To what extent did Spain benefit from territorial expansion under Ferdinand and Isabella?

Naples and Milan, which he intended to dispute; and it had an interest in

Navarre, which he intended to deny.

Both Isabella and Ferdinand, however, had one aim in common: to crush the advancing tide of Islam. Their southern and eastern coasts were prone to

raids from the Barbary Corsairs; their Mediterranean possessions were open

to attack from the Ottoman Turks; and their newly conquered province of

Granada was always likely to receive help from the Muslims in north Africa.

Ferdinand's vehemence towards the Muslims seems at first glance to be

Mudjar policy in his own kingdoms and his own kingdoms and raises the

questions as to the sincerity of his religious pronouncements. It should be

noted, however, that Ferdinand saw nothing paradoxical about pursuing a

pro-Muslim domestic policy and an anti-Muslim foreign policy. What mattered to him was the welfare of his country. We should not be surprised therefore by Ferdinand's contrasting domestic and foreign policies. But was he really interested in leading a Christian crusade to recover Jerusalem? Did he

visualize himself as the champion of Christendom or was he seeking to

maintain a high international profile and, with it, the support of the

Papacy?

Overall, Spanish foreign policy is phenomenally successful. After the end of the civil war, relations with Portugal had improved. Ferdinand and

Isabella's daughter, Isabella, married Manoel of Portugal in 1497. A year

after that she dies but the marriage helped to end poor relations with

Portugal. Castile also looked towards the Canary Islands for land expansion. Spain took the Canary Islands over and incorporated it into Castile. By 1493, the islands of Gran Canary, Parma and Tenerife are conquered and colonized. Subsequently these islands provided very important staging posts for Castilian voyages across the Atlantic.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus lands on the coast of America funded by Isabella of Castile. They acquire the Bahamas, Cuba, Pueta Rica and Hispaniola. The Pope decides to give lands to Spain and Portugal. He said that all land West of a certain line belonged to Spain and all land east of this line would belong to Portugal. This obviously benefited Spain. They gained land and thus expanding their empire and reputation as a formidable country. Obviously by expanding ones empire one would gain natural resources. Castile also gained important trading cities on the North African coast and captured the fortress of St. George, which was a good strategic point. This obviously benefited Spain.

While Castile favoured lands to the south and west of her, Aragon preferred to concentrate her attention on France, Aragon's long standing enemy.

In 1494, King Ferrante of Naples dies. The crown of Aragon and France has a claim to Naples. Later that year Charles' forces invade Naples. In response, Ferdinand helps to establish the Holy League in 1495. This is an alliance with England, Spain, Milan, Venice, the Holy Roman Empire and the Papal states. Ferdinand employed Cordoba who led armies against the French and becomes known as the Great Captain. In 1504 there were two major battles: the battle of Cerignola and Gariglian. After Spain won both, the French acknowledged Spanish ownership over Naples. The French and Spanish were also in dispute over Roussillon and Cerdagne. These two pieces of land were on the boarders between Spain and France and obviously both countries were after them. In 1489 there was the treaty of medina del campo whereby Ferdinand was to invade Roussillon and Cerdagne to distract the French from Henry in Brittany. In 1493 the French made the treaty of Barcelona with Spain giving her the Roussillon and Cerdagne. The Spanish went behind the back of Henry but it was a success for Ferdinand and good foreign policy. Aragon also gains Navarre by Ferdinand marrying the princess (Germaine de Foix) and Milan.

In conclusion, Spanish foreign policy is unarguably extraordinarily successful. All of the lands gained would benefit Spain and her people both directly and indirectly. The people at home would have a better morale and be able to live and work in Spain's empire. As a result, Spain would be widely respected for its empire and formidability. Spain would also gain resources in its other lands and thus be benefited financially as well.