The Christian Reconquest (1037- 1500)
    
 
 

-1037 Castille and León united under Fernando I
 
-1065 Death of Fernando I precipitates civil war between his sons
 
-1085 Toledo falls to the Christians under Alfonso VI of Castille
 
-1094 The legendary El Cid captures Valencia
 
-1137 Catalonia and Aragón unite
 
-1143 Protugal becomes a separate kingdom
 
-1147 Almohads arrive in Andalucia and make Sevilla their capital
 
-1158 Order of the Knights of Calatrava, the first military order in Spain
 
-1215 Founding of Salamanca University
 
-1230 Fernando III reunites Castille and León

 
 

-1250 Toledo at its height as a cultural center, Alfonso X the “Wise” is known as the major facilitator of learning at this time

 

(The Cantigas of Alphonso X.  This particular manuscript shows a battle between Muslim and Christian forces.  Alphonso X encouraged the translation of many Greek manuscripts brought to Spain by the Moors.)
 

-1385 Portuguese defeat Spaniards, King Juan loses hope of ascending to the throne of Portugal
 
-1451 Birth of Isabel of Castile
 
-1454 Enrique IV, Isabel’s half-brother ascends to the throne of Castile
 
-1465 Civil war erupts in Castile
 
-1469 Marrige of Fernando and Isabel unties Castile and Aragón

 

(A coin from the 15th century of Fernando and Isabel.)

 
-1474 Death of Enrique IV leads to civil war; Isabel triumphs over Juana la Beltraneja, Enrique’s supposed daughter, to become queen
 
-1478 Papal bull authorizes Castilian Inquisition with Tomás de Torquemada as Inquisitor General

 

(Tomás de Torquemada)
 

-1479 Fernando becomes Fernando II of Aragón
 
-1492 Fall of Granada after ten year war. Columbus reaches America. Expulsion of Jews from Spain

 

(The Santa María, one of Colombus’ ships)

(Fernando)
 
The beginning of the 1500’s left Spain in a very politically turbulent climate, unfortunately good leaders were not very forthcoming over the next century.