Ferdinand II of Aragon

Ferdinand II of Aragon, surnamed the Catholic (March 10, 1452 - June 23, 1516) was king of Aragon, Castile, Sicily, Naples and Navarre.

He became Ferdinand V of Castile when he married Isabella I of Castile. They united their two kingdoms, running them as one country though they remained officially separate. He was also the king of Sicily (as II) from 1468 to 1516 and Naples (as III) from 1504 to 1516.

Ferdinand also conquered the southern half of Navarre and annexed it to Spain. Since he was a widower by then, he married Germana of Foix.

After Isabella left her kingdom to her daughter Joanna, Ferdinand served as her regent during her insanity. Though rebuffed by the Castilian nobility and replaced with Joanna's husband Philip I of Castile, he resumed his regency after Philip's death. Joanna's son, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, succeeded her on the throne of Castile; and he also succeeded Ferdinand on the Aragonese throne when Ferdinand died in 1516. Thereafter the thrones were united; see List of Spanish monarchs.

Some authors think that he was the inspiration for Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince.

Preceded by:
John II of Aragon List of Aragonese monarchs Followed by:
Charles I of Spain
Preceded by:
John III of Navarre List of Navarrese monarchs
Preceded by:
John II of Castile List of Castilian monarchs
(ruled as Ferdinand V jointly with his wife, Isabella I of Castile) Followed by:
Joanna of Castile