Isabella I (Queen)

Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) was a significant monarch in Spanish history, renowned for unifying Spain through her marriage to Ferdinand II of Aragon. Together, they completed the Reconquista by conquering Granada, ending centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Isabella is also known for sponsoring Christopher Columbus's 1492 expedition, which led to the discovery of the Americas. Her reign marked the rise of Spain as a powerful nation-state. Importantly, her policies included the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, aimed at religious conformity, which had lasting impacts on Spanish society and history.