Islamic Spain and the Inquisition

Umayyad Caliphate

661

Was developed from the same clan as Mohammed. They relocated from Mecca to Medina to establish greater powers after the assassination of Ali, Mu’awiya assumed power and centralized/unified the Islamic world under the Umayyad Caliphate. then they moved the capital again to Damscus. existed from 661-750

Visigothic king Roderic was elected to the throne

710

Counter to the plans of his predecessor. Prosecuted a brutal civil war. Utilized extreme measures. Roderic was then killed in the Battle of Guadalete in 711

Tariq’s Invasion / Battle of Guadalete

711

Tariq’s forces initially landed on Gibraltar in 710 but decided to go back to Morocco and gather a larger force to invade Iberia, which it did the following spring of 711. Ziyad and Roderic clashed at the Battle of Guadalete in 711 near the Guadalete River. Guadalete was a resounding success for Tariq’s forces as they overcame nearly ten times their number and set in motion a disorganized retreat of Christian lords that could not individually fend off Tariq’s advance.

Umayyad Caliphate / Muslim Capital

750

Within a period of seven years, most of the peninsula was under Muslim rule. These new territories came to be known by their Arabic name, al-Andalus. they became the Center of science, literature, and culture.
From 750-1031 CE
Cordoba emirate: 750-929
Cordoba caliphate: 929-1031

The miracle of Santiago de Compostela

800

Hermit, Pelayo discovered a shrine on the NW coast of Iberia in the region of Galicia. bones of what was believed to be Santiago or apostle St. James were found there.
The legend asserts that the body of James was forgotten until the 8th-century discovery in order to help the Christian kingdoms retake Iberia.
happened around 800 CE

Battle of Glavijo

844

a myth spawned that during the battle Santiago appeared out of a cloud to the Christian soldiers in the battle. The Christians were said to have been badly outnumbered and facing defeat until Santiago’s appearance and action of crossing the battlefield on a bright white horse beheading the enemy Moors

The fall of the cordoba caliphate

1031

The fall of the caliphate can be marked with the death of al-hakam II in 976. Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir (aka Almanzor) then became caliph because Al-Hakam's son was only 10 years old. In 996, Almanzor sent an invasion force to Morocco. This sparked the start of the tension in al-Andalus. Fitna of al-Andalus (1009–1031) was a civil war in the Caliphate of Córdoba. The caliphate crumbled in 1031 into a number of independent taifas because of said war.

Conquest of Toledo

1085

Previously friendly kingdoms of Toledo and Castile/Leon
until christians in Toledo appealed to Alfonso VI to overthrow Muslim rule under Al-Mamun grandson al-Qadir
Toledo falls to Alfonso VI in 1085
al-Qadir sent to Valencia

El Cid and Valencia

1094

Valencia under rule of al-Qadir
Overthrown and killed by pro-Almoravid forces under Ibn Yahhaf
El Cid laid siege to the city and continued to fight the Almoravids for the rest of his life El Cid Became a mythical figure (1094-1099)
The Song of El Cid
Spanish epic poem about El Cid, his exile, conquests, and motivations

Battle of Ucles

May 29, 1108

The battle was between Muslim Almoravids under Tamim ibn-Yusuf and Christian forces of Castile and León under Alfonso VI. It was a major defeat for the Christians as many nobles died. nonetheless the Akmoravids weren't able to capitalize on the win.

Battle of Fraga

Jul 17, 1134

The battle was fought between the forces of the Kingdom of Aragon, commanded by Alfonso the Battler, and a variety of Almoravid forces that had come to the aid of the town of Fraga. The battle resulted in an Almoravid victory. The Aragonese monarch Alfonso I died shortly after the battle.

Battle of Ourique

1139

Christian Portuguese forces were strongly outnumbered but the Almoravids were weakened by internal leadership problems
The Christian victory was led by Afonso I who then was proclamed as King of the Portuguese
Legend says Afonso I (Henrique) with the support from his troops, killed five Muslim kings.
Another appearance by Santiago?

Pope Lucius III issued the decretal Ad abolendam

1184

the Ad abolendam has been called the "founding charter of the Inquisition". ad abolendam is a decretal that commanded bishops to take an active role in identifying and prosecuting heresy in their jurisdictions.

Nicolas Eymeric compiles his manual of instruction for inquisitors, the Directorium Inquisitorum

1357

Nicolas Eymeric was a Roman Catholic theologian and General of the Inquisition in the Crown of Aragon. the Directorium Inquisitorum became the definitive handbook of procedure for the Spanish Inquisition. it elaborates on hundreds of heresies and prosecution procedures, categories of offenses like witchcraft, as well as the belief system of the Inquisition.

Massacres of Jews across Spain; thousands forced to convert to Christianity

1391

1391 was the peak of violence against Jews in Spain. the violence forced thousands of Jews to convert to Christianity.

Pope Sixtus IV authorizes the Spanish Inquisition at the request of Ferdinand and Isabella, the "Catholic Monarchs" of Spain

1478

Pope Sixtus IV founded the Spanish Inquisition through the bull Exigit sincerae devotionis affectus.

First auto de fe in Sevilla

1481

an "auto de fe" was a ceremony that would give caught heretics their sentences/punishments. the first one happened in 1482, Sevilla.

The battle of Granada

1482

by the Mid 13th century all taifas were conquested except for Granada
In 1468, Ferdinand and Isabella united Castile and Aragon into a single united Spain. this Centralize nobility effectively eliminates local warfare the battle took place over ten years (1482-1492) with an extremely Slow progression. Granada is never even breached. instead, the war ends because of a treaty

Treaty of Granada

1491

the treaty Ended Granada war. Guaranteed a set of rights to Muslim inhabitants, including religious tolerance and fair treatment in return for their surrender and capitulation. Jews on the other hand had to surrender their territories and choose either converting to Christianity or migrating to North Africa within three years

Decree of Alhambra

Mar 31, 1492

Ordered the expulsion of practicing Jews by July 31, 1492. created by Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. it also limited the influence of practicing Jews on conversos

Martin Luther nails his "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg; Reformation begins

Oct 31, 1517

the Ninety-five Theses was a proposition for debate concerned with the question of indulgences. This event came to be considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.