Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella first reject Columbus plan?
Isabella and Ferdinand’s reign heralded in a golden age and marked the beginning of Spain’s modern history with the Reconquista, Christopher Columbus and the Inquisition. Their marriage on 19 October 1469 united Spain. Isabella preferred Ferdinand as she turned down all other offers including the Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III).
Isabella and Ferdinand Isabella and Ferdinand’s reign heralded in a golden age and marked the beginning of Spain’s modern history with the Reconquista, Christopher Columbus and the Inquisition. Their marriage on 19 October 1469 united Spain.
Isabella turned Columbus down on the advice of her confessor, and he was leaving town by mule in despair, when Ferdinand intervened. Isabella then sent a royal guard to fetch him, and Ferdinand later claimed credit for being “the principal cause why those islands were discovered”.
Ferdinand and Isabella had just conquered Granada, the last Muslim stronghold on the Iberian Peninsula, and they received Columbus in Córdoba, in the Alcázar castle. Isabella turned Columbus down on the advice of her confessor, and he was leaving town by mule in despair, when Ferdinand intervened.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are guilty because they could have told Columbus no when he sent a letter requesting more support. Instead they continued to fund his expedition, encouraging his action, in the hope of getting more gold and slaves as Columbus promised.
Columbus arrives as a supplicant at the court of Queen Isabella of Spain, hoping for cash and three tall ships. When the Queen asks him what he desires, he bows over her hand and murmurs, “Consummation.” The Queen is offended.
In these voyages, Columbus transported more than 1000 Spanish men and hundreds of domesticated animals. Columbus promised his benefactors, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, to bring back gold, spices, and silks from the Far East, to spread Christianity, and to lead an expedition to China.
In terms of accomplishments, Isabella I unified Spain through her marriage to Ferdinand II of Aragon, and she financed the expedition of Christopher Columbus, leading to the discovery of the Americas.
The king refused because his advisers said that Columbus was wrong, Spain’s rulers were King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. They wanted to share in the rich Asian trade. Isabella also wanted to spread Christianity.
