Read Online Isabel The Queen: Life And Times Expressed By Peggy K. Liss Formatted As Audio Books
knowledge of Isabel, Queen of Castile, has been limited to what you learn about her involvement in the “discovery” of the Americas and the Inquisition and the fictional interpretation of her life in The Queens Vow by C.
W. Gortner. I endeavored to read this book as an assignment from class and selected it from the class syllabus, but I was very pleased to find out that this book was referenced as one of Gortners sources in his novel.
Isabel the Queen brings the reader into the world of Isabel by introducing the rule and times of her father, Juan, and halfbrother, Enrique.
The author includes this information as a means of establishing what Isabel had as her professional examples and to show the differences when Isabel became the Queen.
I think that this worked well, but I did get a little tired reading statements like, “and it proved a costly mistake whose lessons would not be lost on Isabel” Kindle loc.
. The author makes it VERY clear with these kinds of statements to draw the divisions between Isabel and her brother especially.
This book was chock full of information on not just Isabel as a person, but also the world of Spain and Europe around her.
It was very dense and not a book that you finish in a short period of time, believe me, it will take you awhile to read it all this is certainly more of a research book than a fun reading book.
However, you will come away from it with a new knowledge and appreciation of the time,
Any discussion of Isabel inevitably wades in the water of controversy with the portrayal of the Columbus expedition as well as the handling of the Spanish Inquisition and persecution of the Jews and Muslims.
Liss doesnt shy away from these controversial subject and does lay out the information, both positive and negative, but she doesnt take a firm stance in either direction.
As the book was originally published around theth anniversary of Columbus expedition and then was republished around theth anniversary of the death of Isabel it makes sense that she treads carefully around these subjects in order to take advantage of these dates.
I came away from this book with a much more concrete sense of who Isabel was as a person and as a Queen.
I would recommend this book, but just know it might be a little denser than you are looking for.
This review was previously featured on sitelinkThe Maiden's Court blog, Women can rule as ruthlessly as men, The writing is dense but the story of the conquest of Spain and the inquisition is amazing, A few things to note before reading this review:
, I am a major history buff, I read all sorts of history books, from nonfiction to fiction, and firstsource documents, I usually dislike heavily revisionist history, but I still read them all the same, This is more an academic book and extremely research heavy, The writing can be dense at times, and simply unbearable for the more actiondriven readers, If youre a fan of only fiction or streamline, popular nonfiction, you may not enjoy this book as much.
. This is a nonfiction book that details surprise, the life and times of Isabella, This means that while there is intrigue, war, and politicking, it is still historical nonfiction, not heavily researched historical fiction for an excellent example of one such book, see sitelinkLegacy.
The tone of the novel is academic and “omnipotent” the author knows what will happen, and wants us to know what she has in mind.
. Full disclosure: I wrote a mini thesis on the rise and fall of the kingdom of Granada, which heavily involved Isabella and Fernando.
I will try to be as objective as possible, though my previous research experience will undoubtedly color my view of Liss and Isabella.
. Upon rereading, my review is definitely more Isabellaheavy than Lissheavy, In fact, I created my “BAMF” shelf because of Isabellas awesomeness, You have been warned, But, in all seriousness, Liss is really good, and if any of what I say interests you keeping in mind the notes above, you really cant go wrong with Liss.
. Apologies in advance for tangents and the occasional satiation of my inner actually, outer, too nerd,
Now, please proceed onto the gush fest for the queen of latemedieval queens, Isabella I,
Not many people know about Isabella in the Englishspeaking world, Those who do know of her recognize her as the woman who helped Columbus "discover" the Americas, It's understandable, in some ways, My reading peers being mostly English speakers and readers, we are granted a wealth of literature on similarly strongwilled and powerful queens, such as Elizabeth I and Victoria and, oddly, the French Eleanor of Aquitaine, though it makes sense since her husband Henry II was King of England and her son was Richard the Lionheart.
In light of the number of authors who specialize in the above figures, more is the pity that we hardly have any quality English literature on one of the most overlooked yet fascinating queens of all, Isabella of Castile.
Don't get me wrongin Spain, Isabella has maintained a status as the holy Catholic queen, untouchable and unshakable, glorious and illustrious, set upon an equally high or higher pedestal that we place Elizabeth I.
But outside the Spanishspeaking world, very little is known, Few are familiar with the propaganda war she initiated with her then husbandtobe, Fernando Anglicized as Ferdinand, that led her to her rocky ascension to the throne.
A rather dirty and ruthless propaganda war that relegates contemporary election time advertising and political maneuverings to child's play, I might add.
She institutionalized the saying Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando, which translates into "One and the same, Isabella the same as Ferdinand" that placed her on equal standing as her husband.
