Crusades in 15th-century Iberia and the vexed issue of late medieval nation-building

Amongst the master narratives of Spanish historical writing, the impact of the so-called »Reconquista« in general, and that of the War of Granada in particular loom large. This article does not deal with either in detail, but only touches upon them in passing while centring on the closely related subject of crusading in the 15th century. The paper’s main objectives are fourfold. Firstly, to broaden our understanding of religious violence on the late medieval Iberian Peninsula by including other conflicts than crusades. Secondly, to provide an overview of the dynamics of crusading during 15th century that pays due respect to different geographic scenarios and does not focus solely the conflicts of Christian polities with the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. Thirdly, to reveal and calibrate the innovations that the War of Granada brought about. And finally, to determine the extent to which crusading effectively contributed to the beginnings of nation-building at the end of the Middle Ages.