Editing Alhambra (section)

=== ''Reconquista'' and Christian Spanish period ===
The last Nasrid sultan, [[Muhammad XII of Granada]], surrendered the Emirate of Granada in January 1492, without the Alhambra itself being attacked, when the forces of the [[Catholic Monarchs of Spain|Catholic Monarchs]], King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] and Queen [[Isabella I of Castile]], took the surrounding territory with a force of overwhelming numbers. Muhammad XII moved the remains of his ancestors from the complex, as was verified by [[Leopoldo Torres Balbás]] in 1925, when he found seventy empty tombs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://granadaonly.com/en/historic/alhambra-sultans-their-tombs/ |title=Alhambra sultans: Their tombs |date=5 April 2019 |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620235028/https://granadaonly.com/en/historic/alhambra-sultans-their-tombs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The remains are now likely to be located in Mondújar in the principality of [[Lecrín]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ciceronegranada.com/en/blog/alhambras-monarchs-buried/ |title=Where are the Alhambra's monarchs buried? |date=21 August 2017 |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617110828/https://www.ciceronegranada.com/en/blog/alhambras-monarchs-buried/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>The Moor's Last Stand: How Seven Centuries of Muslim Rule in Spain Came to an End, [[Elizabeth Drayson]]</ref>

After the conquest, the Alhambra became a royal palace and property of the [[Monarchy of Spain|Spanish Crown]]. Isabella and Ferdinand initially took up residence here and stayed in Granada for several months, up until 25 May 1492.{{Sfn|Vincent|2021|p=168}} It was during this stay that two major events happened. On 31 March the monarchs signed the [[Alhambra Decree]], which ordered the [[Expulsion of Jews from Spain|expulsion of all Jews in Spain]] who refused to convert.{{Sfn|Coleman|2013|p=38}}{{Sfn|Vincent|2021|p=168}} [[Christopher Columbus]], who had also been present to witness the surrender of Granada, presented his plans for an [[Voyages of Christopher Columbus|expedition across the Atlantic]] to the monarchs in the Hall of Ambassadors and on 17 April they signed the contract which set the terms for the expedition which landed in the [[Americas]] later that year.{{Sfn|Vincent|2021|p=168}}{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|pp=1, 16–17}}

[[File:La Alzaba de la Alhambra 17.JPG|thumb|The ''Torre de la Polvóra'' at the Alcazaba, an example of a tower reinforced with curved ramparts in the 16th century to better defend against modern artillery{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=91–92}}|left]]
The new Christian rulers began to make additions and alterations to the palace complex. The governorship of the Alhambra was entrusted to the Tendilla family, who were given one of the Nasrid palaces, the ''Palacio del Partal Alto'' (near the Partal Palace), to use as family residence. [[Íñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones|Iñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones]] (d. 1515), the second [[Count]] of [[Tendilla]], was present in Ferdinand II's entourage when Muhammad XII surrendered the keys to the Alhambra and he became the Alhambra's first Spanish governor.{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=297–298}} For almost 24 years after the conquest, he made repairs and modifications to its fortifications in order to better protect it against [[Artillery|gunpowder artillery]] attacks. Multiple towers and fortifications – such as the ''Torre de Siete Suelos'', the ''Torre de las Cabezas'', and the ''Torres Bermejas'' – were built or reinforced in this period, as seen by the addition of semi-round [[bastion]]s.{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=297–298}} In 1512 the Count was also awarded the property of [[Mondéjar]] and subsequently passed on the title of [[Marquess|Marquis]] of Mondéjar to his descendants.{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=297–298}}

[[File:Granada. Alhambra. Palacio Carlos V LCCN2017660754.jpg|thumb|The Renaissance-style [[Palace of Charles V]], begun in 1527 but left unfinished after 1637. This 1890 photograph shows the roof still missing over the upper floor.]]
[[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] (r. 1516–1556) visited the Alhambra in 1526 with his wife [[Isabella of Portugal]] and decided to convert it into a royal residence for his use. He rebuilt or modified portions of the Nasrid palaces to serve as royal apartments, a process which began in 1528 and was completed in 1537.{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=149–159}}{{Sfn|Dickie|1992|p=146}} He also demolished a part of the Comares Palace to make way for a monumental new palace, known as the Palace of Charles V, designed in the [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]] of the period. Construction of the palace began in 1527 but it was eventually left unfinished after 1637.{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=69–70}}

The governorship of the Tendilla-Mondéjar family came to an end in 1717–1718, when [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] confiscated the family's properties in the Alhambra and dismissed the Marquis of Mondéjar, José de Mendoza Ibáñez de Segovia (1657–1734), from his position as mayor (''alcaide'') of the Alhambra, in retaliation for the Marquis opposing him in the [[War of the Spanish Succession]].{{Sfnm|López|2011|1p=299|Dickie|1992|2pp=148–149}} The departure of the Tendilla-Mondéjar family marked the beginning of the Alhambra's most severe period of decline. During this period the Spanish state dedicated few resources to it and its management was taken over by self-interested local governors who lived with their families inside the neglected palaces.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=299}}

Over subsequent years the Alhambra was further damaged. Between 1810 and 1812 Granada was occupied by [[Napoleon]]'s army during the [[Peninsular War]].{{sfn|RingSalkinLa Boda|1995|p=298}} The French troops, under the command of [[Count Sebastiani]],<ref name="Chisholm">{{harvp|Chisholm|1911}}</ref> occupied the Alhambra as a fortified position and caused significant damage to the monument.{{sfn|López|2011|p=301}} Upon evacuating the city, they attempted to dynamite the whole complex to prevent it from being re-used as a fortified position. They successfully blew up eight towers before the remaining fuses were disabled by Spanish soldier José Garcia, whose actions saved what remains today.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=301}} In 1821, an earthquake caused further damage.<ref name="Chisholm" /> In the early 19th century, the site was described as being occupied by prisoners, [[disabled]] soldiers and other marginalized people.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=302}}{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|p=66}}