught him humanistic attitudes and wrote him <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="treatises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treatises" data-type="MW">treatises</a> on the art of government. Ferdinand had no apparent bent for formal studies, but he was a patron of the arts and a devotee of vocal and instrumental music.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/kings-and-emperors-part-iii-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/115195-131-5A6187D9/Napoleon-His-Imperial-Robes-Francois-Gerard-Versailles-1805.jpg" alt="Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon in Coronation Robes or Napoleon I Emperor of France, 1804 by Baron Francois Gerard or Baron Francois-Pascal-Simon Gerard, from the Musee National, Chateau de Versailles." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Kings and Emperors (Part III) Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Ferdinand had an imposing personality but was never very genial. From his father he acquired sagacity, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="integrity" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity" data-type="MW">integrity</a>, courage, and a calculated reserve; from his mother, an impulsive emotionality, which he generally repressed. Under the responsibility of kingship he had to conceal his stronger passions and adopt a cold, impenetrable mask.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref346258"> <h2 class="h1">Marriage to Isabella and unification of Spain</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">He married the princess <span id="ref26444"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isabella-I-queen-of-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Isabella</a> of <span id="ref26445"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Castile-region-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Castile</a> in <span id="ref26446"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kingdom-of-Aragon" class="md-crosslink ">Valladolid</a> in October 1469. This was a marriage of political opportunism, not romance. The court of Aragon dreamed of a return to Castile, and Isabella needed help to gain succession to the throne. The marriage initiated a dark and troubled life, in which Ferdinand fought on the Castilian and Aragonese fronts in order to impose his authority over the noble <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="oligarchies" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligarchies" data-type="MW">oligarchies</a>, shifting his basis of support from one kingdom to the other according to the intensity of the danger. Despite the political nature of the union, he loved Isabella sincerely. She quickly bore him children: the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/infante" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">infanta</a> Isabella was born in 1470; the heir apparent, Juan, in 1478; and the infantas Juana (called Juana la Loca—Joan the Mad), Catalina (later called—as the first wife of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-VIII-king-of-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Henry VIII</a> of England—Catherine of Aragon), and María followed. The marriage began, however, with almost continual separation. Ferdinand, often away in the Castilian towns or on journeys to Aragon, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="reproached" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reproached" data-type="EB">reproached</a> his wife for the comfort of her life. At the same time, the restlessness of his 20 years drove him into other women’s arms, by whom he sired at least two female children, whose birth dates are not recorded. His extramarital affairs caused Isabella jealousy for several years.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Between the ages of 20 and 30, Ferdinand performed a series of heroic deeds. These began when Henry IV of Castile died on December 11, 1474, leaving his succession in dispute. Ferdinand rushed from Zaragoza to Segovia, where Isabella had herself proclaimed queen of Castile on December 13. Ferdinand remained there as king consort, an uneasy, marginal figure, until Isabella’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">war</a> of succession against <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Afonso-V" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Afonso V</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Portugal" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Portugal</a> gained his acceptance in 1479 as king in every sense of the word. That same year John II died, and Ferdinand succeeded to the Aragonese throne. This initiated a confederation of kingdoms, which was the institutional basis for modern Spain.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The events of this period bring out the young king’s character more clearly. In portraits he appears with soft, well-proportioned features, a small, sensual mouth, and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="pensive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pensive" data-type="MW">pensive</a> eyes. His literary descriptions are more complicated, although they agree in presenting him as good-looking, of medium height, and a good rider, devoted to games and to the hunt. He had a clear, strong voice.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref346259"> <h2 class="h1">The Spanish Inquisition, conquest of Granada, and voyages of Columbus</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">From 1475 to 1479 Ferdinand struggled to take a firm seat in Castile with his young wife and to transform the kingdom politically, using new institutional molds partly inspired by those of Aragon. This policy of modernization included a ban against all religions other than <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Roman Catholicism</a>. The establishment of the <span id="ref26447"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-Inquisition" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Spanish Inquisition</a> (1478) to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="enforce" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/enforce" data-type="EB">enforce</a> religious uniformity and the expulsion of the Jews (1492) were both part of a deliberate policy designed to strengthen the church, which would in turn support the crown.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The years 1482–92 were frantic for Ferdinand. In the spring months he directed the campaign against the kingdom of <span id="ref26448"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Granada-historical-kingdom-Spain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Granada</a>, showing his military talent to good effect, and he conquered the kingdom inch by inch, winning its final capitulation on January 2, 1492. During the months of rest from war, he visited his kingdoms, learning their geography and problems firsthand.