Political+Figures

Learn more at: [] Isabella d’ Estes was born on May 18, 1474 to the ruling family of Ferra. At age sixteen, Isabella married Francesco Gonzaga. She was then the Marchioness of Mantua because Francesco was the Prince. After the death of her husband, Isabella ruled Mantua alone. Her family believed in equality between male and female, so Isabella and her siblings were very well educated. At age sixteen, Isabella was able to speak Greek and Latin, play the lute, sing, dance and carry on a debate with people almost twice her age. As she was well educated, her political talent benefitted Mantua while she was in power. When her husband left, Isabella governed the city on her own, and when her died, she took over his whole job. She showed great leadership skills in 1509 when she became Chief of State in Mantua. She controlled the armies and in 1512, saved her husband from enemy forces after he was captured in his sleep. Soon after, her husband became jealous of her power and ignored her and found problems with everything she did. When Isabella discovered this, she went to Rome to find Pope Leo X and was treated like a queen. After conflicts died down, Isabella returned to Mantua where she also founded a school for young women where they had to examine a strict code of morals. She was Patron of the Arts and set the artistic standards and fashions. She collected a great many statues and paintings. She wrote over two thousand letters, commenting on everything from politics to war. That was as close as any woman came to writing history during the Renaissance. She then went on to rule a tiny part of Romagna, Solarlo. Isabella promoted and patronized the arts. She allowed writers, artists, and poets to exchange ideas in her home. As she ruled she set an example for women to break away from the role of the traditional Renaissance woman. She was known as the “First Lady of the Renaissance” by doing this and many other things. Learn more at: [] Isabella I was born on April 22, 1451. Isabella's brother was crowned Henry VI, and he was at odds with his nobles. The nobles wished Alfonso, Isabella's other brother, to be king, but he died very young and was unable to retain the throne. King Henry then declared isabella his heir to make his subjects happy. Her brother made arrangemens for Isabella to marry Don Carlos, but he died, so Isabella goot to marry her true love, Ferdinand. They were married immeadiately. Henry ruled for 5 more years before he died. He had had his daughter, Joan, marry a powerful ruler from Portugal. This meant that she was also an heir to the throne. So, Castile and Aragon went to war with Portugal. The war lasted five years and ended with a peace treaty, which made Joan abandon her claim to the throne, and Isabella was then the rightful Queen of Spain. Ferdinand also bcame King Ferdinand II during this period. They created the Holy Brotherhood, and also forced people in Spain to become Catholic or get kicked out. Once they had a new region of Granada under their reign, they began to listen to Columbus as they hadn't before. They cost of the trip was not much, and the rewards might be really good. When Columbus came back nearly one year later, he brought with him riches for Spain.He also brought back some Native Americans, which Queen Isabella protected and asked in her will for her successors to do the same. Isabella and Ferdinand had 5 children. They were Isabella, John, Joan, Maria and Catherine. Unfortunately she was not able to enjoy much happiness with her children. Her son died in 1497. Her daughter, Isabella became Queen of Portugal, but she died in 1498 while giving birth. Her son (Isabella's grandson), Miguel died when he was three. Catherine married King Henry VIII of England, but he divorced her when she was unable to produce a male heir. Joan, who was to inherit the throne, became crazy. Isabella died on November 26, 1504. She will be remembered as the Queen of the New World.