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The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 1

by William Hickling Prescott

By William Hickling Prescott · History · Public domain

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The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 1 is a public-domain classic of history by William Hickling Prescott.

The complete text is on this page and the chapter pages below — all 27 chapters, about 148,688 words (~12 hours of reading), free to read online with no signup. Chapters include “SECTION I.. View of the Castilian Monarchy Before the Fifteenth Century.”, “CHAPTER I.. State of Castile At the Birth of Isabella.--Reign of John Ii.,”, “CHAPTER VI.. Internal Administration of Castile.”, and more.

The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 1 at a glance

Author
William Hickling Prescott
Length
148,688 words · about 12 hours to read
Chapters
27
Price
Free — public domain

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SECTION I.. View of the Castilian Monarchy Before the Fifteenth Century.

VIEW OF THE CASTILIAN MONARCHY BEFORE THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. STATE OF SPAIN AT THE MIDDLE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY EARLY HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION OF CASTILE THE VISIGOTHS INVASION OF THE ARABS ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CONDITION OF THE SPANIARDS CAUSES OF THEIR SLOW RECONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY THEIR ULTIMATE SUCCESS CERTAIN THEIR RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM INFLUENCE OF THEIR MINSTRELSY THEIR CHARITY TO THE INFIDEL THEIR CHIVALRY EARLY IMPORTANCE OF THE CASTILIAN TOWNS THEIR PRIVILEGES CASTILIAN CORTES ITS GREAT POWERS ITS BOLDNESS HERMANDADES OF CASTILE WEALTH OF THE CITIES PERIOD OF THE HIGHEST POWER OF THE COMMONS THE NOBILITY THEIR PRIVILEGES THEIR GREAT WEALTH THEIR TURBULENT SPIRIT THE CAVALLEROS OR KNIGHTS THE CLERGY INFLUENCE OF THE PAPAL COURT CORRUPTION OP THE CLERGY THEIR RICH POSSESSIONS LIMITED EXTENT OF THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE POVERTY OF THE CROWN ITS CAUSES ANECDOTE OF HENRY III., OF CASTILE CONSTITUTIONAL WRITERS ON CASTILE CONSTITUTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY NOTICE OF MARINA AND SEMPERE

SECTION II.

REVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ARAGON TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. RISE OF ARAGON FOREIGN CONQUESTS CODE OF SOPRARBE THE RICOS HOMBRES THEIR IMMUNITIES THEIR TURBULENCE PRIVILEGES OF UNION THEIR ABROGATION THE LEGISLATURE OF ARAGON ITS FORMS OF PROCEEDING ITS POWERS THE GENERAL PRIVILEGE JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF CORTES PREPONDERANCE OF THE COMMONS THE JUSTICE OF ARAGON HIS GREAT AUTHORITY SECURITY AGAINST ITS ABUSE INDEPENDENT EXECUTION OF IT VALENCIA AND CATALONIA RISE AND OPULENCE OF BARCELONA HER FREE INSTITUTIONS HAUGHTY SPIRIT OF THE CATALANS INTELLECTUAL CULTURE POETICAL ACADEMY OF TORTOSA BRIEF GLORY OF THE LIMOUSIN CONSTITUTIONAL WRITERS ON ARAGON NOTICES OF BLANCAS, MARTEL, AND CAPMANY

PART FIRST.

THE PERIOD WHEN THE DIFFERENT KINGDOMS OF SPAIN WERE FIRST UNITED UNDER ONE MONARCHY, AND A THOROUGH REFORM WAS INTRODUCED INTO THEIR INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION; OR THE PERIOD EXHIBITING MOST FULLY THE DOMESTIC POLICY OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA.

