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RECONQUISTA
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RECONQUISTA

According to The Art of War in Spain (Prescott), The Conquest of Granada," The final, ten year war that ended the eight hundred years of La Reconquista was an epic struggle in the course of western history". The war seems to be the crucial link between medieval warfare in European military history. The conquest of Granada (1481- 1492) provides a critical link between the Hundred years' War and the Great Italian Wars that began during the period of transition from 1400s to the 1500s.
By 714, the Moslems rulers and armies had completely occupied the entire Spain, which lasted for 800 years. It is known (Prescott) that," In 722 at Covadonga in northern Spain, a small army under the Visigothic king Pelayo inflicted the first defeat on the Muslims." This battle initiated the beginning of the Reconquista, which is the reconquest of Spain by Christians. The decadence in Spain began in the 11th century, and the Nobel Arab families were at variance among themselves. During this time the Christian kingdom in the north of the Spain started the fight, which is commonly known as the reconquest or Reconquista. Marriage between Isabel and the Ferdinand of Aragon took place in 1469. Aragon and Castilla had emerged as the major powers of Spain so the marriage united the two major powers, which proved as the turning point of Reconquista. Muslim rulers started to lose the territory quickly, until they were finally defeated when they lost their last caliphate, Granada, in 1492. Ferdinand and Isabel being the Catholic monarchs united the whole country under their crown. They tried to re-Christianize the whole of Spain, which resulted in the Spanish Inquisition. Large number of Jews and moors were killed who refused to be converted. In 1482 Ferdinand and Isabel besieged Granada, after that Muslim kings gave up their struggle after 10 years, which led to the long awaited Reconquista. The conquest of Granada which was led by Ferdinand and Isabel had to be won before the discovery of America. After the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 gold and silver in great quantity was brought in from new continent "and Spain became one of the most powerful nations of this epoch called the Golden Age", according to the history of Spain (Package to Spain ). Gold and silver were mainly brought from Mexico and Peru. After the death of Isabel in 1504 her daughter ascended to the throne who was married to Philip the son of German Emperor. German king and Austrian king united in 1517 to form one of the largest empires of the world.

"The Spanish conquest is in part the continuation of the Reconquista." April 21 1519-marked the opening of a short but decisive chapter in Mexico's history" as stated in the Mexico Connect (Palfrey). On that day the fleet of 11 Spanish galleons dropped their anchor on the eastern gulf coast on the island of San Juan de Ulua, to tread the American continent. They wasted no time and made their claim for God and king, which began the Spanish Conquest. All odds were against them but the cunning and crafty leader ship of Cortes made the ways easier for them. He made bold moves and dispatched envoys back to Spain to deliver letters treasure to his monarch Carlos V. The one mistake he made was that he stripped the rest of his fleet. This step constituted the rebel against his authority. Through his cunning intelligence he forged an alliance with Totonacs. This enlarged the Spanish army more and with the help of his army Cortes over came the Cholulan, which was very difficult being the ceremonial center of the city. Finally they reached the valley of Mexico. In January the army again entered the city of Mexico. This was followed by the series of raids that laid the empire of Aztec to a waste and rubbles. Their victory was made much easier by the absence of monarchs and the troubles of the country. "Cortes had control over the whole route from the city to the sea-coast; and not a vessel could leave its port without his warrant" as is stated in the Conquest of Mexico book (The conquest of Mexico book VI Chap IV ).
Many conspirators tried to raise their voices against him but his faithful counselors always disclosed their secrets to him. He sent his Indian confederates, to make known his purpose of siege of the Mexico. His opponent's chief was instantly arrested by his soldiers and brought him to prison to Tezcuco.
The events from 1492-1521 seem to have connection and they appear to be the continuation of the same thing. We can clearly trace the connections between the events, which have led to the Conquest of Mexico 1521. All the wars from the conquest of Granada by Ferdinand and Isabel to the conquest of Mexico come in one chain of historical events, one leading ultimately to the other. The ten-year war of Granada ended the previous eight hundred years old war, which led to the Reconquista. Reconquista was the result of the marriage of two noble and powerful families of Aragon and Castilia and their politics that proved the turning point in the history. This Reconquista then led the Muslim rulers to give up their rule as the Catholicism gained power. Muslims lost their power rapidly and they were finally expelled in the Conquest of Granada in 1492, which led to the conquest of Mexico 1521.

Endnotes

Package to Spain. www.spainplus.net/whyspain/history

Palfrey, Dale Hoyte. Mexico Connect 1996-2001. The Spanish Conquest 1519-1521, edition 1998.

Prescott, William H. The Art of War in Spain, the Conquest of Granada (1481-1492). Green hill books, London, 1995.

The conquest of Mexico book VI Chap IV. www.xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/PRESCOTT/bk06-ch04.htm