Isabella of Castile was the mother of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. Isabella was Queen of Castile and León from 1474 until her death in 1504. She was one of the most powerful and influential queens of her time, and is remembered for her role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Isabella was a devoted Catholic and worked to expand the influence of the Church in Spain. She also sponsored the voyages of Christopher Columbus, which led to the discovery of the New World.