The New Monarchs

Objectives:

• You will be able to identify how the New Monarchs embodied the ideas of Roman leaders

• In what ways did Ferdinand and Isabella united Spain?

The New Monarchs were not the first kings, of

course.But these new monarchs—who lived around the same

time—offered their countries a guarantee of law and order

The New Monarch made use of Roman law

• They incorporated the will and welfare of the people

• They enlisted the support of the merchants and middle class

• They went a long ways in establishing European Nation-States

The New Monarchs came into power after a previous period

of instability and warfare

The Inventions of Gunpowder , the pike and longbow made it possible for Kings to be less

dependent on Knights on horseback

Now, Kings could hire mercenaries to supplement their armies. They did not have to give concessions to

the powerful nobles.

After the Hundred Years War, England was troubled by the War of the Roses 1455-1487

• The War was over different families wanting to take the throne

• One was the House of Lancaster, and the other York. Both had legitimate claims to the throne

The Red Rose was for Lancaster, and the White was

for York

Henry VII finally gained power. He married Elizabeth of York, and the houses were united

• Henry passed laws prohibiting nobles from having their own armies

• He created the Star Chamber to settle disputes—but he was the ultimate authority

Over time, the Star Chamber became a symbol of absolute

authority

Henry VII always felt uneasy about his claim to

the throneHis son, Henry VIII, knew that it was necessary that he, too,

have a son to prevent civil war

This is why his son, Henry VIII, would end up with six wives, in

his effort to gain a son—something we will learn about

shortly

In France, there was Louis XI“The Spider”

• He was called “The Spider” for his manipulative ways

• With force, cunning, and diplomacy, he brought order to France

•He subdued the nobles and made their territories part of France

When Cardinal Balue defied Louis, he was sentenced to live

in a cage

Ferdinand and Isabella

• Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile in 1469. Now there would be a united kingdom of Spain

• They toured their regions and promoted the unity of the Catholic Church in Spain

They completed the Reconquista, or conquering of

the Moors• The Moors, Spanish Muslims, were

expelled from Spain

They provided financial support for Columbus’ voyage

in 1492

They also expelled the Jews in 1492

Their goal was to create a “Pure Catholic” Spain

• A Spain without Jews or Muslims

The Spanish Inquisition begins

There will be other inquisitions.

The term inquisition will come to mean

the Catholic Church’s “clamping” down on a certain religious

group, a country, or an individual

Spain was the land of the crusade

• Crusade against Protestants

• Crusade against Jews

• Crusade against Muslims

• Crusade again South American Indians

The National character of Spain and the Catholic church become

one

All these crusades gave

Spain a common cause, but also a

reputation as being closed off, forbidding, and

backward

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

•He lived after the time of the New Monarchs—but he represents a new monarch in the area of Germany and Eastern Europe

Ferdinand and Isabella were his maternal grandparents

• Charles V’s mother was “Crazy Juana,” who kept her husband’s body with her for years after he died

He inherited lands from all his

grandparents

•Such was his influence, that we will refer to him throughout this course as simply “The Emperor”

The Emperor

He was a Hapsburg because that was his paternal Grandfather’s name

Years of Genetic inbreeding produced a misshapen jaw that

would be known as the Hapsburg Jaw

Charles V faced many threats in his lifetime

• The Hungary was invaded by the Turks, and faced defeat at the battle of Mohacs in 1526

Charles also faced the emerging Protestant

Reformation

He tried in vain for 35 years to preserve the unity of his

Hapsburg lands

He retired to a monastery and died, after dividing his

Kingdom between his son and brother