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="241957" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-050-0A6463AF/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/204490/241957"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-050-0A6463AF/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-050-0A6463AF/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg?w=300" alt="Christophe Colomb a la cour d'Isabelle I" data-width="1600" data-height="1117" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/40/196240-050-0A6463AF/Isabella-I-Christopher-Columbus-assistance-Catholic-Monarchs.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/241957"><em>Christophe Colomb a la cour d'Isabelle I</em></a><span><em>Christophe Colomb a la cour d'Isabelle I</em> (“Christopher Columbus in the Court of Isabella I”), colour lithograph, c. 1840s; in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The conquest of Granada made it possible to support <span id="ref26449"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christopher Columbus</a>’ voyages of exploration across the Atlantic. It is not known what Ferdinand thought of Columbus or how he judged his plans, nor can it be stated that the first trip was financed from Aragon; the sum of 1,157,000 maravedis came from the funds of the <span id="ref26450"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Hermandad" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Santa Hermandad</a> (“Holy Brotherhood”). Nevertheless, Ferdinand was present in the development of plans for the enterprise, in the negotiations to obtain the pope’s backing for it, and in the organization of the resulting American colonies.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="146663" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-050-1BB0D33A/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/204490/146663"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-050-1BB0D33A/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-050-1BB0D33A/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg?w=300" alt="Ferdinand II" data-width="799" data-height="402" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/135230-050-1BB0D33A/Ferdinand-II-portrait-marble-relief-Aragon-Naples.jpg" data-href="/media/1/204490/146663">Ferdinand II</a><span>Allegorical portrait of Ferdinand II (Ferdinand the Catholic), king of Aragon, Castile, and Naples, marble relief by Domenico Gagini, 1473–79; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">At the age of 50 Ferdinand was an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="incarnation" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/incarnation" data-type="EB">incarnation</a> of royalty, and fortune smiled on him. For various reasons, particularly for his intervention in <span id="ref26451"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Italian-Wars" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Italy</a>, Pope <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-VI" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Alexander VI</a> gave him the honorary title of “the Catholic” on December 2, 1496. But he also suffered a succession of tragedies: the heir apparent and his eldest daughter both died, and the first symptoms of insanity appeared in his daughter Juana. He was wounded in Barcelona in 1493, but this was unimportant compared with the family injuries he suffered, which culminated in the death of Isabella in 1504, “the best and most excellent wife king ever had.”</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1505, to secure his position in Castile, Ferdinand signed a contract to marry Germaine de Foix, niece of the king of France. This, too, was a political marriage, although he always showed her the highest regard. A stay in Italy (1506–07) demonstrated how badly he was needed by the Spanish kingdoms. Once more in Castile, he managed his European policy so as to obtain a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="hegemony" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemony" data-type="MW">hegemony</a> that would serve his expansionary ends in the Mediterranean and in Africa. In 1512, immediately after the schism in the church in which the kings of <span id="ref26452"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Navarra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Navarre</a> participated, he occupied their kingdom and incorporated it into Castile—one of the most controversial acts of his reign.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h5"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref346260"> <h2 class="h1">Death and legacy</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1513 Ferdinand’s health began to decay, although he was still able to direct his international policy and to prepare the succession of his grandson, the future emperor Charles V. In early 1516 he began a trip to Granada; he stopped in Madrigalejo, the little site of the sanctuary of Guadalupe, where he died. The day before his death, he had signed his last will and testament, an excellent picture of the monarch and of the political situation at his death.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD14 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Many considered Ferdinand the saviour of his kingdoms, a bringer of unity. Others despised him for having oppressed them. Machiavelli attributed to him the objectionable qualities of the Renaissance prince. The German traveler <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Muntzer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Thomas Müntzer</a> and the Italian diplomat <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francesco-Guicciardini" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Francesco Guicciardini</a>, who knew him personally, compared him with Charlemagne. His will indicates that he died with a clear <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conscience" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conscience" data-type="MW">conscience</a>, ordering that his body be moved to Granada and buried next to that of his wife Isabella, so that they might be reunited for eternity. He died convinced that the crown of Spain had not been so powerful for 700 years, “and all, after God, because of my work and my labour.”</p><span class="marker MOD14 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/Tarsicio-de-Azcona/133">Tarsicio de Azcona</a></span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":204490,"pageLength":1298,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_LARGE","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Ferdinand II | Biography, Facts, Accomplishments, & Isabella I | Britannica