Between the years 1492 and 1499 Ferdinand and Isabella took a moderate policy towards the Moors in Granada, this was due to the influence of Talavera. Talavera was Isabella’s confessor and was made archbishop of Granada in 1492.
Ferdinand and Isabella’s policy toward the Muslims change between 1499 and1502. They took a more forceful policy, due to the influence of Cisneros, as well as Isabella’s impatience with the slow pace of conversions.
Ferdinand failure to take action against the Muslims in Aragon suggests he was less driven by religious enthusiasm than Isabella. There were political and economic reasons for leaving them alone, as they were appreciated by the Aragonese nobles as tenants and as good labourers.
Charles policy of forced conversions of Muslims in Aragon may have been due to the fears for security as the power of the ottoman Turks grew. This was also important in Philips actions against the Morisco culture that helped to cause a revolt of 1568. He feared that they might cooperate with an invading Turkish force.
Like Ferdinand and Isabella, Charles had both political and religious motives for wanting the Moriscos to convert. In 1511, decrees issued that attack culture associated with Mudejars. This may be because Charles thought the conversions weren’t genuine.
In 1525, Charles issued a decree ordering the forced conversion of all Mudejars in Aragon. If they didn’t convert they had to leave. This was probably for political security as well as religion. Charles was very aware of the threat of Turkish expansion in the Mediterranean as well as danger from the Arab Muslims in North Africa.
By 1526 there was officially now no Mudejars in Spain. Efforts were made to teach them genuine faith which shows how religious motives were also there. However the law which banned Muslim practises and customs but rarely enforced.
In 1526, Morisco leaders in Aragon made a deal with the crown and Inquisition, that there would be no persecutions of Moriscos for religious reasons for 40 years, and they could keep some of their customs, in return for a large cash payment. This shows how political motives were important.
By the time Philip II came to power most Moriscos still kept the Ramadan fast, ritual washing, food restrictions associated with Islam. So not all converts were genuine.
In 1559, the crown tried to reclaim royal land that they claimed Moriscos had occupied. This would have probably been for political reasons. In 1565 the clergy in Granada asked Philip to take action against Mudejar culture still found among Moriscos. They thought their language should be banned, as well as distinctive clothes, dances and rites. It was the clergy who wanted the changes rather than Philip.
In 1567 a royal decree was issued against Morisco culture and customs. Security fears about the danger of the threat from the Turks and North African Muslim was an important factor here. It was known Muslim powers in N. Africa and Turkey were in contact with the Morisco’s. Stamping out their culture might help making them genuine Christians. The motives behind this were political.
In 1568, a revolt of Morisco’s in Granada began a fierce war and held out for 2 years. 30,000 rebels in arm so was a serious threat. But in 1570 the war ended in Granada. Morisco’s were resettled in other parts of Spain.
By 1573 about 80,000 had been driven out, leading to much desolation in the region.
From the late1560’s the inquisition in Granada and in Aragon strongly turned on the Morisco’s
In 1573, Morisco’s were banned from being priests. Philip also tried to make it so they couldn’t take public positions of authority. By 1600 social and religious tensions were such that co-existence was impossible. Morisco population was growing quicker than Christian.
Generally, Isabella was more motivated by religious reasons where as Ferdinand, Charles and Philip were all motivated by political. However, all the monarchs had a strong Catholic faith so religious motives were always going to be there.
