Al-Andalus as Blas Infante.

Introduction AI-Andalus is one of the most important points in the political thought of Blas Infante, (l.885 ~ 1936). To do this, we extracted from his work meaningful data that refer to the centuries of history of Andalusia, and then analyze them thereby constructing a different valuation of the Arab presence in Spain. Blas Infante Thus invites us a new acceptance, discovery and interpretation of al-Andalus, parallel to the release of Andalusia advocated the Father of the Andalusian denominated by the Andalusian Parliament (April 3, 1983). 1. Blas Infante: Andalusian Ideal synthesis of the political ideal of Blas Infante of overcoming economic dependence, cultural and political life of Andalusia, is the recovery of the historical memory of al-Andalus, the current study of the implications that the imprint of culture Muslim left us, and the rejection of all centralist theory, based on an ideological hegemony of Christianity imposed, despises and rejects. In a word: the distortion of the history and culture of a people for his best submission. 11Mejor is silence which resulted from the dawn of the modern state religious uniformity determined by the central confession ". From his contacts with regionalist attempts early twentieth century in Spain, Infante elaborates his theory and political practice. It is difficult to find inconsistencies between his thought of his work. Notary, researcher self, and "friend of all revolutions" is linked to the movement of Andalusian nationalism who devote their strength, resources, research, writing, and his own life. Since its radicalism will be rejected, but in the last days of its existence will be recognized institutionally, naming him Honorary President of what could have been in September 1936, the Andalusian government future but for the Spanish Civil War. Infante discover Al- Andalus in the dialectic of the study of the past, observation of reality, and the future search for prostituted history of Andalusia.Blas Infante is three times that Andalusia is a recognized nation, in protohistoric aurora with Tartessos, then in the Senate Andalusia, and the stage of Al-Andalus. His nationalism opposed the 1Principio of nationalities "of Wilson (1918) as proposed Germanic Cartesian rationalist, the" Principle of cultures "understood as dynamic and revolutionary: the voluntary desire to be a people. In Al-Andalus find a Andaluca Islamic study through its principal authors with new eyes, and establish its historical synthesis economic and socio-cultural which derive much of Andalucia today. Understanding this stage marginalized, will be required in the recovery via the awareness for the Andalusian village. result of those hours of study will give birth to her book "Motamid, last king of Seville" that he posted on his press, founded to disseminate popular culture among the peasantry. As of yet not located by Enrique Iniesta biographer, writes a second Andalusian-themed drama too, still unpublished today: "Almanzor" which returns the contents recreate historical, artistic and cultural history of the Caliphate. Among his writings is the continued presence of reflections and verses in Arabic as well as Muslim etymology. Their interest around the topic at hand compel you to visit abroad. shall

leave in 1928 when Al-Garbe, specifically Silves in Portugal, to attend a tribute to the poet King Motamid. travels to Morocco in 1924 during the war against Spanish colonial Abd-el-Krim. Agmat visit as a pilgrim in the tomb of AlMotamid, last Moorish king of Seville who had given life through from his pen. The impact of the visit the Koutoubia, the Nuba, the names and Andalucian neighborhoods in North Africa, will be the basis of studies that will lead to new socio-political theories. The desire to study for the splendor of Al- Andalus, leads him to study Arabic. performing Learning sufficiency as a teacher to exercise himself in the halls of the Alcazar of Seville. abundance manuscripts in Arabic and Islamic themes dealing legacy of unpublished, we gives an idea of the interest of the person on the subject. Indeed, in 1931, the Boards liberalists initiate a campaign for the construction of a mosque in Seville "with no intention of making profession or confession of a particular religion, but in order to affirm religious freedom and plurality, synthesis elements of history of Andalusia. "To do this, prepare a questionnaire for readers:" What is the place of the more serious Sevilla purposely (sic) to locate the temple Muharram. What means do we avail ourselves to marshal the necessary resources? ".

