The Moors Defeat Spanish Forces During the Granada War (1482 – 1492)

Point of Divergence … During the decade between 1482 and 1492, a series of campaigns were launched by the Moors, the remaining Muslim population located on the Iberian Peninsula, against Spanish forces under the banner of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Rather than an actual drawn out war, the Granada War consisted of many small military campaigns. The combined might of Castile and Aragon was enough to defeat the forces of the Moors, and the repercussions of this defeat would be felt for years to come. This outcome ended any Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula, and also the “live and let live” mentality that had existed in Spain for years, allowing Muslims, Jews, and Christians to live amicably among each other. In 1501, all of the Muslims residing in Granada were forced to convert to Christianity, and if not they would be made slaves or exiled from Granada. Spain found its roots as a defender of the Catholic faith, and this would be carried forward by Spanish rulers in the years to come.

What if the Moors had somehow managed to turn the tables and defeated the forces of Spain? What would have been the effect on the world today?
 
I can't see them hold much longer than in OTL with 1482 POD. Even if Granada not fall on 1492 it would fall later. It didn't control very markable territory and them hadn't enough foreign support and even if they would have got that hardly still can survive.
 

ar-pharazon

Banned
I'd think it would have just delayed the end of Muslim Iberia.

Perhaps by another decade to twenty years but the drive of the Reconquista was inexorable at this point.
 

ar-pharazon

Banned
Didn't the moors hold only a small fraction of their former territory at this point?

It seems to me if they had prevailed it would have just delayed the final victory of the Reconquista until maybe 1530 at the absolute latest.
 
I'd think it would have just delayed the end of Muslim Iberia.

Perhaps by another decade to twenty years but the drive of the Reconquista was inexorable at this point.
I agree. Unless somehow the Ottoman Turks got involved, which they were reluctant to do.
 
I agree. Unless somehow the Ottoman Turks got involved, which they were reluctant to do.

Bayezid spend the first 14 years of his reign in fear of Cems return. For that, neither the Italian campaign of his father finished nor an attempt was made to save Granada. Unless Cem dies or falls captive there is no Turkish intervention by 1480s.
 
Didn't the moors hold only a small fraction of their former territory at this point?

It seems to me if they had prevailed it would have just delayed the final victory of the Reconquista until maybe 1530 at the absolute latest.

1530 makes it hard. If let say Selim gets on the throne he will make use of Granada. So would Suleiman. Anything to bother the Catholic powers except France.
 
Point of Divergence … During the decade between 1482 and 1492, a series of campaigns were launched by the Moors, the remaining Muslim population located on the Iberian Peninsula, against Spanish forces under the banner of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Rather than an actual drawn out war, the Granada War consisted of many small military campaigns. The combined might of Castile and Aragon was enough to defeat the forces of the Moors, and the repercussions of this defeat would be felt for years to come. This outcome ended any Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula, and also the “live and let live” mentality that had existed in Spain for years, allowing Muslims, Jews, and Christians to live amicably among each other. In 1501, all of the Muslims residing in Granada were forced to convert to Christianity, and if not they would be made slaves or exiled from Granada. Spain found its roots as a defender of the Catholic faith, and this would be carried forward by Spanish rulers in the years to come.

What if the Moors had somehow managed to turn the tables and defeated the forces of Spain? What would have been the effect on the world today?

Nothing much. Status Quo or maybe some towns on the border and Gibraltar. Except the Castillians will no longer trust the Granadans. And sooner or later they will attack it again.
 
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