The Golden Age of Spain, 1474–1598 - 4 The campaign for orthodoxy,…

The idea

The Great Rebellion of 1568 in Granada stemmed from the Morisco 'problem': a large, culturally distinct Muslim population that resisted assimilation. Turkish raids heightened fears of a fifth column, prompting Philip II to support hardline policies. This culminated in the decrees of 1566–67, which banned Morisco customs, language and dress, directly provoking revolt. The Marquis de Mondéjar, Captain General of Granada, attempted to enforce these decrees with moderation and warned against their severity, but his conciliatory tactics failed to prevent the uprising and he was replaced. The rebellion thus arose from religious intolerance, strategic insecurity and the failure of gradual reform.

What earns the marks

• Explains the Morisco 'problem' as the presence of a large, unassimilated Muslim population in Granada, seen as a threat to religious and political unity.
• Assesses the impact of Turkish raids: they increased fears of Morisco collaboration with the Ottoman Empire, leading to harsher policies from Philip II.
• Evaluates the role of the Marquis de Mondéjar: his attempts to enforce the decrees with moderation, his warnings against hardline policies, and his subsequent replacement.
• Analyses the significance of the decrees of 1566–67: they banned Morisco customs, language and dress, acting as the immediate trigger for the rebellion.
• Shows how these factors interlinked: the decrees were a response to the 'problem' and Turkish raids, while Mondéjar's failure to suppress dissent contributed to the outbreak.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the Morisco 'problem' as solely religious.

  Put it right: It was also cultural, economic and political, involving distinct language, dress and customs.

• Claiming Philip II supported Mondéjar's conciliatory approach.

  Put it right: Philip II backed the hardliners who issued the 1566–67 decrees, while Mondéjar was left to enforce them.

• Overstating Mondéjar's role as a cause.

  Put it right: He was a moderating figure whose failure to prevent revolt led to his replacement, not the instigator of the rebellion itself.

Exam tips

• Link the four factors explicitly: show how the Morisco 'problem' and Turkish raids created a context in which the decrees were issued, and how Mondéjar's enforcement failed.
• Use precise dates and names: 1566–67 decrees, Marquis de Mondéjar, 1568 rebellion.
• Avoid narrative; analyse causation by weighing the relative importance of each factor.