This 1489 treaty established a commercial alliance between England and Spain and arranged the marriage of Arthur Tudor to Catherine of Aragon.
Key Facts
- Date signed by Spain
- March 27, 1489
- Ratified by England
- September 1490 (Treaty of Woking)
- English party
- Henry VII of England
- Spanish parties
- Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon
- Betrothed couple
- Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon
- Key economic provision
- Reduction of tariffs between England and Spain
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
England and the newly unified Spanish kingdoms sought to counter French power and expand trade relations. Both crowns had strategic reasons to align: Henry VII wanted diplomatic recognition and commercial advantages, while Ferdinand and Isabella desired a northern ally against France.
On March 26, 1489, England and Spain concluded the Treaty of Medina del Campo, signed by the Spanish sovereigns on March 27. The agreement established a joint policy toward France, lowered trade tariffs between the two countries, and arranged the betrothal of Arthur Tudor, heir to the English throne, to Catherine of Aragon.
The treaty laid the diplomatic groundwork for the eventual marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon, linking the Tudor and Trastámara dynasties. England ratified the agreement through the Treaty of Woking in September 1490, cementing the Anglo-Spanish alliance that would shape European politics for decades.
Political Outcome
Anglo-Spanish alliance established with provisions for joint policy against France, tariff reductions, and the betrothal of Arthur Tudor to Catherine of Aragon.
England and Spain had no formal alliance; both faced French pressure independently.
England and Spain aligned diplomatically against France, with a royal marriage contract reinforcing the partnership.