2. The recognition of Al-Andalus as a foundation for the future Andalucia 2.1 To Blas Infante, Al-Andalus is the continuity of the Greek spirit. The recognition of a new cultural influence and a native synthesis peculiar (acculturation). Perhaps the most studied historical fact that Infante's work is the call 1invasn-conquest. "Point at which anticipates not only researchers of his time, but which now remain to be positioned with respect critical many of the Universities of Andalusia. Throughout the first Andalusian centers and Boards liberalists later promoted Infante Andalusia as distinct unit and alive, a people must be educated and witty. release Try to get through the force cultural renewal. Largely motivated activities from these entities, their publications, manifestos and calls, attempting to achieve the desired awareness Andalusian village. Although Al-Andalus Andalusia does not mean today, you can not disregard the fact Infante Some contemporary authors to suggest the need-more correct in this line-to say that Spain, capitulated before speaking Muslim conquest. Others, as in the case of Ignacio Olage, talk about integration of the Peninsula in Islamic culture rather than armed occupation Besides the legendary performances that justify the presence of Muslims in the peninsula, the fact is that one can not speak strongly Conquest: The story of Blas Infante of the arrival of the Arabs in Andalusia is clear: the Andalusians are called after the years of invasion by the "barbarians", they go, "recognize the land and find a cult hit people, anxious release. Attend then Tarik (14,000 men only!) ".Andaluca rises in their favor and in less than one year 34,000 men get established in the Iberian Peninsula. 's eight years accounted Semitic blood inoculation among Andalusians, although Blas Infante argues that the "Andalusian genius" involved the creation of a new Arab world, tolerant and free. Specifically during these centuries Christians kept their laws,

their principles, their taxes, their collectors, ... "You always float, float still on this earth beautiful and unfortunate that today called Andalusia. Their blood has been enriched with frequent infusions of foreign blood, but its primitive vital energies are always dominating upright, has not been absorbed, as simple nutrients for the vital energies of a foreign blood " 2.2. Al-Andalus will be considered as a period of freedom and cultural brilliance "single lamp lit in the night of the Middle Ages." From a language not without criticism and causing visceral away from subjectivity, Infante judgment affirming the question: Andaluca was free; slave today. During these centuries all literate, was an industrial country with modern agricultural methods, "and All of that general welfare to ride allowing everyone instead of walking. " Andalusia shone with its own light, illuminating the dark European past: Crdoba "passionate about science", city libraries, schools, colleges, medical and illustrious writers; Sevilla with his wise: Abu Zechariah, Zeiat, Aben Motrif, .., Granada , Malaga, Almeria, Jaen, .. all with great characters featured in science and in the thinking of those years. approach to "official", and presented as scientifically sound, only recognize the existence of Andalusia from the resulting "reconquista". But not only the appearance Infante defends a state Al-Andalus (Castilla as the new call her later) as a cultural unit, defined by opposition even in the context Peninsular but also all of scientific advances in the everyday impact brought stay with it this time. Acts that are little known, studied and evaluated in perspective. So is the new state power Castilian-Christian paradigm of the new historical reality that he has to live in Andalusia. Andalusian civilization present about five centuries in much of Andalusia, becomes a temporary parenthesis minor and negligible interest. "History of Islam peninsular has been long neglected by the professional historian, the medievalist, perhaps as a result the survival, through nationalism (Spanish) Modern old idea of "reconquista", which tended to regard the presence of Islam in the peninsula as an accident unable to sustain any rights acquired. This, coupled with the lack adequate documentation justifies the delay of historical research on AI-Andalus. " Boom reached by different cities in Andalusia Blas Infante considered as the beginning of its diversity:"Andalusia is a amphictyony of people, animated by the same spirit and grounded in the same story, but these people - (or its particular tradition, which reaches to identify within the spiritual and historical unity of Andalusia, or by the cultural character of the story, which, unlike the people of foundation Romanesque and Gothic, makes no essential purpose of the policy) - can not get to undergo the inflexible rule of homogeneous political status. since, in addition, we are currently self-preservation of the provincial capitalidades, which, almost all have been heads of kingdoms for AI-Andalus, each must come to constitute a State, which comes to resume the tradition of small cuts erected in Academies, chaired by the chief. This does not preclude the existence of a unitary representation of Andalusia, in the political order, consisting of delegates from the United Andalusians. " Living together during the years of Al-Andalus in Berber, Arabic, Catalan Galician, Slavs, ... and even three religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam clearly defined Andalusian nationalism: anti-war, "cozy", "antiregionalista" and "anti-national", aspects that are clearly reflected in the motto "self Andalusia, Spain and Humanity". This slogan, in the words of Blas Infante is not an "arbitrary formula", it becomes the "synthesis of the history of Andalusia" It's the Castilian spoken in Andalusia Andalusian-speaking is clearly influenced by the "sounds" left by the Arabs. In summary, these eight years were full freedom, development and expansion: "We must use these free periods-say-to rediscover the river of genius, cultural social forces, to make man Andalusian man of light, as was once, when he was able to create a cultural center as Tartesos and flooded the West with the wisdom of Al-Andalus (...) Andalusian regain freedom does not mean separation, lack of solidarity, but tend to strengthen the fraternity, but still one in itself. ". Proving the existence of Andalusia and

