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Ferdinand II of Aragon

Ferdinand II of Aragon

7.9
King of Aragon who, with his wife Isabella, united most of Spain and helped fund Columbus's 1492 voyage
  • proper noun
translation icon : Fernando II de Aragón
  • Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I are credited with unifying Spain in the late 15th century.

Examples

  • Under the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Spanish Inquisition was established.

  • The voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 was supported by Ferdinand II of Aragon.

  • The reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon marked a significant turning point in Spanish history.

  • Did Ferdinand II of Aragon really support Columbus's expedition?

  • Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I are credited with unifying Spain in the late 15th century.

  • The voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 was supported by Ferdinand II of Aragon.

  • Under the reign of Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Spanish Inquisition was established.

Synonyms

Ferdinand
vsFerdinand II of Aragon
16 7.7

A Spanish king who ruled with Queen Isabella and helped pay for Columbus's voyage

also covers Reconquista and establishment of the inquisition beyond that focus
Ferdinand of Aragon
vsFerdinand II of Aragon
9.4

A king of Aragon and Castile who united Spain with his wife Isabella I

is the same historically but uses the full formal regnal name
Ferdinand V
vsFerdinand II of Aragon
8.6

King of Castile and Aragon who ruled with Isabella and helped unite Spain

is the same in meaning but uses a different regnal number form
King Ferdinand
vsFerdinand II of Aragon
7.2

The king of Castile and Aragon who united Spain with Queen Isabella and sent Columbus to the Americas

is identical in content but prefers a general title style
Ferdinand the Catholic
vsFerdinand II of Aragon
9.2

King of Castile and Aragon who ruled with Isabella and helped unite Spain

includes those events but also notes Reconquista completion and Columbus support

Surface Forms

Morphology

Ferdinand + II + of + Aragon

A B1 learner who knows 'Ferdinand', 'II', 'of' and 'Aragon' can reliably infer this is a person called Ferdinand the Second associated with Aragon (the regnal-name pattern is compositional and cross-linguistically familiar). However, the full propositional content in the definition (that he was king of Castile and Aragon, unified Spain, instituted the Inquisition, sponsored Columbus) requires historical knowledge beyond the literal constituent meanings, so the phrase is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Ferdinand II of Aragon shows he was the 'second' king named Ferdinand and that he ruled the region called Aragon. He and his wife Isabella brought several Spanish kingdoms together and supported Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage, so the name refers to the Spanish king who helped unite Spain and send voyages across the ocean.