King Ferdinand By 1519, Spain had become so large and difficult to rule. King Charles decided to divide it in half and gave the Hapsburg Empire in Central Europe to his brother, Ferdinand. He gave the other half (Spain, the Netherlands, Southern Italy and Spain's overseas empire) to his son Phillip.
King Charles I King Charles I was the former king of Spain before giving power to his two sons. He also had several sister, which married heirs to various thrones in such countries like Denmark, Portugal, Hungary and France. All these marriages solidified alliances between Spain and these European nations. Charles I was also elected Holy Roman Emperor. This made him Charles I of Spain and Charles V of Germany. He is greatly credited with making a Spain a superpower by taking gold and silver from the "New World".
Queen Isabella I of Castile Isabella and Ferdinand are recognized as one of the most renown/royal couples in history. Their marriage united Spain, this was a very significant moment. Together they also completed the Reconquest and sent Christopher Columbus on his exploration. They also solidified the unity of religion in Spain.
King Phillip II Under King Phillip, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe. He ruled under an absolute monarch, with an extreme control over government and the lives of the people. King Phillip believed in the concept of divine power. He believed he ruled because God chose him (his royal family) to rule. Phillip defended Spain from the spread of the Protestant church and Islam, trying to sustain the Roman Catholic Church which ran through Spain. He also fought the spread of Islam in the Mediterranean by the Ottoman Empire and the spread of Protestantism in Northern Europe by the English and the Netherlands.
Juan Sebastián Elcano Was a sailor and explorer. He was the first man to circumnavigate the world. He is considered one of the notable people coming from Spain. He existed from 1476-1526.
The Spanish Armada King Phillip sent a fleet of 130 enormous Spanish warships armed with 3,000 cannons to crush and demolish England. Unfortunately due to bad weather, and Sir Francis Drake's of England smaller faster ships, the Spanish Armada was destroyed in 1588. The failure of this attack from the Spanish, hugely increased Queen Elizabeth's of England popularity. However it had a longing negative affect on King Phillip's image. Leading up to the invasion there had been much hostility built up between Spain and England.
Spanish Inquisition Commonly compared to the crusades, the Inquisitions goal was to spread Christianity and execute anyone who got in the way or expressed their opposition to the Holy Roman Catholic Church.. Many cruel practices were used to meet this goal. It can almost be described as a grand holocaust due to all the lives violently and cruelly taken.