Keep in mind that Fernando was not a pushover he was ruthless, clever, and ambitious, Machiavelli, in describing the attributes of a powerful leader, once said: "A prince must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves," referring to Fernando in everything but name.
To keep in check a man like Fernando in a highly patriarchic and religious society, Isabella had to be stronger and smarter that the fox and lion prince.
Besides that, she was madly wealthy as the heir of thenprosperous Castile and was considered quite the catch for any politically ambitious man.
Isabella was also a woman with farreaching vision, Spain was not really “Spain” until Isabella and Fernando, Rather, Spain was the Iberian peninsula, resembling more a collection of rowdy, divisive kingdoms with eonsold grudges that shared a border with the powerful although dwindling Muslim kingdom of Granada.
While Fernando wanted to wage a vanity war against the Italian Kingdom of Naples, which he considered the ancient territory of his homeland Aragon, Isabella was thinking bigger.
She wanted to unite Spain in territory, mind, and religion, She did this by first ousting the “outsiders,” instigating the Granadan War and after the conquest uniting the Spanish kingdoms into one cohesive unit.
The rest is, how they say, history,
In describing momentous events such as the two above, however, Liss presents more than just a timeline of important wars and dates.
In explaining the stages of Isabellas reign, she presents her findings in a way that poses more questions than answers.
For example, Isabella was the main impetus behind the Granadan war, an almost decadelong war that really put to the spotlight the root of Isabellas motivations and ambitions.
Was Isabella an intolerant religious fanatic who wiped out the corrupt and dwindling Muslim kingdom in a long and costly war for the sake of God Or was it a calculated political move that would establish the foundations for a unified Spain of the future Questions about the true psychology of a leader in a time of heavily politicized situations that required concealment and trickery emerge often in historical literature.
It's like choosing two puzzle pieces out of a set of one thousand, Do those puzzle pieces fit together, and how so If not, why
The beauty of Lisss writing is that she captures Isabellas mindset as well as she explains political undercurrents, and she presents both perspectives simultaneously and cohesively.
She poses questions, and while she presents her point of view, she leaves room for inquiry, Much of this is due to Lisss vast knowledge on the subject frankly, her research is quite impressive.
Liss presents in excruciating detail the political and social situation of a time lost to us long ago, while maintaining the epic vision of the “birth” of Spain.
She breathes life into one of the most mysterious queens of all time, preserving her mystic status while grounding her at the same time.
It is a testament to Isabellas intelligence and will that she is still so very well known in our age when women too easily faded into obscurity or remain as vilified figures that are subject to revisionist history.
It isnt a too terrible crowd that luckily for us spawned interesting literature, which includes among its ilk Agrippina, Marie Antoinette, and Cleopatra.
However, even if those women have gained recognition through their infamy or popular curiosity, their names do not approach the gravitas of monarchs like Isabella I.
Peggy Liss understands this and paints a realistic portrait of a woman who was once arguably the most powerful woman in Christendom.
I really wish there were more English literature on Isabella, But this is a good place to start to get an expansive picture of a fascinating woman, especially if youre an aspiring history author who is looking for some solid research material.
wink
Five for great writing, stupendous research, and a fascinating subject, Pt.Princess
. Walls and Gates, Castile,birth of Isabel
Birthplace: Madrigal de las altas torres, agricultural town
Father passed atmother became crazy after childbirth or after death of Juan
After death, moved to Arevalo
Hercules said to have founded Segovia, Avila, Arevalo and Salamanca.
: Enrique gt war against the Muslim emirate of
Granada a necessary step to bring Jerusalem back to Christianity
building churches over mosques to reconsecrate them and dedicating them to St Michael
years: moved to her brother Enrique's court
.
The Wrong King
Enrique IV: most probably imponent, Daughter Juana, probably not his gt secured throne for Isabel,
he loses favor when he is not battling the moors and an opposition forms
, The Right Marriage
: Alfonso, Isabel's brother, dies of the bubonic plague
Pacheco interested in Castile crown
Fernando amp Isabel: instant attraction that would lead to longlasting love.
Married by consuming their marriage in front of eye witnesses,
. To the crown
Fernando Isabel go after Enrique to establish Isabel as the rightful heir to the crown
Isabel's first child, named Isabel gt also established that plenty more heirs are to be expected
.
A royal heritage: perception amp reality
, Contests:the battle to keep the Castilian crown
, Resolutions:
. To the sea:
Guadalupe: Isabel's paradise,
Instilling order of Castilian monarchy in Seville highest source of income
Taking control of borders close to Africa, in order to control import of gold.
. Signs and revelations:
a son, Juan, is born in Seville, June"The Desired One", who would redeem Spain from evil.
. Inquisition
inquisition was hoped to differentiate between true conversos and fake ones, to protect the sincere Christians
Converso refers to the Jews that converted during the mass baptisms ofor thereafter, and their descendents
Nicolo Franco was the papal legate charged into look into the converso problem in Castile.
