Forign Policy Ferdiand and Isabella Flashcards
(Aims) Points in Forign Policy
- Prevent French Expanxion in Italy
- Improve the armies
- Seek lasting peace with Portugal
- Protect the Frontier with France
- Wage War against Islam
What was castiles F.P In general before marriage
Pro French
More concerned about Granada
Concerned with Relationship with Portugal
What was Aragons FP in general before marriage
Concerned with French ambitions on Northern flank
Protect its Posesstions in Mediterranean (sicily)
Relations with Portugal
Initial enminity with Relations
- Alfonso V supported Joanna
Treaty of Alcacovas - 1479
Portugal gave up its claim to the Canary Islands + by the late 1490’s the major islands had been conqured + made part of the Crown of Castile
After this, relations became friendlier
Isabella (eldest daughter) married 1st Prince Alfonso
+ when he died, she married King Emanuel 1
1498: Isabella died in childbirth, so Emanuel married Isabellas sister - Maria // cemented long lasting peace
Relations with France
How did the Italian Wars start?
Ferdiand and Isabella - both Castile and Aragon aligned on policy, which was usually lead by Aragon
1494: French Invasion of Italy + quickly reached as far south as Naples meeting little resistance on the way
- Kingdom of Naples: ruled by illegitimate branch of Ferdinands family
- Kingdom of Sicily: ruled by Aragon
King Ferrante of Naples - Ferdiands illegitimate cousin and brother in law
Ferrante’s position was weak at the time of the invasion + he could not count on help from Ferdiand or nobles, so in 1495: French were able to occupy Naples
Why did Ferdiand Invade Naples?
1) For his own interests - concern about France
- -> F writing to his own ambassadors in France, says that the war was because it “touches Spains own interests”
- Naples previously part of the Crown of Aragon + // it falls to Aragon to protect it
2) For the defence of Christianity and the Pope
F + I Wrote to the ambassador in England - “not for any interest of our own but to aid the Pope.. all Christian Princes must defend the church”
What did Ferdiand join when against France?
1495 - The Holy League
Maximillion, the papacy, England
BUT the French had overextended themselves and were forced to retreat
Why did France recognise Spanish control over Naples?
When
1504: Naples became part of the Crown of Aragon //
Gonzola de Cordoba - the ‘Great Captain’
1) First Invasion: 1495-7
His light cavalry was at a disadvantage to the heavily armoured French cavalry + did not achieve much as he hoped
2) 1501 sent to Naples again
AS WELL AS: the artillery that had been so sucesful in Granada, he used new fighting methods
eg. pikemen with infantry support consisting of some firearms + beginnings of the infantry formation of the Tercio
// 1503: using these new tactics, Cordoba secured two important victories over the French at Cerignola
The Importance of Naples to the Kingdom of Spain -
How was it important?
How Evidence against?
Important:
- Geographically: central area of the Mediteranian
- Grain suplied were a considerable asset + Revenue
- Made Spain the most important influence in Italy + gave control of Southern Europe by Land and Sea
BUT:
- Lead to further military and diplomatic warfare against France
- Extended the length of the Spanish Frontier in the Medierranian which needed to be defended by the Turcks
Policy in the Mediterranean
- What was Ferdinand aims
- What did he do to fulfil these aims
Aims
- Defence of Christiantity against the Turcks/ Crusade
- Protection of his own interests
Isabella’s own religious views + Ferdiand expressed an interest in a crusade against the Turks, “from his youth, always desired a war against infedels”
1479-80:
Spain assisted the Knights Hospitallers when the island of Rhodes was besieged by the Turks
+ 1 year later, Spain (along with Portugal) helped Naples against a Turkist invasion, expelling Turks from Otranto
1501:
Navel and military force under Cordoba helped Venice regain the castle of St. George from the Turks
Policy in North Africa
- What was traded in North Afriaca?
- Who also had interests here?
Gold, Ivory, slaves from north and weat afriaca
War of Sucession
Isaballa had sent out Privateering Ships in 1476-78 to intercept Portuguese ships as they returned home loaded with goods
Treaty of Alacacovas - 1479
- Ended the War with Portugal
- Forced Isabella to accept Portuguese monopoly on fishing and trade along the west coast of Africa
Policy in North Africa
- When did Ferdaind turn his attention to North Africa again?
- Why?
- What did he achieve?
- In what name was the land conqured?
Not until the 1490’s that Spanish attention was drawn to North Africa again because
- Religion
- Trade
- Security
To act against the various groups of Moors who controlled most of North Africa would be to also act against the main rival faith to Christianity + continue the Reconquest
+ dying wish of Isabella to carry on the battle with the Moors of Africa because of their faith
- Would help prevent support to the Mudejars in Spain
- Bases in North Africa would create trading opportunities
1509: Captured Oran
1510: Captured Algiers + Tripoli
- -> Only the ports, didnt go in land (just desert)
- Pointless // aims: not reconquista
Conqured in the name of Aragon
Improvement of Military Organisations
Gained considerable military experience from the war in Granada
Crown income used to pay for the armed forces directly // monarchs directly controlled the army and did not have to rely totally on members of the nobility to supply fighting force
After Granada War - private armies, often used by members of the nobility for their own purpouse, ceased to be important
Royal Reguations of 1495-1503 laid down how military units in the service of Isabella and Ferdiand should be organised + controlled by centeral administration
- Be present at musters and inspections
- Keep weapons in good working order
