FERDINAND OF ARAGON
(Ferdinand II | Ferdinand V)
Conceptually this is one of the most absurd documents in history, written by a European King to the native Indians of the new world, virtually all of whom were illiterate, knew nothing of Christianity or of European politics.
Also known as Ferdinand II or Aragon. We have provided an extensive quotation from the letter. In retrospect, it is incredulous today that Ferdinand would make such demands or even would believe that the Indians would understand the terms or their consequences, the threats. Even the promises that are made were ignored because of the Indian’s “intransigence.”
Ferdinand II was King of Aragon from 1479 to his death. As the husband of Queen Isabella I of Castile, he was King of Castile from 1474 to 1504 as Ferdinand V. He reigned over a dynastically unified Spain jointly with Isabella; together they are known as the Catholic Monarchs. Ferdinand is considered de facto the first king of Spain, being described as such during his own lifetime, although Castile and Aragon remained de jure two different kingdoms until the Nueva Planta decrees of 1707 to 1716.