RECONQUESTA: THE MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN CONFLICT IN SPAIN

Abstract

“Reconquesta” was the continuous struggle of the Christians of Spain against the Muslims throughout the Muslim rule there from 711 to 1492. In this struggle various dynasties of Northern Spain like Castile, Leon, Aragon, Navarre and others got united but also got support of the Christian rulers of France. Earlier they were not so powerful to drive the Muslims out the peninsula but later, with the passage of time, they strengthened their power and succeeded in establishing their rule especially in Northern part of Spain. As a result of their increasing power and civil wars among the Muslims Yusuf bin Tashfin, the ruler of North Africa had to come to Spain and establish the Murabit dynasty there after defeating the Christian forces. During the rule of the Muwahhids there these Christians again became very powerful that resulted in the conquest of Muslim dominant areas by their unified power. The Muslim glory in the country ended after the defeat of Muwahhid ruler, Muhammad al- Nasir in 1212 at Las Nawas de Tolsa by the joint army of the Christian states led by Alfonso VIII. After the downfall of Muwahhid rule there remained no Muslim control over Iberian Peninsula except at Granada and some petty Muslim principalities like Cordova, Murcia, Valencia and Seville. These Muslim principalities, after one another, went under the Christian control by 1260.The Nasrid rule remains in existence from 1232 till1492. Many rulers of Nasrid state tried their best to defend their territory and develop their dominant areas during their rule. Unfortunately these Nasrids proved to be very weak before the unified power of Castile and Aragon. As a result they had to pay tribute to Castile. The final blow to the Nasrid rule took place after the marriage of Ferdinand, the prince of Aragon and Isabella, the princes of Castile in 1469. The last Nasrid rulers could not resist before the continuous pressure and attacks of the unified power of Castile and Aragon and with this the Muslim rule over Spain finally came to an end.