The Reconquista of Spain

The Reconquista was a long and complex series of battles and campaigns by Christian kingdoms to recapture territory on the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule . Spanning nearly 800 years, from 711 to 1492, the Reconquista profoundly shaped the history, culture, and political landscape of Spain and Portugal.

It began with the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century, when forces from North Africa, known as the Moors, defeated the Visigothic Kingdom. In response, small Christian kingdoms in the northern mountains, such as Asturias, León, Castile, Aragón, and Navarre, began efforts to reclaim their territories.

The early stages of the Reconquista were slow and uncertain. Christian rulers often fought among themselves as much as they fought against the Moors . Nevertheless, through periods of cooperation and consolidation, the Christian kingdoms gradually expanded southward, reclaiming lands and founding new cities.

Major turning points included the Battle of Covadonga in the 8th century, often seen as the symbolic beginning of the Reconquista, and the capture of Toledo in 1085 by Alfonso VI of Castile. These victories bolstered Christian morale and shifted the balance of power.

The Reconquista was not a continuous war but rather a series of advances and retreats, punctuated by truces, alliances, and periods of coexistence between Muslims, Christians, and Jews . Some regions experienced a relatively peaceful convivencia, where cultures blended, knowledge was exchanged, and communities thrived side by side.

By the 13th century, Christian forces had gained significant ground. The Kingdom of Castile captured Córdoba , and Seville fell in 1248. The Muslim presence in Iberia became limited to the Emirate of Granada , which managed to survive for two more centuries by paying tribute to Castile.

The final act of the Reconquista came with the conquest of Granada in 1492 . Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, known as the Catholic Monarchs , led a campaign that ended Muslim rule in Spain. Muhammad XII, also called Boabdil, surrendered the city and the majestic Alhambra Palace. Read what happened on this day 

The completion of the Reconquista had enormous consequences. It led to the unification of Spain under Christian rule , the rise of Spanish imperial power, and the launch of Spain’s explorations into the New World . However, it also triggered the persecution and forced conversion of Muslims and Jews, culminating in the Spanish Inquisition .

Today, the Reconquista remains a defining chapter in Spanish history, symbolizing both the clash and fusion of civilizations , and it continues to influence Spanish culture, architecture, language, and identity.