Queen Isabella's role in financing Columbus's first voyage

Colonial America

Christopher Columbus' first voyage raised eyebrows in the world of the monarchs of European countries despite the booming of discoveries of new lands up for grabs of colonizing countries. One of the countries he approached, Spain, was beset with wars and religious instability due to the staunch belief of Queen Isabella that Spain is for Catholics. He was previously rejected by other European countries, as well as Spain, but his strong belief that he would discover new lands made some monarchs reconsider, particularly Spain.

Spain was ruled by the House of Aragon, King Ferdinand and his wife, Queen Isabella, known as Isabella the Catholic, for her great role in the implementation of Spanish Inquisition and her great support for Catholicism. She is hailed as one of the intelligent and strong women in European history. Queen Isabella was at first skeptic of Christopher Columbus and his proposal of an unknown expedition, and exaggerated demands. But Spain was in a race for new discoveries and Queen Isabella wanted so much to overcome Portugal in its quest for colonization, that she was convinced by her husband and Columbus to finance his expedition. Thus, Columbus was granted three ships, and King and Queen of Spain became Columbus' patrons in this voyage.