The Norfolk Story Book

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At the end of the Reconquista, only Granada was left for Isabella and Ferdinand to conquer. The Emirate of Granada had been held by the Muslim Nasrid dynasty since the mid-13th century. [86] Protected by natural barriers and fortified towns, it had withstood the long process of the Reconquista. On 1 February 1482, the king and queen reached Medina del Campo and this is generally considered the beginning of the Granada War. While Isabella's and Ferdinand's involvement in the war was apparent from the start, Granada's leadership was divided and never able to present a united front. [87] It still took ten years to conquer Granada, however, culminating in 1492. CPRE, (n.d.). Campaign to Protect Rural England: Tranquil Places. Available online: https://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/countryside/tranquil-places (accessed on 10 September 2021).

Tensions mounted steadily over the decade. In 1312, Isabella gave birth to the future Edward III, but by the end of the year Edward's court was beginning to change. Edward was still relying upon his French in-laws—Isabella's uncle Louis, for example, had been sent from Paris to assist him—but Hugh Despenser the Elder now formed part of the inner circle, marking the beginning of the Despensers' increased prominence at Edward's court. [34] The Despensers were opposed to both the Lancastrians and their other allies in the Welsh Marches, making an easy alliance with Edward, who sought revenge for the death of Gaveston. [35] Alonso de Palencia, Decada IV, book XXXII, chapter III: in 1478 a Portuguese fleet intercepted the armada of 25 navies sent by Ferdinand to conquer Gran Canary – capturing 5 of its navies plus 200 Castilians – and forced it to fled hastily and definitively from Canary waters. This victory allowed Prince John to use the Canary Islands as an "exchange coin" in the peace treaty of Alcáçovas.Henry Kamen (1997) The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision. Yale University Press, pp. 29–31. Gristwood, Sarah (2019). Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe. Basic Books. p.30. ISBN 9780465096794. In 1311, Edward conducted a failed campaign against the Scots, during which Isabella and he only just escaped capture. In the aftermath, the barons rose up, signing the Ordinances of 1311, which promised action against Gaveston and expelled Isabella and Henry de Beaumont from court. [31] 1312 saw a descent into civil war against the king; Isabella stood with Edward, sending angry letters to her uncles Louis and Charles asking for support. [31] Edward left Isabella, rather against her will, at Tynemouth Priory in Northumberland whilst he unsuccessfully attempted to fight the barons. [32] The campaign was a disaster, and although Edward escaped, Gaveston found himself stranded at Scarborough Castle, where his baronial enemies surrounded and captured him. Guy de Beauchamp and Thomas of Lancaster ensured Gaveston's execution as he was being taken south to rejoin Edward. [33] Tensions grow: 1312–1321 [ edit ]

As queen, the young Isabella faced numerous challenges. Edward was handsome, but also to have possibly formed close romantic attachments first to Piers Gaveston and then to Hugh Despenser the Younger. Edward found himself at odds with the barons, too, in particular his first cousin Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, whilst continuing the war against the Scots that he had inherited from Edward I. Using her own supporters at court and the patronage of her French family, Isabella attempted to find a political path through these challenges. She successfully formed an alliance with Gaveston, but after his death at the hands of the barons, her position grew increasingly precarious. Edward began to take revenge on his enemies, using an ever more brutal alliance with the Despenser family, in particular his new favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger. By 1326, Isabella found herself at increasing odds with both Edward and Hugh, ultimately resulting in Isabella's own bid for power and an invasion of England. [20] Fall of Gaveston: 1308–1312 [ edit ] Isabella was able to come to an understanding with her husband's first favourite Piers Gaveston, shown here lying dead at the feet of Guy de Beauchamp, in a 15th-century representation.

Data Availability Statement

UK National Ecosystem Assessment. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment: Synthesis of the Key Findings; UNEP-WCMC, LWEC: Cambridge, UK, 2014; Available online: https://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources-and-data/the-uk-national-ecosystem-assessment--synthesis-of-the-key-findings-and-technical-reports (accessed on 20 September 2021).