Reconquista FAQ
Expert answers to common questions about the Reconquista's duration, timeline, Granada 1492, key battles, and 781 years of medieval Iberian history
Duration & Timeline
How long did the Reconquista last?
The Reconquista lasted approximately 781 years, from 722 AD (Battle of Covadonga) to 1492 AD (Fall of Granada). This makes it one of the longest military and political campaigns in European history. The exact duration depends on the starting point: some historians date it from the initial Muslim conquest in 711 AD, while others use 722 AD when the first Christian victory occurred.
What is the Reconquista duration in years?
The Reconquista duration was 781 years (722-1492 AD). To put this in perspective, this is longer than the entire existence of the United States, the British Empire, or the Ottoman Empire's dominance in Europe. The extraordinary length reflects that it wasn't a continuous war but centuries of intermittent conflict, periods of peace, truces, and cultural exchange.
What was the Reconquista?
The Reconquista ("reconquest" in Spanish) was the gradual process by which Christian kingdoms reclaimed the Iberian Peninsula from Islamic Moorish rule. It began after the Umayyad conquest of 711 AD and spanned 781 years until the fall of Granada in 1492. The Reconquista fundamentally shaped Spanish and Portuguese identity, culture, and history.
What are the key dates in the Reconquista timeline?
711 AD: Muslim conquest of Visigothic Spain begins. 722 AD: Battle of Covadonga - first Christian victory. 929 AD: Abd al-Rahman III proclaims the Caliphate of Córdoba. 1085 AD: Toledo falls to Alfonso VI. 1212 AD: Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa - turning point. 1236 AD: Ferdinand III conquers Córdoba. 1248 AD: Seville falls. 1492 AD: Granada surrenders to the Catholic Monarchs, ending the Reconquista.
Granada 1492
What happened to Granada in 1492?
In 1492, Granada—the last Muslim kingdom in Iberia—surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. On January 2, 1492, Sultan Boabdil handed over the keys to the Alhambra palace, ending nearly 800 years of Islamic rule in Spain. This event completed the Reconquista and coincided with Columbus's voyage to the Americas later that year.
Why did the Reconquista end in Granada in 1492?
Granada was the last Muslim stronghold in Iberia. The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada had survived for 256 years (1238-1492) by paying tribute to Christian kingdoms and skillful diplomacy. However, the union of Castile and Aragon under Isabella and Ferdinand created a powerful unified force. After a 10-year campaign (1482-1492), Granada's isolation and Christian military superiority made its fall inevitable.
What is the significance of Granada 1492?
The fall of Granada in 1492 marked the end of 781 years of the Reconquista and nearly 800 years of Muslim presence in Iberia. It unified Spain under Christian rule, enabled the Spanish Inquisition to expand, and freed resources for overseas exploration—Columbus sailed just months after Granada fell. It also began centuries of religious persecution, with Muslims and Jews facing forced conversion or expulsion.
Key Events
What started the Reconquista?
The Reconquista began as a response to the Umayyad conquest of 711 AD, when Muslim armies from North Africa invaded and conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula. The symbolic start is the Battle of Covadonga in 722 AD, where Pelayo led Asturian rebels to victory against Umayyad forces, establishing the Kingdom of Asturias—the first independent Christian kingdom after the conquest.
What was the most important battle of the Reconquista?
The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212 AD) was the decisive turning point. A coalition of Christian kingdoms (Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Portugal) defeated the Almohad Caliphate, breaking Muslim military power permanently. After this victory, Christian expansion accelerated dramatically: Córdoba fell in 1236, Seville in 1248, leaving only Granada under Muslim control.
Was the Reconquista a continuous war?
No. The Reconquista was not a continuous military campaign but rather 781 years of intermittent warfare, long periods of peace, truces, and alliances. Christians and Muslims sometimes allied against other Christian or Muslim kingdoms. Extensive cultural exchange, trade, and coexistence occurred alongside the conflicts. It was a complex, centuries-long process, not a single unified crusade.
How did the Reconquista end?
The Reconquista officially ended on January 2, 1492, when the Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand accepted the surrender of Granada from Sultan Boabdil. The final campaign lasted 10 years (1482-1492) and involved systematic sieges of Granada's fortresses. Boabdil's surrender treaty initially promised religious tolerance for Muslims, though this was later violated.
Key Figures
Who was Pelayo?