therefore the "genius Andalusian" ultimately the birth, for centuries, Andalusian awareness Infante leads to the study of AI-Andalus. These years are an example of the love of political freedom and democracy of the Andalusians. Thus, in these centuries were more specifically when you can see the "freedom of conscience" inspired Cordoba schools, while in the East the intransigence and fanaticism were dominant notes. Cordoba and Granada were thus shelters the Greek democratic genius "during medieval barbarism in the world" because it was such a force of genius that subjects the Arab Andalusian and unlike the rest of the Islamic world. Moreover, AlAndalus represented the historical fact "Europeanized foreign to Spain, something completely alien to Europe1. Consequently, Andalusia Europe and Africa, a broken unit in the natural, political, moral and social. No wonder then that its policy proposal contain the union with Morocco, two peoples geographically separated by the Straits of Gibraltar or "Arroyo Grande", Abu-Bakr:"Do you understand, now, well why we hope that Morocco, the Moroccan protectorate today submitted to Spain, to become truly protected, coming to form an autonomous state federated with other Andalusians, within the larger Actificionado of Andalusia? "."In Castilian or Spanish households suggested hase (sic) always hate and despise the Moor. In Moroccan homes, hatred and contempt for Christian (Spanish). Muslims expelled from the peninsula and welcome in Morocco, bequeathed to his children always eternal hatred of race robbed and expelled them from their homeland shining, Al-Andalus "

2.3 Justify the presence of Islam in the peninsula on the basis of content militarists, in the so-called "renewal", are used to all kinds of topics to justify the progress of people imprisoned for centuries in the Cantabrian Mountains. Thus, the recovery of the unity of Spain, the establishment of the Visigothic monarchy and the restoration of the Church against Islam. Argument latter made the Iberian sun Crusades space that existed parallel to the Middle East, and aimed joined the European countries because resources. This religious order itself could be shared by other political nuclei more distant, and became a driving force in the company. Blas Infante breaks with the myth of the "reconquista" Christian and argues that this "conquest" was the result of continued rebellion psychological incompatibilities also characterizes the genius of the Andalusians. After the conquest backfeed occurs historic Andalusia. Political oppression causes the expulsion of thousands of Andalusians (Moors and Jews) and "a barbarian legal economic system, which produces oppression and misery, handing the Andalusian sun in large portions between magnates proud warriors and vain, unable to exchange the sword by the plow, as the noble Arab, nor do anything but keep their land in inaction or collect rents its settlers ". "Andalusia, freethinking Islamic name is" now "theft, murder (...) chaired by the cross (...) begin to take our land (...) distributed over large portions between the captains of the conquering (...) And the Andalusians, who had converted to orchard land, are doomed to Messrs. slavery " According Blas Infante, in Seville, capital of Andalusia, in the years of repression of the Inquisition "My Two people were burned alive in the fields of Tablada (...) They confiscated property and imprisoned seventeen thousand. " After the occupation of Granada, the capitulations were fast and systematically raped by the victors, beginning a process of destruction of Andalusian culture. A social and cultural genocide begins with the first mass deportations, and continues with financial burdens and legal prohibitions. "People just convert pressure initiated by Isabel intolerance, subjected to a chase that ends after the triumph of D. Juan of

Austria and of the terrible depredations they did say that soldiers Marble King's troops were criminals " Andalusia was conquered by Europe, resisted and continues to resist his invasion yet and therefore will never be Europe: "We can not, no we do not ever get to be Europeans. Externally, in clothing or certain customs ecumenical inexorable rigor imposed, have been popping what our rulers demanded of us. But we have never ceased to be what we really are: that is, Andalusians; Euro-African, euroorientales men Universalists, men harmonic synthesis2.4 In this context, a myth of Santiago "kill-Moors." During his visit to Galicia offers a historical review of this myth versus fact understand that all are bad worthy of the sword of the Holy Christian. In turn, the Arab historians call "Galician" all enemies. "It is likely that in the eighth century the military Santiago had not penetrated ecclesiastical literature (...) half century later (...) will become the anti-Muhammad and his sanctuary in the antiKaaba ". Myths like Santiago was imported to America in order to preach Christianity "or teach the Indians that God was dead, but it was very brave and courageous. "Castilla's performance in the so-called New World can only be understood as an extension of their conduct to AI-Andalus Nazari. lack not people here, and conquered evangelized people not possessing" an image a fierce Spanish with a cross in one hand and a sword in the other, men on horseback killing men " In Pontedeume and together with Jos Mas, Infante is witnessing a story that will count in its publications and on its unprecedented " Almanzor "

