AH Challenge: Crusader State of Granada

How could history lead to the creation of a Crusader state in the south of Spain? Could it last longer than the Crusader states in the Holy Land and successfully convert the populace or would it crumble just like the others, via Muslim or Christian armies?
 
It's hard to see how. The Crusader states were an anomaly created mostly because nobody knew what else to do. There could be the outside possibility if the Spanish kingdoms prove unable or unwilling to pursue reconquest for a crusading force to take cities in the south of Spain and the pope to declare a leader their king, but in all likelihood that would just become another Eureopean principality.

The provblem is that the biggest powers involved - the Spanish kingdoms - also upheld a claim on the territory going back to the days of the Visigoths, so they wouldn't be amenable to the creation of a new state there.
 
The provblem is that the biggest powers involved - the Spanish kingdoms - also upheld a claim on the territory going back to the days of the Visigoths, so they wouldn't be amenable to the creation of a new state there.

Although if pressed hard enough by the Almoravids / Almohads / Whoeveravids, the northern rulers might be inclined towards having a Christian state in the south who at least wasn't trying to destroy them.

If this kingdom was established after the Almohads, it is possible that the Muslims in Granada and north of Granada (in the taifa between the northern and souther Christian states) would call the Berbers in against to intervene, making a longer Reconquista.
 
For there to be Crusader States in the Iberian Peninsula, the Crusader States in the Levant would have to be prove strong and solid against the various Muslim Caliphates in the east. Also, it would be best to have those new crusader kingdoms established perhaps prior to the 1400's, back when the few Hispanic Christian Kingdoms were divided and weak (some of them even allied themselves, on occasion, with one of the Taifa states against other Christians). Although, Portugal was the strongest christian power in the region at the time, so any crusader force that arrives in Spain had perhaps best get on their good side.
 
Although if pressed hard enough by the Almoravids / Almohads / Whoeveravids, the northern rulers might be inclined towards having a Christian state in the south who at least wasn't trying to destroy them.

If the crusaders are strong enough to create a kingdom from scratch in the south, who's going to guarantee that they aren't going to head north next? When foreign crusaders arrived in Spain in OTL they always though that the Christian kings were weak and too 'friendly' with Muslims and Jews. Plus, Iberian kings always used their particular situation to go a step longer than the Pope... take away that particular situation and let's see if they like more a tiara or a turban.

If this kingdom was established after the Almohads, it is possible that the Muslims in Granada and north of Granada (in the taifa between the northern and souther Christian states) would call the Berbers in against to intervene, making a longer Reconquista.

Most likely they would call the Castilians, which are their "protectors" at this time and aren't going to like the idea of an opportunistic foreigner taking their source of tributes.

As usual, any question dealing with Medieval Spain is broader than the simple Muslim/Christian split. In my opinion the Pope would need a deeper reason that "cause theire muslims" to launch a Crusade like the first one in Spanish soil instead of the Holy Land. Perhaps that crazy adventure of the King of Denia in Sardinia succeeds and the island is used later to raid Rome in the 1080s.
 
The only way I could see is if the Spanish were all in on it.
Perhaps a more even balance of power amongst the Iberian nations and they all agree to crusade together. Rather than letting Castille be the only one to profit something is arranged where Granada will be turned into a Christian state with a new king.
 
Another possibility is one where the northern Castillian states fail and the Taifas become the only nations in Iberia. For the record, "Changing the Times" has a scenario where Crusader states (well, what we would call Crusader states) are formed in Spain - Normans in the Sun (or Normans under the Sun - I can't remember which).
 
Another possibility is one where the northern Castillian states fail and the Taifas become the only nations in Iberia. For the record, "Changing the Times" has a scenario where Crusader states (well, what we would call Crusader states) are formed in Spain - Normans in the Sun (or Normans under the Sun - I can't remember which).

The problem I see with this idea is that if the Christian kingdoms are destroyed in the 10th century or before, then I don't think the Caliphate of Cordoba would fall to pieces like it did in OTL. And a united Caliphate of Cordoba would most likely destroy any Crusader expedition.
 
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