Castile and Aragon, << kas TEEL and AR uh gon >>, were two separate and powerful kingdoms of Spain. They were united in 1479 under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabella, the monarchs who later earned a place in American history through their ties to Christopher Columbus. The combined territories formed the heart of the modern nation of Spain. Aragon extended over the northeastern part of the peninsula, and Castile occupied the greater part of present-day Spain, ranging from the Bay of Biscay southward. Both kingdoms were formed as a result of Christian victories over the Moors, who had taken control of most of Spain in the A.D. 700’s. The strength gained from the union of Castile with Aragon made possible the death blow to Moorish dominion in Europe (see Moors). Today, Castilian Spanish is the official language of Spain, though such languages as Basque, Catalan, and Galician have official status in certain regions.
See also Ferdinand V; Isabella I; Madrid; Spain (History).
