Reconquista and Islam in Spain

The Reconquista was what?

The name “Reconquista” refers to a protracted conflict between Christian Kingdoms and Muslim Moors over sovereignty of the Iberian Peninsula. It lasted from 718 until 1492, which is a significant period of the Middle Ages.

The Iberian Peninsula is what?

In the extreme southwest of Europe is where you’ll find the Iberian Peninsula. Spain and Portugal make up the majority of the peninsula today. The Pyrenees Mountains, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean all encircle it.

The Moors were who?

The Moors were Muslims who resided in Morocco and Algeria in northern Africa. The Iberian Peninsula was referred to as “Al-Andalus” by its inhabitants.

A Moorish invasion of Europe

The Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 after crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa. They conquered the majority of the peninsula over the course of the following seven years as they moved into Europe.

The Reconquista begins.

When King Pelayo of the Visigoths beat the Muslim army near Alcama in the Battle of Covadonga in 718, the Reconquista officially started under way. This was the Christians’ first big triumph over the Moors.

Many Battles

The Christians and the Moors would fight each other for the next several hundred years. At the French border, Charlemagne would stop the Moors’ progress, but it would take more than 700 years to retake the peninsula. On both sides, there were many battles that were won and lost. Additionally, there were power struggles and civil wars on both sides.

The Catholic Church

Later on, the Reconquista was viewed as a holy conflict akin to the Crusades. The Catholic Church favoured driving out Muslims from Europe. The Knights Templar and the Order of Santiago were two of the church’s military groups that participated in the Reconquista.

Demise of Granada

King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile were married in 1469, thus bringing the country of Spain together after many years of conflict. However, the Moors were still in charge of Granada. The Reconquista was eventually put an end in 1492 when Ferdinand and Isabella turned their combined troops on Grenada and retook it.

Reconquista-related facts that are interesting

Crusaders travelling through Portugal during the Second Crusade assisted the Portuguese army in retaking Lisbon from the Moors.

El Cid, Spain’s national hero, led an uprising against the Moors in 1094, capturing Valencia.

The “Catholic Monarchs” were referred to as King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

Ferdinand and Isabella gave the go-ahead for Christopher Columbus’ 1492 trip.

Muslims and Jews who lived in Spain after the Reconquista were forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.