Kings of Spain

Mid-15th-century Spain is divided into Castile, Aragon, Navarra and Granada. Ferdinand and Isabella founded a monarchy based on the union of the kingdoms; thus Spain was born.

In the late 15th century, an heir to an empire just forming -- a princess of Spain -- made history with the nickname of Joanna the Mad. She earned it by watching over the body of her husband for 19 years.

A documentary about the secret lives of the Spanish monarchy from 1492 to 1931.

In the middle of the 16th century, Charles V unified lands of the crowns of Castilla and Aragon, thus bringing all of Spain together. In just a century, Spain changed from medieval barbarism to one of the main world powers.

On September 13, 1598, the 71-year-old Philip II died at his palace the Escorial. Many doubted the capabilities of his son to govern his extensive empire.

In the late sixteenth century, Spain struggled to stay out of Europe's conflicts. Finally, they were forced to get involved in the War of Thirty Years, primarily to defend Catholicism.