Isabel de Castilla

Isabel de Castilla, commonly known as Queen Isabella I of Castile, was a significant monarch in late 15th-century Spain. She married King Ferdinand II of Aragon, uniting two major Spanish kingdoms. Their reign, starting in 1474, marked the beginning of the Spanish Renaissance and led to the unification of Spain. They are best known for sponsoring Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage, which opened the Americas to European exploration. Isabella also initiated the Spanish Inquisition, aimed at maintaining Catholic orthodoxy in her kingdoms. Her legacy includes both the expansion of Spanish influence and complex issues of religious intolerance.