What is a reconquista? This term is called the long reconquest by Christians of their territories on the Iberian Peninsula, captured by Muslim Moors. The meaning of the word "Reconquista" is very simple, the term itself is translated from Spanish as reconquest.
Reconquista: reasons
Reconquista began immediately after the conquest of the Pyrenees by the Arab tribes (first half of the 8th century) and went on with varying degrees of success. Feudal strife provoked Christian monarchs to war with each other and their vassals, as well as to conclude temporary alliances with Islamic conquerors.
During the crusades, the war against the Muslim Moors was akin to a struggle for all of Christianity in general. Orders of knights (Templars, etc.) were originally created to fight the Moors, and the Popes of Rome called on the knights of Europe to fight for the liberation of the Iberian Peninsula.
Beginning of the Reconquista
After the Moors conquered most of the Pyrenees, most of the Visigothic aristocrats chose to stay in the conquered lands. As an exampleyou can bring the sons of the ruler of Vititsa. They received from the Arab authorities the fertile lands of the Visigothic crown as personal property. However, the faithful parts of the Visigoth army, a significant part of the aristocrats and clergy who did not agree to remain in the occupied territory, retreated to Asturias. There they subsequently created the kingdom of the same name. In the summer of 718, the influential Visigoth Pelayo (probably a former guard of King Roderic), who was held hostage in the city of Cordoba, returned to Asturias and was elected the first king of the newly-made kingdom. The election took place at the Fura Field. After receiving news of the gatherings at the Fura Field, the Viceroy of Munus sent word of this to the Emir of Andalusia.
However, only in 722 a detachment led by Alcamo arrived in Asturias. The Seville Bishop Oppa was also with the punishers. He was supposed to provoke Peylo to show himself to Alcamo by moving into the Lucus Asturum. From this place, the Arabs broke into the valley of Covadonga, looking for Christians. But in the gorge, Alcamo's detachment was ambushed and defeated. The leader himself was killed.
When the news of the death of Alcamo's detachment reached the Berber governor of Munusa, he left the city of Gijón and advanced towards Pelayo with his detachment. The battle took place near the village of Olalya. Munusa's troops were completely destroyed, and he himself was killed. Answering the question about what the Reconquista is, what are its causes, it is impossible not to mention this event, because it was it that started it.
Establishment of the Pyrenees
After the successful start of the Reconquista of Asturias at the beginning of 10in. expanded its borders and became the kingdom of León. In the same century, another state emerged from it - the kingdom of Castile. A little later they teamed up. At the turn of the 8th-9th centuries, the successful campaigns of the Franks made it possible to create a Spanish brand in the northeast of the Pyrenees with its capital in Barcelona. In the ninth century Navarre stood out from it, and a little later - the countries of Aragon and Catalonia. In 1137 they united to form the Kingdom of Aragon. In the west of the Pyrenees, the County of Portugal was created, which later also became a kingdom.
Political situation at the turn of the XII-XIII centuries
At this period, the Christian powers were able to win back a significant part of the Pyrenees from the Arabs. Their victory over the Caliphate, which was more developed from an economic point of view, can be partly explained by the fact that the Arab state at the beginning of the 11th century turned into almost two dozen warring provinces (emirates). But this was not the main reason for the success. Christian countries in the Pyrenees also fought among themselves, and attracted the Moors to their side. However, the Christians proved to be more united and also militarily strong.
The position of Christians under Arab rule
For the Arabs, the Christian population has become the object of merciless exploitation. The vanquished remained in the position of semi-slaves. Even Christians who converted to Islam or adopted Arabic customs were considered inferior people. The original religious tolerance of the Moors disappeared without a trace. Gradually it was replaced by ardent fanaticism. This caused many Christian uprisings that undermined the forces of the Caliphate.
Reasonssuccess of the Reconquista
What is Reconquista? This question can now be answered more fully. A common enemy and oppressor rallied the Christians. Therefore, the Reconquista took on the character of a liberation movement, despite the military colonization plans of the Christian kings and the enmity between Aragon and Castile, as well as the feudal lords with each other. At the decisive moment, the Christians rallied. The peasantry had its own incentive to win this war. In the conquered territories, they could receive not only land, but also freedom from feudal lords, recorded in letters and charters (fueros). Therefore, the Christians opposed the Moors as a unit. In addition to the Spaniards, European knights (mainly Italian and French) took part in the liberation of the Pyrenees from the Moors. Therefore, the question "what is the Reconquista" can be answered as follows: it is an international Christian liberation movement. The Pope has declared these liberation campaigns "crusades" many times.
Reconquista continues
In 1085, the Spaniards stormed Toledo. This victory was very important. At the same time, exhausted by the internecine war, the Arabs asked for help from the African Berbers. The united Mauritanian army was able to defeat the Spaniards, which slowed down the Reconquista for a while. Soon (mid-12th century) the North African Berbers were replaced by other conquerors - the Moroccan Almohads. However, they could not unite the emirates of the Pyrenees. Ask any Spaniard what is the Reconquista? The definition of this term is known to both old and young. This isthe struggle of the oppressed against the oppressors, of one faith against another - the war of rulers and cultures.
Victory of the Reconquista
In 1212, the combined forces of Navarre, Aragon, Portugal and Castile defeated the Moors at Las Navas de Tolosa. After this defeat, the Arabs could not recover. In 1236, the Castilians took Cordoba, in 1248 - Seville. Aragon captured the Balearic Islands. Castile retook Cadiz in 1262 and went to the Atlantic Ocean. Valencia fell in 1238. By the turn of the XIV century. the Moors owned only the Emirate of Granada - a rich province in the south of the Pyrenees. The Arabs held out in this territory until 1492
Conclusion
It was said above what the Reconquista is. According to history, the conquest of lands was accompanied by their assignment to the winner and settlement. Citizens and petty knights played a big role in the Reconquista. However, the main benefits from the war were large feudal lords. They created large holdings on the annexed lands.