3. The Legacy of Al-Andalus in the life of Blas Infante All Infante political theory, has always its projection in everyday practice. He and political platforms and Sociocultural promoted referred to above, defended its proposals and actions the legacy of Al-Andalus in Andalusia. Firstly, for all that means the disclosure of these theories through lectures, meetings, and even through his own publishing Avante. Second, by the proposals defended from those circles Andalusians towards sociopolitical reality of Andalusia. Andalusian centers are an example. Thus, among the measures set forth in Regulation Section Sevilla appears to awaken the spirit through the regional history teaching. It was considered essential for the redemption of Andalusia obtuviese it again the "center of civilization peninsular feels nostalgia for its past. Blushes And its current sad state", the result of the actions of a "serving foreign tyranny dogmas of barbarism, poured its populous cities, driving their children and leaving their fields barren gardens. " Al-Andalus was considered the most prominent historical reference, where the genius and idiosyncrasies Andalusian expressed more clearly going to be a constant in all programs: "Return to Andalusia awareness of their cultural identity in the past creator of the most interesting cultures of the West." In turn, "the reaffirmation aware of the basic aspirations of Al-Andalus, or translated actualistas with modern standards." the Andalusian defend a "Federal State delegated to Andalusia international relations with the peoples of Africa and the Orient." Equally demanding maximum protection for the "State Andaluz" for "Muslim Andalusians Moriscos expelled from the mainland." andalucismo as the cultural ideal, involves a amphictyony of peoples united by culture. Facing the Morocco colonial era, Infante aims to make this territory a "autonomous state federated with other Andalusians, within the larger amphictyony of Andalusia". Posture also promoted by the Andalusian North Africans. North and Confederate South and joined by the waters of the Strait. In the case of the Autonomy Statute that Andalusia may have had in the Second Republic and the Andalusian Infante promote relations with Morocco are transferred to Andalusia. While relations

with this country, must become "political fraternity of colonizing" to possible "cooperation based cultural foundation of personality with North African federation intelligence Andalusia" Infante and seek in Liberalista Board successive meetings and consultations, which have "remarkable people of our area of Morocco, Muslims and mosaics of Andalusian origin." Insisting that presence on a "peace with Morocco and Spain's influence over Africa and the Orient" When searching the symbols of Andalusia, Andalusian centers Infante and think about the history of Andalusia. His ideas in this regard will be taken by the current law institution of self-government of Andalusia. In the case of the shield, the motto "self Andalusia, Spain and Humanity", and on this, the Hercules as a symbol of "life forces, Al-Andalus Andalusia" as "divine symbol (.. .) who lives to create the consciousness of life. " "The Andalusian regionalist or nationalist-statement-Infante came to invent anything: we had to limit us, simply to recognize in this order of creation for our people, in justification of our history . " In the example of the Andalusian flag (three horizontal stripes of equal width, green-white-green), adopted in the Assembly of Ronda andalucista in 1918, some authors have linked green "standard of the Umayyad dynasty, around the eighth century, "and the white to the ideals of the Almohads reunification with the various kingdoms in the year 1146 Andalusian. But in any case "symbol of hope and peace." Later examples confirm these versions: Flying on the Giralda in Seville around the year 1198 to celebrate the victory at the Battle of Alarcos, and even the color of most of the banners andaluses preserved today. Even other data support this thesis even more contemporary. To conclude this section, we have to refer to what will be the first house owned by Infante: "Dar Al Farah" (Villa of Joy). Built by laborers, the building is an example of the admiration of the owner by Islamic art. Among the horseshoe arches, columns, and frescoes of this simple house plan, but its refined interior, Arabic inscriptions abound. 4. The experience of Al-Andalus in Andalusia today: two examples 4.1 flamenco heritage One of the most important insights of the visit to Morocco is when you hear a Nuba Infante. Five years later, and again the result of an effort researcher, born the "origins of flamenco cante hondo v secrets". Identifying the Nuba as a choral song of Andalusia's exile, originally associated to a single song module. The music of Andalusia Islamist outlawed in Christian era in modern times becomes singing "tragic intimacy." Infante breaks with all precedents flamencolgicos. The flamenco song with "ay" is the traditional singing of "fellahmngu", coming from "the last descendants of the world's most beautiful culture, farmers now fugitives expelled" is the song of the exile of a people forced to live outside its ideal medium: a form of "prisoner release their grief." So this song is a "democratic music". Is perplexed: "Andalusian music, outlawed in society is to take refuge in the individual: coral longer, becomes secret, inaccessible, but also intensifies ..., is a tragic intimacy".

