San Fernando III

Reconquista – Convivencia San Fernando III and Seville
Today we go back to the Cathedral. First, I would like to say a few things about the Middle Ages in Spain. About the time when the Moors had conquered the peninsula of Iberia and Iberia was slowly reconquered by the Christians (Reconquista). But also about a time where often peaceful cohaben (convivencia).These two stories of an era come together at the tomb of San Fernando.

La Reconquista
We go to the period called la Reconquista, “the recapture”. That was a period of as much as 800 years in the Middle Ages when Christian kingdoms reinvade the Iberian Peninsula on the Islamic Moors. The Moors had conquered the Iberian Peninsula from 711, on a narrow strip in the north. The Reconquista ended at the conquest of Granada on the Nasriden in 1492.

But there was also La convivencia
Yet for the centuries, Muslims, Christians and Jews had lived together peacefully, because Muslims saw Christianity and Judaism as extensions of their own faith. That is why these minorities were accepted, even though they had to pay tax. This peaceful society of Christians, Jews and Islamists is called La convivencia, “the cohabitation” and was also continued in its conquered territories in the 13 th century by the Christians through San Fernando. There came an end to la convivencia in the 2 th half of the 14 th century after, among other things, the pestepidemia where the Jews were got to blame.

Conquest of Seville
The restoration of eight hundred years is a long time, only in 1248 was Seville retaken by Fernando III. Seville was one of the great cities of Moren and after the conquest the Mosque of Seville was transformed into the Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede. Before 1248, Seville was one of the most important centers of Islamic culture and civilization on the Iberian Peninsula and the capital of several Muslim kingdoms on Iberia. After the recapture, new Christian rulers have also transformed the city into the center of their power.

Fernando III
This monarch is most remembered as the Conqueror of West Andalusia and South Iberia, the last city he conquered Seville. He was also responsible for concluding the agreement with the Islamic kingdom of Granada, which would last 250 years. The rule of Fernando III has not led to the end of the existence ​​van Islamic cultural and religious communities in the region. He had respect for the culture of his defeated enemies. With him, Reconquista and convivencia went hand in hand.

San Fernando or Ferdinand de Saint
Through his many donations to the Christian Church and his struggle for faith, he has given himself the nickname ‘’the Holy’’. Fernando III was declared sacred in 1671. His holiday is on May 30, which was his death in 1252. He is a pattern of the prisoners and the poor, and he is also the patron Saint of the Spanish Mary-Luisa order. The Military Order of the Holy Ferdinand, named after him, is the highest Spanish award for prowess.

The legend tells that he had a statue of Mary with every battle against the Moors, and so he is often depicted on paintings with a cross on the chest and a statue of Mary on his arm.

The 17th-century Spanish painter Murillo (remember: Who taught the profession on Calle Feria ) painted him with a sword and a globe in hand. There is also a painting of him with the devil as a dog to be feet. He had conquered the world and defeated the devil, but he was allowed to stay at his feet.

The tomb of San Fernando in the Cathedral
The tomb of Fernando III in Seville is seen as the emblem of a tolerant society and as
Symbol of Reconquista. Fernando's speech grave is located in the heart of his most cherished
Victory the Grand Mosque of Seville, which was transformed into immediately after the conquest of the city. The Cathedral of Santa Maria and so the tomb is a symbol of the Reconquista. But on the tomb it also contains a text, which expresses its share of a peaceful society, engraved in four Languages: Latin, Castilian, Hebrew and Arabic. And that's the convivencia.

Tips
So an extra reason to go back to the Cathedral to the body of San Fernando of Lake
then 770 years old to look at and not just admire the beauty of it. Peaceful coexistence
of religions and cultures, which we are more than ever allowed to strive for today.
If you have to go on November 23, it is the day of the conquest of Seville by San Fernando. The
Tombe ‘s open at eight o'clock in the morning and at ten o'clock there is a procession to the beautiful Royal Chapel where San Fernando is displayed.

Finally, a final story about San Fernando, which can be found in the Cathedral. In the Sacristia
Mayor are the keys to Seville, which would be when Christians conquered the city in 1248
Handed to King Fernando III. Don't miss this.