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Not to be confused with Isabelle.
The following article contains a fictional portrayal of a real-life person or persons. Details in this article may differ from real world facts. For more information on the historical figure(s), consult the links provided within or at the bottom of the article.

""I mean that you need protection from Enrique's caballeros," he said. "You understand, do you not, Doña Isabel, that you are next in line for the throne?" But I am too overcome by grief to understand anything but the pain of the loss of my brother."
—Isabel talks with Archbishop Carrillo[4]

Isabel of Castilla (April 22, 1451 – November 26, 1504) was the queen of Castilla and León and queen consort of Aragon. She was the sister of Enrique and Alfonso. Isabel married Fernando of Aragon in 1469 and inherited her brother's throne in 1474.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Isabel was born on April 22, 1451[2][3] to King Juan of Castilla and Isabel of Portugal. Her younger brother Alfonso was born two years later in 1453. She also had an older half-brother Enrique from her father's first marriage.

After her father's death in 1454, she moved to Arévalo with her mother and brother. Several years later, Enrique, now king of Castilla, forced Isabel and Alfonso to live in Segovia with his wife.

1466 – 1469[]

Alfonso had left by 1466, while Isabel continued to live in Segovia. That year, her half-brother schemed to have her married twice, both of which she barely avoided. Isabel remained in Segovia until 1467, when she freed by her protector, Archbishop Carrillo. She returned to Arévalo to live with mother.

Despite being reunited with her younger brother, Isabel was determined to stay neutral. Eventually Isabel made a decision to side with Alfonso and joined him on a trip to Ávila to gather troops. However, Alfonso fell ill and died in July 1468, before reaching their destination. Carrillo wanted to overthrow Enrique, but Isabel proposed a treaty instead, which included becoming Enrique's heir.

Enrique broke the rules of the treaty by trying to force Isabel to marry again. In the meantime, Isabel plotted with Carrillo and her allies to betroth herself to Fernando of Aragón. Isabel managed to escape by joining Alfonso's funeral procession. In late 1469, Isabel married Fernando in Valladolid.

Later life[]

Isabel gave birth to her first child on October 2, 1470, a daughter named Isabel. After Enrique's death in 1474, Isabel seized the throne and became Queen of Castilla and León. Isabel had four more children, including Juan in 1478, Juana in 1479, Maria in 1482, and Catalina in 1485.

In 1492, Isabel and Fernando supported the voyage of Christopher Columbus. Isabel passed away on November 26, 1504. Her husband was buried next to her, after his death in 1516.

Personality and traits[]

Isabel was extremely faithful to her religion and prayed to God for guidance in all matters. Her beliefs led her to question conversos and Jews, as well as the Moors of Muslim descent. In later years, Isabel believed she was doing God's will during the Reconquista and Spanish Inquisition.

She was intelligent and longed for a proper education, instead of being placed under the care of Queen Juana, who only taught her how to dance. Isabel was also interested in astronomy, drawing, and playing the cittern.

Family tree[]

The Castilian-Aragonese Family Tree[3]
 
 
 
 
(1) Maria of Aragon
(d. 1445)
 
Juan II of Castilla
(1405-1454)
 
(2) Isabel of Portugal
(1428?-1496)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Juana
(1439-1475)
 
Enrique IV
(1425-1474)
 
Alfonso
(1453-1468)
 
(1) ♚Isabel
(1451-1504)
 
Fernando II
(1452-1516)
 
(2) Germaine of Foix
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Juana
La Beltraneja

(1461-1530)
 
Juan
(1478-1497)
 
♚♛Juana "the Mad"
(1479-1555)
 
Philip I
(1478-1506)
 
(2) Maria
(1482-1517)
 
Manoel
(1469-1521)
 
(1) Isabel
(1470-1498)
 
Catalina
Catherine of Aragon

(1485-1536)
 
Henry VIII
(1491-1547)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Charles V
(1500-1558)
 
Isabel
(1503-1539)
 
Juan III
(1502-1557)
 
Enrique
(1512-1580)
 
Miguel
(1498-1500)
 
 
 
Mary I
(1516-1558)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maria
(b. 1528)
 
Juana
(1535-1573)
 
♟♝Philip II
(1527-1598)
Key:
♚ - King or Queen of Castilla
♛ - King or Queen of Aragon
♞ - Holy Roman Emperor
♝ - King or Queen of Portugal
♜ - King or Queen of England
♟ - King or Queen of Spain
Notes:

Behind the scenes[]

Isabel-film

Lisa Jakub as Isabel

Appearances[]

In chronological order:

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 My Tudor Queen, Alison Prince, pages 9-10
  2. 2.0 2.1 Isabel: Jewel of Castilla, Carolyn Meyer, page 42
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Isabel: Jewel of Castilla, Carolyn Meyer, The Castilian-Aragonese Family Tree, pages 181-183
  4. Isabel: Jewel of Castilla, Carolyn Meyer, page 114

See also[]


External links[]

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