The New Monarchs
Mar 26, 2015
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