What were the main terms of the Treaty of Granada?

The Treaty of Granada, signed in 1491, guaranteed religious and cultural freedoms for the defeated Moors in Granada.

The Treaty of Granada was a significant agreement signed on 25th November 1491, between the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, and the last Muslim ruler in Spain, Emir Muhammad XII. The treaty marked the end of the Reconquista, a period of approximately 780 years during which Christian kingdoms gradually retook territory from Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.

The main terms of the treaty were centred around the protection of the rights of the defeated Moors. The Catholic Monarchs promised to allow the Moors to continue practising their religion, Islam, freely. They were also allowed to keep their mosques and observe their religious festivals. The treaty also guaranteed the Moors the right to their own laws, overseen by their own officials. This was a significant concession, as it allowed the Moors to maintain their cultural and social structures.

In addition to religious and cultural freedoms, the treaty also included provisions for the protection of property. The Moors were allowed to keep their property, carry their belongings and valuables, and sell their estates. They were also given safe passage to move to other parts of Spain or even to leave Spain altogether if they wished.

The treaty also included terms for the surrender of the city of Granada. The city was to be handed over to the Catholic Monarchs without resistance, and the Moors were to refrain from any destruction of the city or its treasures. In return, the Catholic Monarchs promised to respect and protect the lives and properties of the city's inhabitants.

However, the terms of the Treaty of Granada were not fully respected by the Catholic Monarchs. In the years following the signing of the treaty, there were instances of forced conversions to Christianity and persecution of the Moors, leading to rebellions and ultimately, the expulsion of the Moors from Spain in 1502. Despite this, the Treaty of Granada remains a significant historical document, representing a brief moment of tolerance and coexistence in a period of religious conflict.