CHAPTER I.. State of Castile At the Birth of Isabella.--Reign of John Ii.,

STATE OF CASTILE AT THE BIRTH OF ISABELLA.--REIGN OF JOHN II., OF CASTILE. REVOLUTION OF TRASTAMARA ACCESSION OF JOHN II. RISE OF ALVARO DE LUNA JEALOUSY OF THE NOBLES OPPRESSION OF THE COMMONS ITS CONSEQUENCES EARLY LITERATURE OF CASTILE ITS ENCOURAGEMENT UNDER JOHN II. MARQUIS OF VILLENA MARQUIS OF SANTILLANA JOHN DE MENA HIS INFLUENCE BAENA'S CANCIONERO CASTILIAN LITERATURE UNDER JOHN II DECLINE OF ALVARO DE LUNA HIS FALL HIS DEATH LAMENTED BY JOHN DEATH OF JOHN II BIRTH OF ISABELLA

CHAPTER II.

CONDITION OF ARAGON DURING THE MINORITY OF FERDINAND.--REIGN OF JOHN II., OF ARAGON. JOHN OF ARAGON TITLE OF HIS SON CARLOS TO NAVARRE HE TAKES ARMS AGAINST HIS FATHER IS DEFEATED BIRTH OF FERDINAND CARLOS RETIRES TO NAPLES HE PASSES INTO SICILY JOHN II. SUCCEEDS TO THE CROWN OF ARAGON CARLOS RECONCILED WITH HIS FATHER IS IMPRISONED INSURRECTION OF THE CATALANS CARLOS RELEASED HIS DEATH HIS CHARACTER TRAGICAL STORY OF BLANCHE FERDINAND SWORN HEIR TO THE CROWN BESIEGED BY THE CATALANS IN GERONA TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND ARAGON GENERAL REVOLT IN CATALONIA SUCCESSES OF JOHN CROWN OF CATALONIA OFFERED TO RENÉ OF ANJOU DISTRESS AND EMBARRASSMENTS OF JOHN POPULARITY OF THE DUKE OF LORRAINE DEATH OF THE QUEEN OF ARAGON IMPROVEMENT IN JOHN'S AFFAIRS SIEGE OF BARCELONA IT SURRENDERS

CHAPTER III.

REIGN OF HENRY IV., OF CASTILE.--CIVIL WAR.--MARRIAGE OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. POPULARITY OF HENRY IV HE DISAPPOINTS EXPECTATIONS HIS DISSOLUTE HABITS OPPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE DEBASEMENT OF THE COIN CHARACTER OF PACHECO, MARQUIS OF VILLENA CHARACTER OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO INTERVIEW BETWEEN HENRY IV. AND LOUIS XI DISGRACE OF VILLENA AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO LEAGUE OF THE NOBLES DEPOSITION OF HENRY AT AVILA DIVISION OF PARTIES INTRIGUES OF THE MARQUIS OF VILLENA HENRY DISBANDS HIS FORCES PROPOSITION FOR THE MARRIAGE OF ISABELLA HER EARLY EDUCATION PROJECTED UNION WITH THE GRAND MASTER OF CALATRAVA HIS SUDDEN DEATH BATTLE OF OLMEDO CIVIL ANARCHY DEATH AND CHARACTER OF ALFONSO HIS REIGN A USURPATION THE CROWN OFFERED TO ISABELLA SHE DECLINES IT TREATY BETWEEN HENRY AND THE CONFEDERATES ISABELLA ACKNOWLEDGED HEIR TO THE CROWN AT TOROS DE GUISANDO SUITORS TO ISABELLA FERDINAND OF ARAGON SUPPORT OF JOANNA BELTRANEJA PROPOSAL OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL REJECTED BY ISABELLA SHE ACCEPTS FERDINAND ARTICLES OF MARRIAGE CRITICAL SITUATION OF ISABELLA FERDINAND ENTERS CASTILE PRIVATE INTERVIEW BETWEEN FERDINAND AND ISABELLA THEIR MARRIAGE NOTICE OF THE QUINCUAGENAS OF OVIEDO

CHAPTER IV.

