There are wars that have become legends.Not only because of the large number of heroic battles, tricky moves sovereigns or the use of new types of weapons, but also because of the role played by the outcome of the war.Reconquista and became a legend.This whole chain of battles which had a significant influence on modern history.It can be called a war of liberation, determine the fate of the Christians of the Iberian Peninsula.Bloody battles have claimed many lives.Completion of the Reconquista come only after eight centuries after its beginning.It was a difficult century for all conquered peoples.But liberation from oppression was heroic.And, of course, can not help but wonder, taking the city of Reconquista completed.
Causes of War
In 711 on the land, which currently is a beautiful Spain, lived tribes of the Visigoths.They were not savages and pagans.Due to the Visigoths Rome adopted Christianity.However, it differed from the faith of the Romans.Visigoths to the fore the humanity of Jesus.The times they can not be called peaceful.The Arabs had conquered the whole north-western Africa and, considering that it is accompanied by military success, did not want to stop.Ahead were the lands of the Visigoths.
There are several stories about how Arabs were able to subdue the tribes.The first - is the story of love and revenge.If you believe it, that while living beauty of La Cava, which overshadowed his face the sun.Of course, I could not help but fall in love with her and the king Rodrigo.But the proud beauty refused to associate with him his fate.Then Rodrigo took the girl by force.Family La Cava could not leave such a crime without punishment.At night, the father of the unfortunate beauties let the Arabs in the city to punish those Rodrigo.
According to another version, Rodrigo did not have to become king.The former governor called the heir to his son, but he did not enjoy the support of noble families.Much more they liked Rodrigo.Then they helped him to become head of state.But supporters of the Crown of King were not ready to accept.One of them made an alliance with the Arabs, so they entered the city, killing Rodrigo and his supporters.As a reward, they were promised the treasury of the capital.But the Arabs, killing the king, did not stop.They were a little treasury.They wanted to get the whole state.
Year the Arabs were able to subdue the entire territory, which centuries later will be named by Spain.Christian state was conquered by Muslims.Visigoths had not been forced to convert to Islam.Arab caliphs tolerant of another's religion.However, taxes and ongoing hostilities still doing during the Reconquista difficult time for the conquered peoples.
Rebellious Asturias
Visigoths were not ready to give a fitting rebuff to the Arabs.They did not have big, strong army and a sufficient number of weapons.Because many of the city surrendered to the invaders without a fight.Not knowing the difficulties, the Arabs moved to the north.But their way was Asturias - a city that did not want to give up.Most of the Spanish aristocracy stayed there, where she lived.Arabs pardoned them.But the remnants of the defeated army and the people, who did not want to live in submission, fled to Asturias.It brought an end to the city of Reconquista.
In order to win, the aristocrats of Asturias had to unite with the poor, uneducated people of Vasconi.These two cities were dissimilar worlds.But their combined common goal.At the head of Don Pelayo in Asturias rose.The Arabs could not understand how a small group of people may be reluctant to apply them to one defeat after another.Thanks to Don Pelayo, who became a national hero of Spain, Asturias and Vasconi residents realized that the Arabs can win.We caused a lot of trouble conquering Christians unleashed a guerrilla struggle in the rear, as well as incursions from the north, the Vikings committed.
Home Reconquista
Independence Asturias exasperated conquerors.Because in 722 he went to punitive expedition, which was intended to crush resistance and subdue the town.At the head stood Alcamo.Together with Bishop Oppa he tried to persuade the Christians to surrender.Because otherwise they would have all died.But Alcamo failed to break their spirit.It seems that there is no chance of Asturias.But the army of Christians waylaid Alcamo and his soldiers in the ravine and broke them.Alqama himself was killed that day.
Invaders still continue to try to subdue the rebellious city.In the same year, as a punishment for the death of Amalkamy Asturias moved to another group, the head of which stood Munusa.But this squad was defeated.Munusa was killed.And his failure marked the beginning of the Reconquista.
fighting in France
Arabs decide to continue their conquest and move deeper into Europe.On the way was France.About how heroically fought this country, there are many legends.Perhaps the most famous literary work, come down to us, was the epic of Ronsevale.
While Franks rules Charlemagne.For help I approached by the governor of Zaragoza.For assistance in the hostilities, he promised the king of glory and great wealth.Carl received a tempting offer.It was said that the king's army will not have to fight.They open the doors of the city to miss.But the gates were not opened.Do not open it and after some time.Karl realized that he and his army were trapped.He captured the governor and his sons sent back to France along with his nephew.Karl felt that he could not return home alive.But he was wrong.
