Foreign Policy under Ferdinand and Isabella Flashcards
What were Aragon’s main four aims/ concerns in foreign policy?
- concerned about French threat on the northern frontier
- want to protect their possessions in the Mediterranean
- want to regain Roussillon and Cerdagne from the French
- challenge French interests in Navarre
What are the names of Aragon’s possessions in the Med?
Sicily and Sardinia
Where are Roussillon and Cerdagne?
Northern Catalonia
Who are the main threats to Aragon’s possessions in the Med?
The Turks
In contrast to Aragon, what kind of policy does Castile have towards France?
A friendly one
What has always been the main concern of Castile?
Granada
As a secondary concern, who else are Castile concerned about?
Portugal on the southern frontier
Why does Ferdinand take lead in foreign policy for Castile and Aragon?
- he has more extensive knowledge and interests as a result of Aragon’s possessions in the Med
- this means he has had more contact with other European countries
Why doesn’t Aragon become the priority in foreign policy?
It lacks the manpower and finances that Castile can provide
Regarding foreign policy in particular, why were both regions concerned about the advancement of the followers of Islam?
- for Aragon, they posed a threat to the possessions in the Med
- for Castile, it was only the Strait of Gibraltar that separated recently reconquered Granada from the Muslims of North Africa
At what point were relations with Portugal at their worst and why?
- in the War of Succession because they supported Isabella’s opposition
What was the main source of conflict with Portugal?
The Canary Islands
In 1479 the Treaty of Alcacovas was signed, what did this agree?
- that Isabella was the rightful claimant to the Castilian throne
- that Portugal would give up their claim to the Canary Islands
- that Castile has to accept that Portugal gets the monopoly of trade on the coast of West Africa
In the late 1490s, the major islands of the Canaries were conquered, why were they so important?
- they provided an important stopping point for ships on the way to the New World
To cement the new peace with Portugal, who married who?
Isabella of Spain married Alfonso of Portugal
Once Alfonso of Portugal died, who did Isabella marry?
Emmanuel I
Once Isabella died, who did Emmanuel I marry?
Maria (Isabella’s sister)
Why was Navarre so important?
It would have been a strong point to invade from if France controlled it
Which year did Ferdinand finally have the resources and opportunity to launch an attack on Navarre?
1512
What contributed to Ferdinand’s opportunity to invade Navarre? (during the unrest in Aragon after Isabella’s death, Navarre had decided to challenge for independence)
- the disputed succession of Navarre’s crown between Germaine de Foix (Ferdinand’s second wife) and French-supported Albret family
How did the invasion of Navarre go?
- successfully, all fortresses surrendered within a few weeks and Navarre became part of the Crown of Castile
How did the invasion of Navarre go?
- successfully, all fortresses surrendered within a few weeks and Navarre became part of the Crown of Castile
Since what year had Roussillon and Cerdagne been occupied by the French?
1462
In the early 1490s, France became more focused on Italy and wanted to secure their borders - how did they do this?
Signed the Treaty of Barcelona in 1493
What did the Treaty of Barcelona agree?
That France would give up Roussillon and Cerdagne
When did the French invade Italy?
1494
At the end of the 15th century, what was Italy made up of?
The papal states, two kingdoms of Naples and Sicily
Who ruled Naples and what relation was he to Ferdinand?
King Ferrante, the illegitimate cousin and brother in law of Ferdinand
Why was Naples weak?
- King Ferrante couldn’t rely on his nobles or Ferdinand
As a result of being weak, France occupied Naples, when was this?
1495
What are the three reasons for Ferdinand wanting to possess Naples instead of the French? Identify the reason he gave to other states and the most likely one
- Ferdinand in instructions to ambassador in France: “Naples had previously been a part of the Crown of Aragon”
- as Christian princes, they must defend the Pope and “restore what he (the French) had taken from the Church by force” - January 1496: Ferdinand and Isabella writing to ambassador in England
- it would be a danger to Spanish policy in the Med - 1495: Ferdinand wrote in letter to viceroy
(2 = given to other states, 3 = most likely)
What did Ferdinand join in 1495?
The Holy League
Why was the Holy League created?
Because others were concerned by France’s power
Who did the Holy League consist of?
The HRE, papacy and a number of Italien states
Who headed the Spanish forces in the invasion of Naples?
‘Great Captain’ de Cordoba
List when the 3 Spanish attempts to regain Naples took place
- 1495 - 1497
- 1501
- 1503
Why did the 1495 - 1497 Spanish attempt to regain Naples fail?
- their light cavalry was no match for the heavily armed French
Why was the 1501 Spanish attempt to regain Naples more successful?
- they used artillery that had been successful in Granada
- they used Pikemen with infantry support
- the infantry support had firearms, short swords or javelins
- the infantry were in larger groups and were supported by cavalry and artillery (developed into Spanish tercio_
In 1503, two important victories were gained in Naples, where were they?
- Cerignola
- Garigliano
In 1504, what happened with Naples?
France recognised it as being under Spanish control and it became part of the Crown of Aragon
Geographically, why is Naples valuable?
- it’s positioned in the central area of the Med which gives them a prime location to defend their possessions against the Turks
- the toehold in Italy could lead to further military and diplomatic warfare against France
Financially, why is Naples valuable?
- grain supplies were a considerable asset
- revenue
What were Ferdinand and Isabella’s separate desires for fighting the Turks?
- Ferdinand desired a crusade because he was concerned about their expansion into the Western Med
- Isabella was pious and many Castilians involved in the Reconquest wanted to fight them
List the 3 separate occasions where Spain fought the Turks
- 1479 - 1480: assisted the Knights Hospitallers when the Island of Rhodes was besieged by the Turks
- 1481: helped Naples against Turkish invasion
- 1501: naval and military force helped Venice regain the castle of St George in Cephalonia (island off Greece) from the Turks
What were the three most attractive trade items that the Spanish were interested in from west/ north Africa?
- ivory
- gold
- slaves
Who controlled the trade on the west coast of Africa and how was this agreed?
Portugal, the Treaty of Alcacova agreed to this
Why was Spanish attention drawn back to north Africa?
- religion (to fight the moors of north Africa would be challenging the main rival of Christianity and continuing the reconquest in action in Spain)
- trade
- security
In the early 16th century several cities along the north African coastline were taken, what were the three most important?
- Oran
- Bougie
- Tripoli
What happened to the cities that were taken as part of the invasion of North Africa?
- small garrisons were set up and some trade took place but there was no attempt to make permanent colonies
What were signs of future problems there?
- difficult to find the money to finance new conquests
- becoming obvious that having so many interests outside of Spain was impossible to concentrate on any one of them properly
How does Glete sum up foreign achievements?
- “most spectacular change from weak to strong royal powers in a few decades”