Pelayo (c. 685-737 AD) was a Visigothic nobleman who founded the Kingdom of Asturias and is credited with beginning the Reconquista. He led the Christian victory at the Battle of Covadonga in 722 AD, the first successful resistance against Umayyad rule. Pelayo became the first King of Asturias and established a Christian kingdom that would eventually evolve into the Kingdom of León and Castile.
Who was El Cid?
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1043-1099 AD), known as El Cid ("The Lord" in Arabic), was a Castilian knight who became the most famous warrior of the Reconquista. He captured Valencia in 1094 and ruled it until his death. El Cid is celebrated in the epic poem "Cantar de Mio Cid" and represents the ideal of medieval chivalry, though the historical figure was more pragmatic than the legend suggests.
Who were the Catholic Monarchs?
Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) and Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516) married in 1469, uniting Spain's two largest kingdoms. Their alliance created a powerful unified force that completed the Reconquista by conquering Granada in 1492. They also sponsored Columbus's voyage, established the Spanish Inquisition, and laid the foundation for Spain's global empire.
Who was Abd al-Rahman III?
Abd al-Rahman III (889-961 AD) was the greatest ruler of Islamic Spain. In 929 AD, he proclaimed himself Caliph of Córdoba, establishing an independent Islamic caliphate that rivaled Baghdad. His reign (912-961 AD) was the golden age of Al-Andalus, with Córdoba becoming the most advanced city in Western Europe, renowned for its libraries, scholars, architecture, and multicultural sophistication.
Cultural & Religious Context
Was there cultural exchange during the Reconquista?
Yes, extensive cultural exchange occurred throughout the Reconquista. Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus) was a center of learning, preserving Greek philosophy and advancing science, mathematics, medicine, and architecture. The translation schools of Toledo transmitted Arabic knowledge to Christian Europe. Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars often collaborated, creating a sophisticated multicultural society.
What is the legacy of Al-Andalus?
Al-Andalus left an extraordinary legacy: architectural masterpieces like the Alhambra palace in Granada and the Great Mosque of Córdoba; advances in irrigation, agriculture, and urban planning; contributions to mathematics (algebra, algorithms), astronomy, philosophy (Averroes, Maimonides), and medicine. Spanish language, cuisine, and culture still reflect centuries of Islamic influence.
What happened to Muslims after 1492?
Initially, Granada's surrender treaty promised Muslims religious freedom. However, this changed quickly: forced conversions began in 1499, creating "Moriscos" (converted Muslims). Despite conversion, Moriscos faced persecution and discrimination. The final expulsion occurred in 1609-1614 under Philip III, when approximately 300,000 Moriscos were expelled from Spain, ending eight centuries of Islamic presence.
Why is the Reconquista important?
The Reconquista fundamentally shaped Spanish and Portuguese identity, creating nations defined by Catholic Christianity and resistance to Islamic rule. It influenced the Age of Exploration (Columbus sailed months after Granada fell), militant Catholic ideology during colonization, and lasting cultural patterns. It demonstrates complex patterns of religious coexistence, conflict, cultural exchange, and the long-term consequences of religious warfare.
About This Site
What is the purpose of this website?
This website provides comprehensive, accurate educational content about the Reconquista and medieval Iberian history. We aim to present multiple perspectives, rigorous historical information, and help people understand this pivotal 781-year period that shaped European history, Spanish and Portuguese identity, and continues to influence modern culture and politics.
Are your sources reliable?
Yes. All historical content is based on academic sources, peer-reviewed research, and established historical scholarship. We reference primary sources, archaeological evidence, contemporary chronicles, and modern historians from multiple perspectives. Our goal is scholarly accuracy, not ideological narratives.
Can I use this information for my research?
This is an educational resource suitable for general understanding and initial research. For formal academic work, please verify information with primary academic sources, peer-reviewed journals, and university presses. We recommend consulting specialized historians and original medieval sources for scholarly research.
Reconquista at a Glance
Years Duration
(722-1492 AD)
Fall of Granada
End of Reconquista
Battle of Covadonga
First Victory
Las Navas de Tolosa
Turning Point
Explore More of the Reconquista
Discover detailed articles about battles, key figures, and the cultural legacy of 781 years of medieval history
Still Have Questions?
Start with the basics: Visit our homepage for a complete timeline of the Reconquista from 711-1492.
Deep dive into specific events: Browse our battles section for detailed analysis of key turning points like Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) and the Fall of Córdoba (1236).
Learn about important leaders: Explore our figures page to discover Pelayo, El Cid, Abd al-Rahman III, and the Catholic Monarchs.