Great Love Affairs That Changed the Course of History, Part Three

Queen Isabella I of Castile (born April 22, 1451), and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (born March 10, 1452), were medieval Catholic monarchs of two neighboring kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain).  Following several coerced betrothals by Isabella's brothers aimed at uniting their kingdom with one of the neighboring kingdoms, Isabella announced that she was in love with Ferdinand of Aragon.  However, since Isabella and Ferdinand were second cousins and stood within the “degrees of blood-relative” prohibition, their marriage wouldn’t be possible unless a dispensation from the Pope was granted.  Finally, with the help of Rodrigo Borgia (later, Pope Alexander VI), Isabella and Ferdinand were granted a Papal Bull by Pius II authorizing Ferdinand to covertly marry within the “third degree of consanguinity,” making their marriage seemingly legal.  Finally on October 19, 1469, they were married in the Palacio de los Vivero in the city of Valladolid.  Read more . . .