The Reconquista and the Rise of the Catholic Monarchs

The Reconquista and the First Christian Kingdoms

In the mid-10th century, the Kingdom of Asturias emerged as the first Hispanic state, followed by the birth of the County of Castile, which reigned from the 11th century. In the northeast, the Kingdom of Navarre, the Kingdom of Aragon, and the Catalan Counties emerged.

The Reconquista refers to the long process (7th to 15th centuries) of conquest and occupation of territories held by Al-Andalus by Christian kingdoms. The primary arguments for this process were:

• Religious nature: The fight against the infidels.
• Legal nature: The legitimacy of the Christian monarchs.

Phases of the Reconquista

• 1st Phase (up to 1040): Consolidation of the Duero line.
• 2nd Phase (1045–1149): Alfonso VI reached the Tagus after conquering Toledo (1085). The Kingdom of Aragon moved toward the Ebro valley, with repopulation led by councils aided by rights and privileges.
• 3rd Phase (1150–1230): The Christian advance continued, reaching the upper courses of the Júcar and Turia rivers. The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) allowed for the occupation of the Guadiana valley, managed by military orders.
• 4th Phase (1230–1264): Fernando III campaigned along the Guadalquivir and Segura rivers, while James I conquered the Balearic Islands and the Levant.

The Monarchy of the Catholic Monarchs

This period marked the triumph of the authoritarian monarchy, characterized by the monarch's unique ability to legislate as the natural lord of the realm, supported by a complex institutional framework.

The Hispanic Monarchy was a dynastic, non-institutional union of the crowns of Castile and Aragon, where laws and regulations were signed by both monarchs. Religious uniformity was enforced by the Holy Inquisition.

Lines of Expansion Policy

1. Peninsular Unification: Began in 1492 with the conquest of the Moorish Kingdom of Granada, followed by the recovery of Roussillon and Cerdanya, and the conquest of Navarre in 1512. Annexation of Portugal was also prepared through marriage.
2. Marriage Alliances: Strategic unions to strengthen their position against France.
3. Italian Wars: Conflicts for the domination of Milan and Naples.
4. North Africa: Control established over La Gomera, Oran, Tripoli, Algiers, and Melilla.
5. Atlantic Expansion: Following the discovery of America in 1492, agreements were established with Portugal for control of Atlantic routes, including the treaties of Alcaçovas and Tordesillas, alongside the final occupation of the islands.