Castile for Isabella covers the early life of the most significant of allSpanish monarchs: Isabella of Castile. Isabella is seen as a young girl,within a few steps of the throne; first in the care of an ambitious butunbalanced mother; later in the licentious court of her half-brother HenryIV; and at length ascending the throne, Ferdinand beside her. MeanwhileHenry IV, weak and in the hands of favourites, had married a frivolous andimmoral Princess whose illicit love affair brought scandal and confusion toCastile with the birth of a child whose legitimacy was in doubt. These weremomentous years in Spanish history, for here was a country in the grip ofanarchy, with a royal house divided against itself. But Isabella, firm,serene and courageous, was dedicated to an idea; to bring law and order toan all-Christian Castile and to marry Ferdinand of Aragon.