Ferdinand II and Isabella I:
Ferdinand and Isabella were a married couple that essentially co- ruled Spain. The two ruled during the "Golden Age" of Spain. This was a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. Ferdinand was born March 10th, 1452 and died January 23rd 1516. He ruled many places like Aragon (1479-1516), Castile (1474-1504) and Naples (1504-1516). Ferdinand received political education and brought a new emphasis on constitutionalism. He was greatly admired by Niccolo Machiavelli, author of "The Prince" and Italian political theorist. Ferdinand was a very skillful diplomat, which then led him to lead on a dual monarchy with Isabella. Many consider Ferdinand the bringer of unity, but some did not like him because of his oppression. His wife was Isabella I. She was born April 22nd, 1451, and died November 26th, 1504. Isabella was queen of Castile (1474-1504) and Aragon (1479-1504). She was a very well-known woman in history, being the first woman on the US coin. The two were very important rulers in Spanish history for a lot of reasons. They brought stability to both Castile and Aragon. In 1492, they captured Granada and earned themselves the title of Catholic Kings. Also in 1492, they sent out Christopher Columbus to explore the new world. This is very important because America would not have been discovered by Europe for a longer amount of time. It is easy to tell that they had many ambitions to explore , travel, and conquer more of the world. One very controversial thing they did was for people to convert to Christianity (like Jews or Muslims). If they did not do this, they would be expelled.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isabella-I-queen-of-Spain
Ferdinand and Isabella were a married couple that essentially co- ruled Spain. The two ruled during the "Golden Age" of Spain. This was a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. Ferdinand was born March 10th, 1452 and died January 23rd 1516. He ruled many places like Aragon (1479-1516), Castile (1474-1504) and Naples (1504-1516). Ferdinand received political education and brought a new emphasis on constitutionalism. He was greatly admired by Niccolo Machiavelli, author of "The Prince" and Italian political theorist. Ferdinand was a very skillful diplomat, which then led him to lead on a dual monarchy with Isabella. Many consider Ferdinand the bringer of unity, but some did not like him because of his oppression. His wife was Isabella I. She was born April 22nd, 1451, and died November 26th, 1504. Isabella was queen of Castile (1474-1504) and Aragon (1479-1504). She was a very well-known woman in history, being the first woman on the US coin. The two were very important rulers in Spanish history for a lot of reasons. They brought stability to both Castile and Aragon. In 1492, they captured Granada and earned themselves the title of Catholic Kings. Also in 1492, they sent out Christopher Columbus to explore the new world. This is very important because America would not have been discovered by Europe for a longer amount of time. It is easy to tell that they had many ambitions to explore , travel, and conquer more of the world. One very controversial thing they did was for people to convert to Christianity (like Jews or Muslims). If they did not do this, they would be expelled.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-II-king-of-Spain
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isabella-I-queen-of-Spain
Charles V
Charles the fifth lived from 1500 to 1558. His real name was Charles Hapsburg, and only called Charles V in the rest of Europe (Carlos I in Spain). His mother (Juana) was daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. His father (Philip I) was Duke of Burgundy. He ruled one of the largest empires in history- the Holy Roman Empire. His reign as Holy Roman Emperor was from 1516-1556. During his reign, it was the Golden Age, a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. When he ruled Spain he ended up claiming almost all of the New World. Some of his subjects were the first to circumnavigate the globe (go all the way around the Earth). He signed an order to settle in California. During his reign, he brought Spanish colonies in America and Asia under his rule. His empire was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets" because it was so large and vast. He talked about human rights and wanted to do something about slavery, though unsuccessful. Although some of his accomplishments and how powerful the Holy Roman Empire was at the time, he struggled quite a bit while ruling. When he was king, it was very hard to be king. The Holy Roman Empire was a failed state. They went into a lot of debt, making it hard for his successor (son, Philip II). Martin Luther and his trial at the Diet of Worms made it hard for Charles to expand, because Luther's ideas were so compelling. In addition to Luther, he had to tackle Protestantism while trying to promote the counter- Reformation. He had to also rule all of the Americas (except for Brazil). He felt like his empire was a failure, and retired. That is when he gave Spain to his son (Philip II), and Ferdinand I (brother of Charles V) received the Holy Roman Empire.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-V-Holy-Roman-emperor
http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/german-history-biographies/charles-v-holy-roman-empire
