Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile)

The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, were the rulers who united Spain in the late 15th century through marriage and political alliance. Their reign marked the end of medieval Spain and the beginning of a unified kingdom. They strengthened royal authority, sponsored Columbus’s voyage to the New World, and worked to enforce Catholic Christianity across their territories, including the Reconquista—expelling Jews and Muslims who refused conversion. Their leadership laid the groundwork for Spain's emergence as a major global power, shaping its religious, political, and cultural landscape for centuries.