Isabel's approach: propose programs gradually, in order to build consensus among the people
Conversos still had strong connections to Jewish faith and practices, because of how their culture had evolved
:conversos, burned at stake, after secret denunciation and without public trial
.
Readying
: peace with Portugal finally confirmed, Isabel married off to Afonso, heir to Portugal's kingdom,
: preparation of single compendium of Castilian law,
nobles retained their economical powers, but had much less political influence
, The Queen's War I
Civil strife in Granada, to the royal's advantage
Preparing: first attack on the Moors is bad, but the Spanish don't retreat.
Great engines of war were ordered, War against all Unbelievars/enemies of Catholic faith, but also an enterprise of recovery or territorial reconquest,
A retreat amp a prize
Gaining the Vega
, The Queen's War II: Turks preparing for another attack in the West,
Malaga
gt Boabdil promises to hand over Granada to the reys, when he will be able and in turn, reiceve a place in the eastern part of the kingdom.
gt Malaga capitulates months later, due to starvation,
gt Isabel amp Fernando entered the city only after Talavera reconsecrated Malaga and all mosques became churches.
gt All Jews were taken out of Malaga and completely locked up, until ransom would be paid.
gt Most malaguenos became and remained slaves, since ransom for them was not paid,
New Faces
gt los reyes go back to Aragon
gt Henry VII suggests marriage between Arthur and Catalina, who was onlyyears old/ treaty of Medina del Campo
Baza
gt Campaign against Baza, to hem in alZagal, who after months, also surrenders
gt No battle, only negotiations
gt December, the royals wrote that the war was over
Royal Wedding
gt Afonso of Portugal,yrs younger than the infanta Isabel
gt Wedding was needed, because relations with Portugal were deteriorating
gt: Afonso falls from a horse and dies the infanta returns to Castile
gt New plans to go against Granada, but now there is some resistance from the populace
gt When wanting to lay siege at Granada, Boabdil turned over initial plans, which was considered rebellion by the kings
gt June: Prince Juan comes of age atand is knighted by Kind Fernando
gt November,: formal capitulation of Granada
Part III.
Toward Empire
. The View from Granada: The Grand Design
with peace achieved, the next step was to advance into Africa and the Atlantic
New military objective: Conquer Jerusalem, bring it back to Christianity, under the Spanish crown
a complex monetary and banking system emerged, with Seville as leading center.
. The Expulsion of Jews
decree given in Granada, whereas the Jews were invited to leave Spain withinmonths.
. The Catholic Kings
: the king is attacked and his life is in danger From this point on, the queen is not only filled with sadness, but becomes much more contemplative.
coming face to face with death, Isabel requests an overview of all that she owes others to start settling her debts
Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros the queen's new confessor, who awakens the desire in her to study the life of Christ and the cross, as a way to get closer to God
Pedro Gonzalez de Medoza, "the third king of Spain"
Juan dies from the flu, after being married to Margaret of Habsburg.
August,, Isabel, the eldest daughter, dies in childbirth
, The Queen and Her Daughter
upon return to Granada, there were still many Muslims left gt Cisneros threatened and held sermons to them, in hope they will get baptized.
: Muslim uprising gt another mass wave of baptism ensured and passage to Africa was granted for those defeated it was forbidden for Muslims to stay, as it was considered that they interrupted the indoctrination of the converts
: Miguel, the grandson of Isabel dies gt Juana, married to Philip of Burgundy, is next in line of succession
Maria married to Manoel of Portugal widower of her sister Isabel sped up also by Portugal's need for an heir
Maria had a happy marriage and a long life, motheringchildren during her marriage to Manoel
Catalina to be sent over to England only after Arthur turned, when they could consummate they marriage gt to counteract any deals Philip had discussed of marriage with his sister Margaret instead
Juana had a daughter with Philip, Leonor and a son, Charles, who would become King Charles I.
of Spain and Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor
Charles was engaged to Claudia, daughter of Louis XII, but the royals strongly wanted Juana and Charles to stay in Spain, so that he could grow in the Spanish ways
When Arthur dies of the plague, Isabel broaches the subject of having Catalina marry crown prince Henry, against at detriment of Margaret, sister of Philip
: Juana starts showing signs of mental distress "Juana la Loca"
French vs.
Spanish war in Italy in Naples, where it was clear that the Spanish would be winning gt Henry VII signs the contract for Catalina's marriage to future Henry VIII.
As Juana's mental distress progressed, it also started to become visible that what ailed Isabel was actually a tumor gt Juana still showedinterest in affairs of state
Consumed by fever, on October, Isabel signs her will.
A codicil is added Novemberand she dies on November,
.