In the Crown of Castile Forced conversions of Muslims in Spain

the kingdom of granada (red) within crown of castile (solid black borders).

initial efforts @ forcing conversions of spanish muslims started cardinal cisneros, archbishop of toledo, arrived in granada in autumn of 1499. in contrast granada s own archbishop hernando de talavera, had friendly relations muslim population , relied on peaceful approach towards conversions, cisneros adopted harsh , authoritarian measures. sent uncooperative muslims, noblemen, prison treated severely (including reports of torture) until converted. cisneros ignored warnings council these methods might violate treaty of granada, guaranteed muslims freedom of religion. instead, intensified efforts, , in december wrote pope alexander vi converted 3,000 muslims in single day.

the forced conversions led series of rebellions, started in city of granada. uprising precipitated riotous murder of constable had been transporting muslim woman interrogation through muslim quarter of granada; ended negotiations, after muslims laid down weapons , handed on responsible murder of constable. subsequently, cisneros convinced king ferdinand , queen isabella attempting rebellion, muslims lost rights in treaty, , must accept conversions. monarchs sent cisneros granada preside on renewed conversion campaign. muslims in city forcibly converted in large numbers – 60,000 according pope, in letter cisneros in march 1500. cisneros declared in january 1500 there no 1 in city not christian.

although city of granada under christian control, uprising spread granadan countryside. leader of rebellion fled alpujarra mountains in january 1500. fearing forced convert, population there rose in insurrection. however, after series of campaigns in 1500–01 in 80,000 christian troops mobilized , king ferdinand directed operations, rebellion defeated. terms of surrender of defeated rebels required them accept baptism. 1501, not single unconverted muslim remained in granada.

the rest of castile

unlike muslims of granada, under muslim rule until 1492, muslims in rest of castile had lived under christian rule generations. following conversions in granada, isabella decided impose conversion-or-expulsion decree against muslims. castile outlawed islam in legislation dated july 1501 in granada, not made public. proclamation took place on february 12, 1502, in seville (called key date of legislation historian l. p. harvey), , locally in other towns. edict affected kingdoms , lordships of castile , leon . according edict, muslim males aged 14 or more, or females aged 12 or more, should convert or leave castile end of april 1502. both castile-born muslims , immigrants subject decree, slaves excluded in order respect rights of owners. edict justified decision saying after successful conversion of granada, allowing muslims in rest of castile scandalous, though acknowledged these muslims peaceful. edict argued decision needed protect accepted conversion influence of nonconverted muslims.

on paper, edict ordered expulsion rather forced conversion, forbade possible destinations; in reality, castilian authorities preferred muslims convert emigrate. castile s western neighbor portugal had banned muslims since 1497. order explicitly forbade going other neighboring regions, such kingdoms of aragon , valencia, principality of catalonia, , kingdom of navarre. of possible overseas destination, north africa , territories of ottoman empire ruled out. edict allowed travel egypt, ruled mamluk sultanate, there few ships sailing between castile , egypt in days. designated biscay in basque country port muslims depart, meant south (such andalusia) have travel entire length of peninsula. edict set end of april 1502 deadline, after islam become outlawed , harboring muslims punished severely. further edict issued on 17 september 1502 forbade newly converted muslims leave castile within next 2 years.

historian l.p. harvey wrote edict, in such summary fashion, @ such short notice , muslim presence under mudéjar status came end. unlike in granada, there few surviving records of events such mass baptisms, or how conversions organized. there records of christian celebrations following conversions, such elaborate festivity involving bullfight in Ávila.