Tanto Monta: The Rise of Ferdinand & Isabella 1470-1516. NAC WARGAMES

The year is 1469. The Iberian Peninsula has been fragmented into different caliphates and kingdoms over the past 700 years. War – part of the rivalry between Christians and Muslims known as the Reconquista – has been the only constant.

The 18-year-old Isabella of Castile has received marriage offers from both Portugal and France. Against the wishes of her brother, Henry IV, she rejects them and elopes to marry her original betrothed, Ferdinand II. Five years later, following her brother’s death, she becomes Queen of Castile. But can this fragile alliance survive the threats surrounding it?

Tanto Monta covers the period from 1470 to 1516, overlapping with the early years depicted in Here I Stand: Wars of the Reformation (1517–1555). The game begins with Isabella’s controversial accession to the throne, challenged by the Portugal-backed faction supporting Juana la Beltraneja. Meanwhile, Ferdinand’s territories are threatened by the Catalan Civil War, frequently supported by France.

Spain must also confront three emerging powers:

• Portugal, focused on the exploration of West Africa under the influence of Prince Henry the Navigator.
• France, seeking to consolidate its power and expand southward after the Hundred Years’ War.
• The Muslim Kingdoms, such as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada and the Kingdom of Fez, determined to halt Christian expansion.

The conflict unfolds across battlefields, diplomacy, and the oceans of the known world. Who will succeed in unifying their territories and laying the foundations of a global empire?

The Game

In Tanto Monta, each of the 4 players controls one major power and one minor power:

• Spain (Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon)
• Muslims (Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, North African powers, Fez, and Tlemcen)
• Portugal (Kingdom of Portugal and the Beltraneja faction)
• France (Kingdom of France and the Principality of Catalonia)

The game lasts up to 7 turns, with each turn taking approximately 45 minutes. The winner is the first to reach 45 victory points, although there are also automatic and domination victory conditions.

The map depicts the Western Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula, southern and central France, Italy, and the Maghreb. An additional exploration map allows voyages to Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the New World.

Based on the systems of Here I Stand and Virgin Queen, each turn includes:

• Dealing cards from a shared deck.
• Diplomatic negotiation and spring preparations.
• Using cards as events or operations (military, political, or exploration).
• Winter phase, royal marriages, and preparation for the next turn.

The game introduces new cavalry and artillery units, improvements to the spring phase, and an expanded exploration system representing the voyages of Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus.

Game Contents Tanto Monta: The Rise of Ferdinand and Isabella

• 1 game board
• 131 cards
• 4 player boards
• 2 auxiliary boards (royal marriages and diplomacy)
• 4 reference sheets (folded format)
• 7 counter sheets
• 1 64-page rulebook
• 1 60-page scenario book
• 20 six-sided dice