Queen Isabella I

Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) was one of the most famous queens in history, known for her role in sponsoring Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World and for bringing an end to centuries of Muslim rule in Spain.

The Queen was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain and was the daughter of King John II of Castile. She married King Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1469, unifying the two largest kingdoms in Spain. Isabella and Ferdinand then worked together to bring about the end of Muslim rule in Spain, culminating in the capture of Granada in 1492. This event marked the end of the Reconquista and the completion of a 700-year struggle to reclaim Spain for Christianity.

And in addition to that, people also hailed Queen Isabella I for her strong leadership and her efforts to improve the lives of her people. She established the Spanish Inquisition, which aimed to root out heresy and maintain religious unity, but also led to widespread persecution of Jews and other minority groups.

That's not the end of the story; Isabella is also famous for sponsoring the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World in 1492. Columbus' voyage marked the beginning of the Spanish colonization of the Americas and had a profound impact on world history.

Age: 1451-1504

Country: Spain

Achievements:

• Ended centuries of Muslim rule in Spain, completed the Reconquista
• Sponsored Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World