The Rise of Monarchies

New Monarchies Essay A new monarchy brings power to the royal family. It does this in many ways. A new monarchy reduces the power of nobility, and confiscates land from the nobles that are on "their" land. They also impose taxes and tariffs on whatever they want. A new monarchy will also create standing armies and hire mercenaries to protect their land and to grow their empire. Basically a new monarchy wants to bring money, power, and control to the royal family that is in rule. An example of two new monarchies is Henry VII of England and Ferdinand I of Spain. Both the royal families and states they represent are great examples of a new monarch from the time period of 1450 to 1550. Spain exemplifies the key characteristics of a new monarch. It all starts with the centralization of power in Spain towards one royal family. This all starts with the marriage of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. Before this marriage modern day Spain was fragmented into 4 four separate states, Aragon, Castile, Granada, and Navarre. The marriage combined Castile and Aragon, which allowed Ferdinand I of Spain and Queen Isabella to control most of modern day Spain. Along with this event Ferdinand and Isabella centralized the system of justice and made towns more subservient to the royal will in Castile. Ferdinand now is gaining control and power of his land, so he does what a new monarch should do and rips power and authority from the nobilities on his land. Ferdinand stripped the Castilian nobles of some of their privileges while he dispenses their titles and positions. In Aragon he has trouble with the nobles but they later will alliance with the King in fear of a revolt in the lower class. Now The Spanish Royal Family has gained control of their land. In order for Ferdinand to keep his kingdom safe and undisturbed from outsiders, he takes the province of Granada from the Moors. This shows Ferdinand's rise in power in 1492 and shows