during the long decline of the muslim presence in Iberia, there were ample opportunities to take land from the infighting and relatively weak taifa states. What if the french and italians, seeing the success of the native Iberians, join in on the 'fun'?
could the italian city states and french dukes carve out 'colonies' in muslim Iberia? Also, if they start early enough and manage their holding well enough, could parts of iberia be concidered parts of the french and italian 'nations' when these concepts become relevent? Finally, if any italian city-state takes areas with an atlantic coast, could the decline of italian & mediterrenean trading and dominance be prevented or lessened?
Also, could we see more tolerance for muslims ITTL, or would the italian & french proximity to the papacy make the situation even worse for Iberian islam?