... and Isabella. Isabella then, in an effort to reduce noble-power and hence strengthen the crown's position, decreed that the nobles return the lands gained during the Reconquista, but were allowed to keep any land they previously owned before the Reconquista. Important coastal towns under nobility were also returned to the crown and the nobles were compensated with lands to be conquered in Granada, the last Muslim State, and with ownership of other towns. Most of the nobles kept the majority of their estates; hence there was little resentment against the crown for demanding the land back, especially in the 1480 Cortes of Toledo where Isabella executed her royal prerogative. In fact, Ferdinand and Isabella restricted the nobles' powers to "strictly prescribed duties" (Kilsby), yet they continued to support the monarchs in their crusades in Granada, Italy and the New World. In attempts to assert Crown control, Ferdinand and Isabella also ...

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