Expulsion of the Moriscos

The expulsion of the Moriscos was a significant social crisis in Spain during the reign of Philip III. The Moriscos were Spanish Muslims, or their descendants, who had been forcibly converted to Christianity. While many landowners protected them for their labor, a debate raged between those who advocated for their expulsion and those who believed in their assimilation and Christianization. In 1609, the government ordered their expulsion, leading to an estimated 275,000 Moriscos leaving Spain by 1614. The economic impact of this expulsion was significant, particularly in the regions of Aragon and Valencia, where the Moriscos constituted a substantial portion of the population.1

Diego Velázquez, a prominent Spanish painter of the 17th century, painted a work titled "Expulsion of the Moriscos." This painting was created in competition with other court painters and won Velázquez an award, contributing to his appointment as gentleman usher to the king. While this painting is lost, it highlights the historical event's significance during Velázquez's career.2