FACTIONS IN CASTILE.--WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND ARAGON.--DEATH OF HENRY IV., OF CASTILE. FACTIONS IN CASTILE FERDINAND AND ISABELLA CIVIL ANARCHY REVOLT OF ROUSSILLON FROM LOUIS XI. GALLANT DEFENCE OF PERPIGNAN FERDINAND RAISES THE SIEGE TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND ARAGON ISABELLA'S PARTY GAINS STRENGTH INTERVIEW BETWEEN HENRY IV. AND ISABELLA AT SEGOVIA SECOND FRENCH INVASION OF ROUSSILLON FERDINAND'S SUMMARY EXECUTION OF JUSTICE SIEGE AND REDUCTION OF PERPIGNAN PERFIDY OF LOUIS XI. ILLNESS OF HENRY IV., OF CASTILE HIS DEATH INFLUENCE OF HIS REIGN NOTICE OF ALONSO DE PALENCIA NOTICE OF ENRIQUEZ DE CASTILLO

CHAPTER V.

ACCESSION OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA.--WAR OF THE SUCCESSION.--BATTLE OF TORO. TITLE OF ISABELLA SHE IS PROCLAIMED QUEEN SETTLEMENT OF THE CROWN PARTISANS OF JOANNA ALFONSO OF PORTUGAL SUPPORTS HER CAUSE HE INVADES CASTILE HE ESPOUSES JOANNA CASTILIAN ARMY FERDINAND MARCHES AGAINST ALFONSO HE CHALLENGES HIM TO PERSONAL COMBAT DISORDERLY RETREAT OF THE CASTILIANS APPROPRIATION OF THE CHURCH PLATE REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY KING OF PORTUGAL ARRIVES BEFORE ZAMORA ABSURD POSITION HE SUDDENLY DECAMPS OVERTAKEN BY FERDINAND BATTLE OF TORO THE PORTUGUESE ROUTED ISABELLA'S THANKSGIVING FOR THE VICTORY SUBMISSION OF THE WHOLE KINGDOM THE KING OF PORTUGAL VISITS FRANCE RETURNS TO PORTUGAL PEACE WITH FRANCE ACTIVE MEASURES OF ISABELLA TREATY OF PEACE WITH PORTUGAL JOANNA TAKES THE VEIL DEATH OF THE KING OF PORTUGAL DEATH OF THE KING OF ARAGON

CHAPTER VI.. Internal Administration of Castile.

INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF CASTILE. SCHEME OF REFORM FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CASTILE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HERMANDAD CODE OF THE HERMANDAD INEFFECTUAL OPPOSITION OF THE NOBILITY TUMULT AT SEGOVIA ISABELLA'S PRESENCE OF MIND ISABELLA VISITS SEVILLE HER SPLENDID RECEPTION THERE SEVERE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE MARQUIS OF CADIZ AND DUKE OF MEDINA SIDONIA ROYAL PROGRESS THROUGH ANDALUSIA IMPARTIAL EXECUTION OP THE LAWS REORGANIZATION OP THE TRIBUNALS KING AND QUEEN PRESIDE IN COURTS OF JUSTICE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF ORDER REFORM OF THE JURISPRUDENCE CODE OF ORDENANÇAS REALES SCHEMES FOR REDUCING THE NOBILITY REVOCATION OF THE ROYAL GRANTS LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS THE QUEEN'S SPIRITED CONDUCT TO THE NOBILITY MILITARY ORDERS OF CASTILE ORDER OF ST. JAGO ORDER OF CALATRAVA ORDER OF ALCANTARA GRAND-MASTERSHIPS ANNEXED TO THE CROWN THEIR REFORMATION USURPATIONS OF THE CHURCH RESISTED BY CORTES DIFFERENCE WITH THE POPE RESTORATION OF TRADE SALUTARY ENACTMENTS OF CORTES PROSPERITY OF THE KINGDOM NOTICE OF CLEMENCIN

CHAPTER VII.. Establishment of the Modern Inquisition.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MODERN INQUISITION. ORIGIN OF THE ANCIENT INQUISITION ITS INTRODUCTION INTO ARAGON RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE JEWS IN SPAIN UNDER THE ARABS UNDER THE CASTILIANS PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS THEIR STATE AT THE ACCESSION OF ISABELLA CHARGES AGAINST THEM BIGOTRY OF THE AGE ITS INFLUENCE ON ISABELLA CHARACTER OF HER CONFESSOR, TORQUEMADA PAPAL BULL AUTHORIZING THE INQUISITION ISABELLA RESORTS TO MILDER MEASURES ENFORCES THE PAPAL BULL INQUISITION AT SEVILLE PROOFS OF JUDAISM THE SANGUINARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE INQUISITORS CONDUCT OF THE PAPAL COURT FINAL ORGANIZATION OF THE INQUISITION FORMS OF TRIAL TORTURE INJUSTICE OF ITS PROCEEDINGS AUTOS DA FE CONVICTIONS UNDER TORQUEMADA PERFIDIOUS POLICY OF ROME NOTICE OF LLORENTE'S HISTORY OF THE INQUISITION

CHAPTER VIII.

