Were the new monarchs really new?

By: Ben Whitehead, Jacob Wilkinson, and Matt Crosson

The new monarchs

• Louis XII of France• Henry VIII of England• Charles VII of France• Queen Isabella I of Castile• Henry VII of England• Ferdinand II of Aragon

Characteristics of the new monarchies

• New monarchs imposed their own taxes and tariffs

• They also controlled their respective armies• Tended to not use mercenaries• Middle class usually allied and sided with the

new monarchs• Church and nobles feared losing their power

and control.

Characteristics Continued…

• Middle class income came from the trade of goods

• This meant that the king had more things to tax

• Local tariffs for the middle class disappeared• Peace and stability was temporarily brought

to the kingdoms

Louis XII of France

• Reigned from 1498-1515• Reformed the French legal system• Extended the power of royal judges• Reduced taxes• Improved overall French government• Took control of Milan and Venice while on a

conquest in Italy

Charles VII of France

• Possessed the first standing army in French History

• He controlled territories that are originally controlled by England

• Joan of Arc• Established University of Poitiers in 1432

Henry VII of England

• Reigned from 1485-1505• First English monarch of the house of Tudor• Made nobles pay higher taxes• Reestablished royal authority over the nobles • Assigned “Justices of Peace” to oversee

regions of England.

Henry VIII of England

• Reigned from 1509-1547• Son of Henry VII• Considered to have been lustful, insecure, and

selfish by many• Wanted desperately to have a male heir• Married six times• He had Anne Boleyn beheaded because she

could not produce a male heir.

Henry VIII Continued…

• Henry VIII is also very famous for his huge role in the slit of the church of England from Rome

• Henry’s main reason was to annul his first marriage with Catherine of Aragon

• But the church refused and Henry VIII made himself the head of the new church of England

Isabella I of Castile

• 1451-1504• Pushed forward reforms• Wanted to decrease crime• Sponsored Christopher Columbus• Conquered Granada• Married to Ferdinand II of Aragon

Ferdinand II of Aragon

• Reigned from 1479-1516• Forced Muslims to convert to Christianity• Sponsored Christopher Columbus• Under Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain was

finally united

The End