4.2 The problem of land to Blas Infante, "the land problem in our country, originally, before being agrarian problem is the problem of a people deprived by conquest of the land of their Andalusian Journeyman lost their land and becomes the slave of the owner, a situation which led to the misery of the peasantry: "The land of Andalusia Andalusian day laborers, it is the imperative now is to contain the essential vindication of a people deprived of their land by conquest Christian or European. " "poor Andalusians (...), which, for centuries private-

lasting even in the land of his parents to be snuggled preserves fences closed waste in crying heart of Islam , admonishing, with dull eyes and emaciated bodies, how the black angel of European feudalism ordered the weed growth and sap wastelands this soil nurturing of primitive cultures, ancient and medieval, more intensely inspired by the World develop holy longing, made alive in the Spirit, creating a body of Divinity creator imperative. " Indeed, the conversion of the Andalusian peasant laborer, owner of the land, as happened during the Arab period becomes one of the cornerstones of his political theory and regionalism in general:"The application of the principle: no one should have land that can not grow, with the cooperation required for delivery and routing of water, being able to reach today extend compulsory cooperation , by organizing, for fertilizers, machinery, etc. .. We would live well, according to our true genius: variety: freedom for the variety of municipalities, teaching and learning; Religions, of justice, of cultures and industries, immigration and emigration ... Andalusia would be the great master of synthesis, scientific, religious, ethnic .. An Island of Humanity in Europe condemned; between two oceans and two continents, residence of the Spirit, which fertilizes the Coordination of varieties called. God would have it your garden. And the scent of this garden come to condense into a magical word, Andalusia message for world peace. Nobility agricultural workers stripped of their land and large tracts distributed (latifundia) between names of illustrious lineage. "The ecclesiastical tyranny destroyed the culture of Andalusia," and lit the fires of the Inquisition to "huge phalanxes slave laborers, peasants without fields, peasants expelled". The solution for agricultural reform in vacant land is quite clear: "agricultural reform, without compensation of land from conquest". Conclusions The practical importance of Arab Andalusia, its significance today scientists at all levels, is demonstrated by the continuing controversy that is pitting supporters of a historiography that reviews the official story, and traditional approaches. French Arabist school-in this sense, is continually ignored (Olage, Marcais, Dozy, Schack, Burckhardt, and even Levi-Provencal), as is the case with specialists or Arabic documentary sources. Blas Infante emerges in this context as a much ahead of his time. From his political project, no longer find the place it deserves worthy our past.Free of topics ideologizaciones religious grounds, and free from centralist visions. No phase of our history is the perfect paradigm of Andalusia: all the milestones and the succession of cultures helped shape our reality Andalusia. Infante describes his political theory in favor of Andalusian nationalism, as the desire to be alone, to exist as a distinct people, arising from a common historical memory, the reality of a culture and common interests. Objective passing through acceptance and valuation in perspective of all peoples and cultures that passed through this land, and left their mark to form a distinct people with personality and identity, whose original substrate when mixed with other contributions, acts as synthesizing catalyst to complete and enrich the contributions. affirm that AI-Andalus earned a prominent position in the political thought of Blas Infante. To affirm this, we have only to see the continual references to this historic moment for the author in his bibliography. thus Blas Infante considered Andalusian history does not begin with the arrival of Christian or European troops to the ground Andalusian with the merger of the "reconquista" but previous centuries were of such importance that define the "genius", or what is the same, the characters of other peoples differentiators. andalucista leader downplays not the eight centuries of presence Arabic. Rediscover a brilliant past, bright, where the Andalusians

lived a golden age with schools, land and culture. A cultured people unlike the dark "of the European Middle Ages. AI-Andalus stands as the synthesis of Greek and Roman peculiarity. Yet his feelings were not simply in awe, but from these ideas drew its consequences. It is precisely this point which leads to the nationalist ideologue devise a future Andalusia closely related to East, a region where Europe represents only part of the Andalusian differential fact. Andalusia is one Europe and Africa. Not therefore surprising that the "conquest" of Al-Andalus Christian configurase the socio-economic of the region through the implementation of a new system of land ownership based on the exploitation of the laborer and the estates. This " conquest "was a step back in the progress of the region, a step toward cultural and economic misery, broken again with the myth of the" reconquista "as a fact of advancement and progress. Similarly, the interpretation of the arrival of Andalusian Arabs down also represents a failure of an old myth.'s "conquest" is understood as mere assimilation, coming in response to the call by the "genius" of the Andalusians to neighboring cultures to defend against abuse "barbarians "

* Manuel Ruiz Romero's Degree in History, Secretary of the Centre for Historical Studies of Andalusia (PO Box 2034 Malaga), and an honorary associate of the Department of Contemporary History at the History Department of the University of Seville. Your Email: ceha@arrakis.es