How did the Reconquista in Spain relate to the Crusading movement?

The Reconquista in Spain was a centuries-long series of campaigns by Christian states to reclaim territory from Muslim rule, and while it was not initially a religious crusade, it became deeply intertwined with the broader Crusading movement over time.12

Initially, the Reconquista was primarily a matter of political expansion rather than an explicitly religious conflict. However, as the movement progressed, it increasingly adopted the characteristics of the Crusades:1

• Papal Support: By the 11th century, the pope began supporting campaigns against the Moors, and in 1212, Pope Innocent III formally declared a crusade against the [Almohads].12
• Military Orders: International religio-military orders, such as the Templars and Hospitallers, fought in Spain, and local Spanish military orders were established to support the effort.13
• Crusading Zeal: The movement was influenced by the crusading spirit instilled by monastic orders like the Cistercians, and the Second Crusade even included a specific branch focused on Iberia.12

Ultimately, the crusading spirit of the Reconquista left a lasting legacy in Spain, contributing to a later emphasis on religious uniformity and the establishment of the Inquisition.2