What a surprise it was Carl, when he returned home, he learned that his nephew Roland, along with the prisoners had not yet arrived.Carl went looking.And he found them in Ronselvanskom gorge.His eyes opened a horrible sight: the army was almost torn to pieces, there was not a living person.Each soldier was robbed, they do not have even clothing.Among the piles of dead bodies he found his nephew Karl, but the little prisoners were not there.It is still a mystery who killed Roland and his warriors.It is believed that they were Christians.But in this case we can assume that the Christians have gone to war against Christians.
internecine war during the Reconquista
Christians slowly gaining strength.Soldiers pushed forward all the new land, founded new cities and even states.Many of them have flourished.These were Aragon, Castile, Navarre, Catalonia and Leon.Sometimes the rulers of these countries at odds with each other, but sometimes they can make alliances through dynastic marriage.For example, King Fernando I was able to unite Castile and Leon, two prosperous state.It seems that later they can be connected and others to start collecting land.But suddenly Fernando decides that after his death the kingdom shall be divided among his sons and daughters should get beautiful city, famous for its wealth.So they did.
thirst for power of young people deprived of reason.Brothers and sisters tied internecine war.And each of them wanted to, killing most of its native people, to stand at the head of a large amount of land.The winner is the middle son Alfonso.After the war, brothers and sisters, he went to the Muslims and stole their Toledo, extending the boundaries of the Christian world.The heir Alfonso, Alfonso VII, to be called the King of Spain.Though far from being the whole of Spain was liberated, Christians have felt that the approaching end of the Reconquista.Internecine wars were not uncommon at the time.Many brothers and sisters undertaken a fight between them.These quarrels were only benefit Muslims.Their enemies destroy themselves.
Blessing Pope
In the XI century the Christian life under the yoke of the Arabs is much more complex.Almoravides came to power.They were cruel people who do not take someone else's religion.They are executed with special sadism people and put things in order in their lands.It is time to militant Islam.
could not ignore the death of a large number of Christians, the Pope.In 1212, he announced that the crusade begins.Those Christians who take part in it and to liberate their native land from the Muslims go to heaven, they will be forgiven all sins.The call was the result.On July 16th, a battle in which huge Christian army defeated the army of the Almoravides.Since then, the Muslim army never been so strong.Slowly the liberation of the Spanish lands from invaders.The height of the Reconquista
XIII and XIV century - it is a real blossoming of the war.Finally, those people who lived in the occupied territories and had liberated itself as a united whole.They saw themselves as Spaniards, to be free from the oppression of the Muslims to unite in a single state and start building a new life under the rule of the Spanish King.A major role in the liberation of the land played Knights Crusaders.With varying degrees of success advancing Reconquista.Briefly tell about it will not be possible, one can only note that finish fights with minimal losses failed.Some cities several times passed from hand of Christians in Muslim and vice versa.
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon
In 1469 the wedding of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile.No one could assume then that this pair will be able to change not only the life of the whole of Spain, but all over the world.Now the year of completion of the Reconquista.Through cunning and military talent, Ferdinand was able to combine a large number of land.But he and his wife had exceptional ambition and a lot of ambition.Therefore is the kingdom was to them a little.Isabella and Ferdinand were true Catholics.For them, their faith is the only true and valid in Spain.
end to the policy of "three religions»
Before coming to power of the couples in Spain have tried to get on the three religions: Christianity, Islam and the Jewish faith.However, the Pope did not like that in the liberated areas inhabited by people who refused to accept Christianity.The rulers of Spain did not require them to accept Catholicism, because they were afraid that the Gentiles will start the uprising.
all changed when authorities came to Ferdinand and Isabella.They, being Catholics and with the support of Rome, began to spread Christianity.This contributed to the further liberation of lands from Muslim invaders.In 1487 began the siege of Malaga, one of the main cities in Muslim Spain.Ferdinand and his wife were able to win success.Ahead was only Granada.It is approaching the year when completed the Reconquista.
Taking Grenada
For all the people who study this chain of military clashes, the most important is the question of whether the taking of the city has completed the Reconquista.It was Grenada.Ferdinand and Isabella were carefully preparing for a decisive battle.In order to make it a success, we had a lot of money.Therefore, they decided to raise taxes, and the Pope allowed them to use for their own purposes the money received from the faithful church.Because of this royal family was able to call on the army to wage knights who fought with Muslims for money.
King and Queen have done everything in order to strengthen its credibility among the people.They communicated with the soldiers and tried to take over the active part.The army with the assistance of the Spanish kings partisans who started the fight in the rear, was able to win.Now, everyone knew the capture of the city has completed the Reconquista.The city fell in 1491.It can be called the year of birth in Spain.Each modern Spaniard easily answer, in which he completed the Reconquista.Then the land could finally free from centuries of subordination to the Muslims.
After the war ended
When the Reconquista in Spain, at the head of the state stood favorite people Ferdinand and Isabella.They were wise rulers, without which prosperity has not reached not only Spain, but also America.After all, these rulers have helped Columbus to make his great geographical discovery.Ferdinand and Isabella turned Spain into a strong Catholic state.Representatives of other religions could not find a place in these lands.The King and Queen drove from their country of Muslim Moors and Jews.
This royal family remained best known for centuries.And now they are revered in Spain.They have done much of the state, Catholicism, and had a significant impact on other countries.In Grenada, all shows that the capture of the city has completed the Reconquista.Spaniards are proud of their history and of the heroic pages when native lands were freed from the invaders.It is important to remember what year ended Reconquista.This year was one of the most decisive in the history of the world.