REVIEW OF THE POLITICAL AND INTELLECTUAL CONDITION OF THE SPANISH ARABS PREVIOUS TO THE WAR OF GRANADA. EARLY SUCCESSES OF MAHOMETANISM CONQUEST OF SPAIN WESTERN CALIPHATE FORM OF GOVERNMENT CHARACTER OF THE SOVEREIGNS MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT SUMPTUOUS PUBLIC WORKS GREAT MOSQUE OF CORDOVA REVENUES MINERAL WEALTH OF SPAIN HUSBANDRY AND MANUFACTURES POPULATION CHARACTER OF ALHAKEM II. INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT DISMEMBERMENT OF THE CORDOVAN EMPIRE KINGDOM OF GRANADA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE RESOURCES OF THE CROWN LUXURIOUS CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE MOORISH GALLANTRY CHIVALRY UNSETTLED STATE OF GRANADA CAUSES OF HER SUCCESSFUL RESISTANCE LITERATURE OF THE SPANISH ARABS CIRCUMSTANCES FAVORABLE TO IT PROVISIONS FOR LEARNING THE ACTUAL RESULTS AVERROES THEIR HISTORICAL MERITS USEFUL DISCOVERIES THE IMPULSE GIVEN BY THEM TO EUROPE THEIR ELEGANT LITERATURE POETICAL CHARACTER INFLUENCE ON THE CASTILIAN CIRCUMSTANCES PREJUDICIAL TO THEIR REPUTATION NOTICES OF CASIRI, CONDE, AND CARDONNE

CHAPTER IX.. War of Granada.--Surprise of Zahara.--Capture of Alhama.

WAR OF GRANADA.--SURPRISE OF ZAHARA.--CAPTURE OF ALHAMA. ZAHARA SURPRISED BY THE MOORS DESCRIPTION OF ALHAMA THE MARQUIS OF CADIZ HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST ALHAMA SURPRISE OF THE FORTRESS VALOR OF THE CITIZENS SALLY UPON THE MOORS DESPERATE COMBAT FALL OF ALHAMA CONSTERNATION OF THE MOORS THE MOORS BESIEGE ALHAMA DISTRESS OF THE GARRISON THE DUKE OF MEDINA SIDONIA MARCHES TO RELIEVE ALHAMA RAISES THE SIEGE MEETING OF THE TWO ARMIES THE SOVEREIGNS AT CORDOVA ALHAMA INVESTED AGAIN BY THE MOORS ISABELLA'S FIRMNESS FERDINAND RAISES THE SIEGE VIGOROUS MEASURES OF THE QUEEN

CHAPTER X.

WAR OF GRANADA.--UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT ON LOJA.--DEFEAT IN THE AXARQUIA. SIEGE OF LOJA CASTILIAN FORCES ENCAMPMENT BEFORE LOJA SKIRMISH WITH THE ENEMY RETREAT OF THE SPANIARDS REVOLUTION IN GRANADA DEATH OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO AFFAIRS OF ITALY OF NAVARRE RESOURCES OF THE CROWN JUSTICE OF THE SOVEREIGNS EXPEDITION TO THE AXARQUIA THE MILITARY ARRAY PROGRESS OF THE ARMY MOORISH PREPARATIONS SKIRMISH AMONG THE MOUNTAINS RETREAT OF THE SPANIARDS THEIR DISASTROUS SITUATION THEY RESOLVE TO FORCE A PASSAGE DIFFICULTIES OF THE ASCENT DREADFUL SLAUGHTER MARQUIS OF CADIZ ESCAPES LOSSES OF THE CHRISTIANS

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