[CRISIS] The Rebellion of the Alpujarras

Tensions between the Christian and Muslim populations in the Kingdom of Granada came to a boiling point in 1499, primarily due to the actions of Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros. Brutally violating the terms of the 1491 Treaty of Granada which provided for tolerance of the Muslim faith, he jailed and forced the conversion of uncooperative Muslims. His efforts had focused on elches, Muslim converts, and of those especially married women, upsetting and humiliating their Muslim husbands as well. Finally, in December of 1499, the Moriscos had enough.

A young woman, draped in the traditional Andalusian clothing of an elche was escorted through the city by a constable and his assistant. This constable, Velasco de Barrionuevo, had been instructed to take this woman in for questioning. He was, however, caught by surprise when the group passed through the town square of Albayzin and the peace in the air was violently disrupted by her desperate cries of "Help! They are making me convert!"

In an instant, all the tensions of the last year exploded into a cacophony of anger and outrage. Quickly cornered by the crowd of the square, Velasco backed up to the wall, nervously trying to explain the situation. To no avail, a woman looked down at the crowd heaved a paving stone through the window and allowed it to plummet straight down on the man, killing him instantly. His assistant, meanwhile, was hiding desperately under the bed of a local Muslim woman who allowed him shelter.

But the revolt did not end there. No, the rebellion must go on. Within hours, the local populace had begun to barricade the streets, gather weaponry and set out to evict Cisneros from his house. For the small Christian minority who had searched for refuge, it must have been a truly terrifying time to see the Muslim mob approaching the house and demanding the head of Cisneros. The Archbishop's council pleaded with him to flee the city, but he refused.

"I am willing to await the crown of martyrdom, if it is the will of Heaven."

Bracing themselves for an assault that never came, the crowd slowly withered away. But by now means was the revolt either, as over the next few days the population elected its own officials and leaders.

The archbishop Hernando de Talavera and the Captain-General Marquis de Tendilla attempted to defuse the situation through negotiations and gestures of good-will. Accompanied by a group of friars and priests, Talavera attempted to enter the barricaded city. Greeted immediately with a barrage of stones, Talavera picked up the cross and approached the barricade alone. The Muslims in the barricades, impressed with the personal courage and faith of Talavera, praised him and kissed the hems of his robes to show respect for the alfaqui of the Christians.

Meanwhile, Tendilla attempted his own peace negotiations. Throwing his red cap to the ground in a sign of goodwill and peaceful intentions, the situation has begun to deescalate. Tendilla has moved his family next to the local mosque, and lived among the Muslims peacefully. The citizens of the Albayzin agreed to hand over Velasco’s killers, but the leaders of the brief revolt had fled the city.

The news spread from Granada to the Alpujarras Mountains and the rest of the kingdom, and by the middle of winter, the Muslim population had risen up in general revolt. Now, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand had to face a choice: reprimand Cisneros and attempt to return to the path of reconciliation, or destroy this rebellion, and convert or expel the Muslims by force?

January-February 1500: Muslim rebels occupy the Kingdom of Granada in Castile.