Almoravids in Spain

They were invited into Spain by the taifa rulers, fearful after the Castilian conquest of Toledo. What if the Almoravids had been everywhere defeated by the Castilians? What are the implications of an earlier reconquista, if it would have proceeded after that?
 
Does a strong presence in the south make it more likely for Castillian movement? I mean, a preemptive strike is always a possibility but, if they are stronger that should stave off any military movement, yes?
 
They were invited into Spain by the taifa rulers, fearful after the Castilian conquest of Toledo. What if the Almoravids had been everywhere defeated by the Castilians? What are the implications of an earlier reconquista, if it would have proceeded after that?

First, taifa rulers and Arabo-Andalusian nobility would probably try to negociate with Christians on similar grounds than between 40's and 60's : paying tributes, acknowledging sometimes Christian suzerainty.
It may be worthwhile in a first time, but more and more obvious would be the submission, more certain would be conquest eventually at the first sign of rebellion (and giving the mentality of Arabo-Andalusian nobility, it would happen sooner or later), but I don't think Christian rulers (especially Catalans) would have enough ressources to annex all of the peninsula before some time, while they would certainly be the arbitrers of the new (or rather return to previous) geopolitical situation.

It could motive them to search help in Africa once again.
Almoaravids would hardly manage to stand their upper ground with such crushing defeat.
Either their domination would shatter (maybe on the previous lines, roughly OTL Morroco vs. Mauritania), or a rival berber tribe or dynasty would appear, if not both in the same time.

Hammamids would probably manage to take back lands on Maghrib (Up to Tlemcen?).

I'm not sure that the likely Berber rise against Almohads would be made on the name of anti-malekism, though. The revival of zahirism was after all partially due to the contacts between Al-Andalus and southern Berber tribes.

I wouldn't surprised if, on the other hand, the challengers would choose to adopt attitudes more close to what existed in Baghdad.

If neither inner troubles among Christians or a possible "help" of another Berber dynasty in Al-Andalus stop the Reconquista process, things are gonna be interesting.

The gradual historical reconquest allowed to create really definite identities, but with a conquered southern Spain in say, 1110's, the distinction is going to be harder as Andalusia remained quite multi-identitary (Jews, Arabs, Berbers, Mozarabs, Neo-Mozarabs, mostly)
While Christianisation would certainly happen ITTL, Christian Spain(s) could look more oriental than IOTL (nothing world-shattering) in countrysides, maybe more similar to Latin States on these policies safe the religious point.
All depends on how the Reconquista is done : if relativly smoothly, the urban elites would have to mix and christianize to survive. Something as christian "properly" hispanic elites with a southern hispanic sub-elite system.

(Interestingly, it could lead to a more distinct south Spain from the rest of the peninsula than IOTL up to the existence of a centralized cultural policy)

The consequence there, would be a slow but continuous absorbtion of the population, where it was quite more radical IOTL. Maybe more traces of Arabo-andalusian institutions or social situation when globbed up in the spanish feudal law, as well?

The imperial project of N-W Spains (even when divided, they remained part of a same political ensemble) wouldn't abord there. Not only the title of "Emperor of All Spain(s)" could hold, but renew of "gothicism", meaning the project of a political power master of the peninsula including on religious grounds (even if it would be a really twisted interpretation of Toledo Councils) would look viable earlier.


I could see, furthermore, a more important western European presence (Gascony and Limousin, but not only). In the same time Catalan culture probably remain in the southern Gallo-Romance continuity (maybe up to returning to France? That's a possibility, but not directly due to the PoD).

Basically a southern Spain with a more important Arabo-Andalusian substrate, and *possibly* more important Gallo-Romance superstrate.

EDIT : On a related note, you may want to make more precise threat titles. "X in Y" when the OP is about "No X in Y" is a bit...misleading.
 
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