Latest Remaining the Muslims (Moorish) in Andalusia Exile From Spain (1609-1614)

Abstract

After the Muslim conquest of Spain (93/711) the movement of Reconquista (reconquer spain) which is started by cristians, had important successes with the occupation of important Muslim cities such as Toledo (478/1085), Cordoba (634/1236) and Seville (646/1248). Because of this movement the Muslims of Andalus who were gradually losing their power lost altogether their military and political hegemony in Spain with the occupation of Granada (898/1492), the capital of the Nasrids. Some time later (905/1499) the church set up the Inquisition and Spanish rule in order that the Muslims (Moriscos) who had in their own fatherland been reduced to pariah status took up the Catholic religion. In the royal orders that were being published everything that had to do with Islam and Muslims was forbidden and the churches continued with their teaching and education activities and the Inquisition courts with their trials and persecutions in order to punish the "apostates". At the end of the processes of persuasion, persecution, deportation and punishment the belief that the Muslims who were forced to pretend were not sufficiently assimilated, that they kept their distance as regards integration into Christian society and that they made common cause with the enemies of Spain (Ottomans, France and North African dynasts) led to an event of mass exile (1018/1609) that can be characterised as the most merciless and immoral process of the seventeenth century. The exile (expulsion) not only dragged Spain into financial, social and economic chaos but also was a tragedy for the about 340.000 Muslims who were drived out by force from their homes and resulted in the loss of life of tens of thousands during the journey and in the areas where they settled.