Kirstin Downey’s Isabella, the Warrior Queen is a very fair, balanced biography of the great
Queen of Spain. Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) was responsible for driving the Muslims out of Granada and thus completing the Reconquest, for sponsoring Christopher Columbus, and for starting the Inquisition and expelling the Jews and Muslims from Spain, with conversion offered as the alternative.
Downey is a former Washington Post journalist and the author of The Woman Behind the New
Deal, a biography of Frances Perkins. Isabella: The Warrior Queen was published in 2014 by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday.
Isabella and Ferdinand: Who Really Led?
The author points out that Isabella’s husband, Ferdinand, is normally given first place in histories of the period. Yet Isabella, the first ruling queen in over one hundred years, deferred many times to her husband’s ego, allowing him to sign first and to take credit for actions that she began and completed.
Downey is a bit of a feminist historian at times, but she puts Isabella in the context of her times, especially regarding the threat and might of the Ottoman Empire, which was still expanding.
Granada, the Reconquest and the Inquisition
Isabella’s reign saw the fall of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, in 1492, completing the centuries-long Reconquest.
Downey also points out that this expansion fueled the Inquisition. The newly united Spain could not be sure of its Muslim subjects, who were often in rebellion against the crown, and the loyalty of many of the converted Jews was suspect.
The book also covers the expulsion from Spain of the Jews and Muslims who would not convert.
A Strategic Ruler
Isabella was a ruler who looked beyond the day’s problems and thought strategically.
She provided an excellent and well-rounded education for her daughters. And while she had her health, she expected that the natives of the “New World” were to be treated kindly.
Christopher Columbus and the New World
Regarding Columbus, Downey does an excellent job of providing a balanced picture of him, including his pride, his successes, and his failures.
As an aside, while the author points out that the natives suffered from the deadly diseases of Europe, the natives managed to get their own back by spreading syphilis to the “Old World,” with devastating effects.
Isabella’s Royal Legacy
It is interesting to note that Queen Victoria is often seen or remembered as the grandmother of European royalty. Yet Isabella’s offspring at one time controlled not only all of the “New World” but also contributed to the ruling families of the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Monaco.
Her children married into other European royal houses. Her youngest daughter, Catherine of Aragon, for example, became Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII.
Is Isabella, the Warrior Queen Worth Reading?
Yes. Isabella, the Warrior Queen by Kirstin Downey is easy to read, beautifully written, and well documented, and it gives a queen the honor she deserves.
It is a very fair and balanced biography. Downey can be a bit of a feminist historian at times, but she places Isabella in the context of her times and gives a balanced picture of both Isabella and Columbus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Isabella, the Warrior Queen by Kirstin Downey about?
It is a biography of Isabella I of Castile, covering her partnership with Ferdinand, the conquest of Granada, the Inquisition, the expulsion of Jews and Muslims, her sponsorship of Columbus, and her royal legacy.
Who was Queen Isabella of Spain?
Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) was the queen who, with her husband Ferdinand, completed the Reconquest of Spain, sponsored Christopher Columbus, and started the Spanish Inquisition.
Who is Kirstin Downey?
Kirstin Downey is a former Washington Post journalist and the author of The Woman Behind the New Deal, a biography of Frances Perkins, as well as this biography of Isabella.
Why is Ferdinand usually given more credit than Isabella?
Histories of the period normally give Ferdinand first place. Downey shows that Isabella often deferred to her husband’s ego, letting him sign first and take credit for actions she began and completed.
How does the book treat Christopher Columbus?
Downey gives a balanced picture of Columbus, including his pride, his successes, and his failures.
Is Isabella, the Warrior Queen worth reading?
Yes. It is easy to read, beautifully written, and well documented, and it gives Isabella the honor she deserves.
