The Fall of Granada and the End of Muslim Rule in the Iberian Peninsula

The Decline of the Nasrid Dynasty and the Conclusion of Muslim Presence in Iberia

The Nasrid Dynasty's decline and the subsequent cessation of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula were the result of internal discord and the determined reconquest efforts by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The Emirate of Granada, the final Muslim bastion in Iberia, was governed by the Nasrids and became the target of the Christian Reconquista, a series of campaigns aimed at retaking lands held by Muslims since the 8th century. Tensions escalated when the Granadan Emir Abu ‘l-Hasan Ali stopped paying tribute to Castile and attacked the town of Zahara de la Sierra in 1481, which provoked a military response from Isabella I. This event triggered the Granada War, a strategic and intermittent conflict that lasted from 1482 until the surrender of Granada in 1492, effectively ending Muslim rule in the peninsula.

The Granada War: Strategic Campaigns and the Siege of Granada

The Granada War, lasting from 1482 to 1492, was marked by a series of strategic campaigns, often conducted seasonally, rather than continuous warfare. The Christian forces, commanded by Ferdinand II, methodically seized key fortresses and towns, including the pivotal capture of Alhama in 1482, which set the tone for the conflict. The war was further complicated by a civil war within the Emirate of Granada, where the emir's son, Muhammad XII, also known as Boabdil, challenged his father's authority. Boabdil's internal power struggle weakened Granada's defense, and after his capture and subsequent release by the Christian forces, he became a tributary to the Catholic Monarchs. The war culminated in the protracted siege of Granada, leading to its capitulation in January 1492.

Economic Support for the Granada War

The campaign against Granada was financed through a combination of ecclesiastical contributions, royal funds, and public levies. Pope Sixtus IV granted a crusade bull, providing indulgences to those who supported the war effort. The Spanish Church contributed a portion of its income, and additional funds were raised through taxes, including those imposed on the Jewish community. The conquest also profited from the sale of captives after the fall of Malaga and from loans that were later transformed into juros, a form of government annuity. These financial mechanisms were essential in maintaining the military campaign over its ten-year duration.

Consequences of the Granada Conquest: Religious and Political Transformation

The fall of Granada had profound religious and political consequences. It signified the completion of the Reconquista and initiated a period of stringent Christian hegemony, with the forced conversion or expulsion of non-Christian populations. Initially, the remaining Muslim population, known as Mudéjars, were permitted to retain their religious practices. However, by 1502, they were presented with the choice of conversion to Christianity or exile. The conquest also led to the formation of a standing national army, marking Spain's rise as a formidable military power. The unification of Spain under Catholic sovereignty was reinforced, although the individual kingdoms maintained their distinct languages and cultural practices.

The Impact of Ferdinand and Isabella's Reign and the Dawn of Global Exploration

The successful completion of the Reconquista elevated the status of Ferdinand and Isabella, who were lauded as champions of the Catholic faith. Their reign was characterized by religious uniformity, enforced through institutions like the Spanish Inquisition, which extended its jurisdiction to Granada in 1526 to root out heresy. The end of the Granada War also redirected resources towards maritime exploration, exemplified by the patronage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. This venture led to the discovery of the New World and the subsequent expansion of the Spanish Empire. The conquest of Granada was thus a pivotal event that influenced Spain's religious policies, political consolidation, and the initiation of an era of global exploration.