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Was the Christian conquest of al-Andalus irreversible?

2012; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 4; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/17546559.2012.677178

1754-6567

Josep Torró,

Historical and Linguistic Studies

Abstract The consideration of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa as a turning point in history must necessarily be contemplated within the larger framework of the incapacity shown by Andalusi society to oppose the conquering dynamics manifested by the Iberian feudal aristocracies and monarchies since the conquest of Toledo (1085). This is a crucial matter that cannot be seen in isolation from the wider context of the expansion of Latin Christendom. In this regard, the present article suggests a comparison between the disparate fortunes of the Iberian kingdoms and the Latin principalities in the East through the critical assessment of three factors: (i) dissemination of, and role played by the ideology of jihād as a response against the Christian pressure, (ii) the emergence of professional military castes in the Muslim East, capable of confronting the powerful Frankish cavalry, and (iii) the characteristics of the colonization of conquered territory. This kind of analysis proves that the result of the battle was irrelevant in the general context of Christian expansion, as was the case with the previous Muslim victories at Zallāqa and Alarcos. Keywords: jihād military castescolonizationLatin EastMedieval IberiaChristian expansionLas Navas de Tolosa Notes 1Barceló, “Vespres de feudals”; Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 1: 100. 2Urvoy, “Sur l'évolution”; Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 1: 87–100, 162–3. 3Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 1: 129–31. 4Sivan, L'Islam et la Croisade. 5Burési, “La réaction idéologique.” 6Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 1: 98–100. 7Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 2: 357. 8Poliak, Feudalism in Egypt; Berktay, “Feudalism Debate.” 9Retamero, “La formalización del poder.” 10Irwin, “Iqṭā‘ and the End.” 11Benhima, “Note sur l’évolution.” 12Humphreys, “Emergence of the Mamluk Army.” 13Prawer, “Colonization Activities”; Crusader Institutions, 102–42; Latin Kingdom, 29–32. 14Prawer, “Roots of Medieval Colonialism,” 26–7. 15Ellenblum, Frankish Rural Settlement. 16Powers, A Society Organized for War. 17Zajac, “Captured Property;” Smail, Crusading Warfare, 90–3. 18Bartlett, Making of Europe, 306–14; Barceló, “La spurcitia paganorum.” 19Guichard, Les Musulmans de Valence, 1: 144–5. 20The generalized use of throwing weapons (dardos) among foot troops (the effectiveness of which was fully realized by the Almogavars from the Crown of Aragon in their Mediterranean campaigns), is peculiar to the Iberian Peninsula, probably due to its Andalusi origin. 21Lacarra, El Poema de Mio Cid, 32–50.