FAQ about the Moriscos in Spain

Who were the moriscos? 
Moriscos, or ''Little Moors,'' were Muslim people in medieval Spain who were forced to convert to Christianity on pain of death or exile. Spanish Muslim people were known as ''Moors'' 

What ethnicity were the Moors?
The historical term ''Moor'' doesn't refer to a specific ethnicity, but rather to a conglomerate of North African (Berber) and Arabian Muslims who colonized Spain during the 8th century.

Why did the Moriscos convert to Christianity? 
In 1501 Castilian authorities delivered an ultimatum to Granada's Muslims: they could either convert to Christianity or be expelled. Most did convert, in order not to have their property and small children taken away from them.

Did the Moriscos fully embrace Christianity?
Many Moriscos practiced Christianity publicly while maintaining some Islamic traditions in private. In some houses in Granada you can still find secret closets where they would pray facing Mecca. This dual identity led to further suspicion and discrimination. The Spanish tradition of the matanza where pigs are slaughtered and butchered in villages would have been a difficult moment for Moriscos because in some cases they would have been obliged to drink alcohol and eat pork in public. 

How many Moriscos were expelled from Spain?
Between 1609 through 1614, the Crown systematically expelled Moriscos through a number of decrees affecting Spain's various kingdoms, with varying levels of success. Between 1492 and 1610 alone, about 3 million Muslims left or were expelled from Spain.

When were the moriscos ordered to convert to Christianity? 
On January 2, 1492, King Boabdil surrendered Granada to the Spanish forces, and in 1502 the Spanish crown ordered all Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity. The next century saw a number of persecutions, and in 1609 the last Moors still adhering to Islam were expelled from Spain.


What happened to the moriscos?
Expulsion of the Moriscos - Wikipedia
Between 1609 through 1614, the Crown systematically expelled Moriscos through a number of decrees affecting Spain's various kingdoms, with varying levels of success. Between 1492 and 1610 alone, about 3 million Muslims left or were expelled from Spain.


Where did the Moors go after Spain?
The expulsion of the Moors took place between 1609 and 1614. Within a five-year span, the new Spanish state expelled between 300,000 and 700,000 Moors. The majority of those remaining settled in Morocco, and to a lesser extent in Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey.


What happened to Muslims in Spain?
With the recapture of Granada, Jews and Muslims were required to convert to Christianity or leave the combined kingdoms of Spain. Between 1492 and 1610, some 3,000,000 Muslims voluntarily left or were expelled from Spain, resettling in North Africa.


What is the significance of the Moriscos?
In 1609, King Phillip III of Spain signed an edict to expel a community known as the Moriscos from the Iberian Peninsula. The Moriscos were Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity during the 16th century, after Christian kingdoms displaced the last remaining Muslim rulers in Iberia.

How were the Moriscos treated after they left?
Hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Moriscos were attacked by Muslim pirates on the high seas, were killed by their own crews, or were robbed and murdered in north Africa by nomadic Muslim tribesmen who took them for Spaniards and Christians. By the end of 1609, some 130,000 Valencian Moriscos had been expelled.


Did any Moriscos manage to stay in Spain?
Some Moriscos managed to avoid expulsion by blending into the Christian population or moving to remote areas. Some of them were experts in the irrigation systems and other tecnical aspects of life and some of them were allowed to stay to keep things running smoothly.  However, their numbers dwindled over time, and assimilation was often the only means of survival.

Is there a legacy of the Moriscos in modern Spain?
The legacy of the Moriscos is evident in historical records, literature, and cultural influences. However, their expulsion led to a loss of a distinct community within Spain, and their memory is a reminder of the complex and tumultuous history of the Iberian Peninsula.


What legacy did the Moors leave in Spain?
Besides art, language, music and architecture, the Moors left their mark on Andalusian agriculture and cuisine. Among the crops they introduced are pomegranate, eggplant, chickpeas and asparagus, which was considered a weed before they cultivated it, the white version of which is now a Spanish delicacy.

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Last Modified on April 18th, 2024
Created on September 4th, 2020
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