The Reconquista is the name given to a long series of wars and battles between the Christian Kingdoms and the Muslim Moors for control of the Iberian Peninsula. The majority of the Iberian Peninsula is located in Spain and Portugal. It lasted for a good portion of the Middle Ages from 718 to 1492. In 711 the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula. Then in 718 the Reconquista began with the victory of Pelayo and at the Battle of Covadonga. In 1721 the Moors are defeated in The Battle of Toulouse. In the early 8th century, the Umayyad Caliphate began an invasion of Christian Iberia began and invasion of Christian Iberia. Even though losing control half a century later, to decide the peninsula’s future as either an Islamic or Christian state. In the later part of the Reconquista it was considered a holy war like the Crusades. The Catholic Church wanted the Muslims removed. Later the 3 Christian Kingdoms Castile, Navarre, and Aragon would form Spain. From 930-950 the King of Leon defeats Moor in many battles. In 950 The Duchy of Castile declared itself as an independent Christian state. In 1085 the Christians capture Toledo and then in 1086 the Almoravid's come to help the Moors push back the Christians. By 1236, half of Iberia has been taken over by Christians. In 1492 because of The Fall of Granada the Christians started to rule over all the past Islamic States.
Catholic Monarchs
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Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, whose marriage (1469) led to the unification of Spain. The appellation Católicos was formally conferred on them in a bull published by Pope Alexander VI in 1494, in recognition of their reconquest of Granada from the Moors (1481–92). Their New World discoveries (1492), and their strengthening of the church by such agencies as the Spanish Inquisition and such measures as compelling Muslims and Jews to convert to Christianity or face exile (1492).
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Spanish Inquisition In 1478 the pope, Sixtus IV, allows Ferdinand and Isabella to establish a special branch of the Inquisition in Spain. There is believed to be a danger to the church from Jews masquerading as Christians. In 1492 Torquemada persuades Ferdinand and Isabella to expel from Spain all Jews who are unwilling to convert to Christianity. About 160,000 of them leave the country. Ten years later the same demands are made of the Spanish Muslims.
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Castile and Aragon
Muslims invaded in the 8th century and took refuge in the least Christianized region of Spain. Pelayo’s successors, known as the Kings of Leon, extended Christian control southward from Austria’s which depopulated the amount of Muslims. They would then settle into these areas then move forward. Valencia seized from its Muslim amir, became federate with Aragon and Catalonia in 1238. 11th century Tafias fell to the Castilian's who had a reason to anticipate the end of the Reconquest. Muslims tried to have their own religious revival. The Almohad's posed a great military threat to the Christian States.
The Fall of Granada (1492) |
The land of Granada was still ruled by the Moors, however. Ferdinand II and Isabella I then turned their Christian united forces on Grenada. Thus then taking back Granada from the Moors (Muslims), returning power back to the Catholic's in 1492 and ending the Reconquista. After they took back Granada Ferdinand and Isabella told the Muslims they would have to convert or face death. Despite the promise made to Boabdil on the surrender of Granada, and terms of the Treaty of Granada 1491, Muslims and Jews were initially allowed to continue practicing their faith. However, it was not long before the terms of the treaty were violated, and mosques were being converted into Christian churches.
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Sources: http://www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages/reconquista.php
http://mvslim.com/this-is-what-happened-to-muslims-and-jews-after-the-fall-of-islamic-spain-in-1492/
http://mvslim.com/this-is-what-happened-to-muslims-and-jews-after-the-fall-of-islamic-spain-in-1492/