Ferdinand of Aragon (Ferdinand II)

Ferdinand of Aragon (Ferdinand II) was the King of Aragon and, later, King of Castile through marriage to Queen Isabella. Together, they unified parts of Spain, strengthening royal power and laying the foundation for a unified nation. Ferdinand sponsored voyages like Columbus’s 1492 expedition, which led to European awareness of the Americas. His reign marked the end of the Reconquista, capturing Muslim-held Granada in 1492. Ferdinand was a skilled diplomat and military leader, instrumental in shaping Spain’s political, religious, and colonial future, earning him a significant role in European history.