Los Reyes Católicos

Los Reyes Católicos refers to Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who united Spain through their marriage in 1469. Their reign marked the completion of the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, culminating in the fall of Granada in 1492. They established a centralized monarchy, promoted religious and political unification, and sponsored Columbus's voyage, which led to the European exploration of the Americas. Their rule significantly shaped Spain’s future as a major European power and laid the foundations for a unified nation state.