Charles the fifth lived from 1500 to 1558. His real name was Charles Hapsburg, and only called Charles V in the rest of Europe (Carlos I in Spain). His mother (Juana) was daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. His father (Philip I) was Duke of Burgundy. He ruled one of the largest empires in history- the Holy Roman Empire. His reign as Holy Roman Emperor was from 1516-1556. During his reign, it was the Golden Age, a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. When he ruled Spain he ended up claiming almost all of the New World. Some of his subjects were the first to circumnavigate the globe (go all the way around the Earth). He signed an order to settle in California. During his reign, he brought Spanish colonies in America and Asia under his rule. His empire was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets" because it was so large and vast. He talked about human rights and wanted to do something about slavery, though unsuccessful. Although some of his accomplishments and how powerful the Holy Roman Empire was at the time, he struggled quite a bit while ruling. When he was king, it was very hard to be king. The Holy Roman Empire was a failed state. They went into a lot of debt, making it hard for his successor (son, Philip II). Martin Luther and his trial at the Diet of Worms made it hard for Charles to expand, because Luther's ideas were so compelling. In addition to Luther, he had to tackle Protestantism while trying to promote the counter- Reformation. He had to also rule all of the Americas (except for Brazil). He felt like his empire was a failure, and retired. That is when he gave Spain to his son (Philip II), and Ferdinand I (brother of Charles V) received the Holy Roman Empire.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-V-Holy-Roman-emperor
http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/german-history-biographies/charles-v-holy-roman-empire
Philip II
Phillip the second is the son of Charles V. He was alive from May 1527- September 1598. He married 4 times with many children. He co-owned his monarchy with one of his wives Mary I of England. Philip was nicknamed "The Prudent", "prudent" meaning he showed no care or thought for the future. During his reign, it was the Golden Age, a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. He inherited Spain, Naples, Netherlands, and Sicily. Philip also briefly reigned England and Ireland. He successfully reigned Spain for 42 years. It was also very difficult for him to rule when he did and struggled quite a bit, and had many day-to -day issues to deal with. When he got into office, the State was in a lot of debt from his father Charles V. He worked hard to fix how to Government worked. He wanted to preserve peace with states in Western Europe. He was very careful so it was hard for him to make decisions. When he was king, they were colonizing all of the Americas. Philip was fighting a major naval war in the Ottoman Empire and had rebellion in the Netherlands, so he was faced with a few obstacles during his reign. One thing he is known for (one bad thing) is when he attempted to conquer England in an attempt to save Catholicism. He used money and troops to support the Holy League. In the end, all of these plans failed. All of the Armada (their ships) were destroyed by the British. Spain also went bankrupt multiple times while he was king. Although all of these defeats, his whole reign was not a complete failure. Spain was also able to import gold and silver from other countries. During his reign, Spain earned a lot of influence around the world like through Europe and the Americas. When king Henry of Portugal died without an heir, he was crowned in 1581. This also gave him control over Brazil. Being son of a previous Holy Roman Emperor, he was deeply religious, and supported the Counter- Reformation and Catholicism. He died on September 13th, 1598 of Cancer.
Phillip the second is the son of Charles V. He was alive from May 1527- September 1598. He married 4 times with many children. He co-owned his monarchy with one of his wives Mary I of England. Philip was nicknamed "The Prudent", "prudent" meaning he showed no care or thought for the future. During his reign, it was the Golden Age, a period of cultural growth in areas of music, art, and literature and also for the Spanish Armada. He inherited Spain, Naples, Netherlands, and Sicily. Philip also briefly reigned England and Ireland. He successfully reigned Spain for 42 years. It was also very difficult for him to rule when he did and struggled quite a bit, and had many day-to -day issues to deal with. When he got into office, the State was in a lot of debt from his father Charles V. He worked hard to fix how to Government worked. He wanted to preserve peace with states in Western Europe. He was very careful so it was hard for him to make decisions. When he was king, they were colonizing all of the Americas. Philip was fighting a major naval war in the Ottoman Empire and had rebellion in the Netherlands, so he was faced with a few obstacles during his reign. One thing he is known for (one bad thing) is when he attempted to conquer England in an attempt to save Catholicism. He used money and troops to support the Holy League. In the end, all of these plans failed. All of the Armada (their ships) were destroyed by the British. Spain also went bankrupt multiple times while he was king. Although all of these defeats, his whole reign was not a complete failure. Spain was also able to import gold and silver from other countries. During his reign, Spain earned a lot of influence around the world like through Europe and the Americas. When king Henry of Portugal died without an heir, he was crowned in 1581. This also gave him control over Brazil. Being son of a previous Holy Roman Emperor, he was deeply religious, and supported the Counter- Reformation and Catholicism. He died on September 13th, 1598 of Cancer.