During the late Middle Ages, Iberian Christian and Jewish patrons commissioned intriguing monuments that incorporate Islamic-derived features. Determining possible reasons for the patronage of this architecture, commonly referred to as Mudejar architecture, has the potential to provide important insights into the complex, multi-cultural society that produced it, yet studies on its patronage have been limited in number and scope. Most of the early Spanish scholarship on Mudejar architecture focuses on formal issues and simply attributes its patronage to economic factors, an admiring fascination with the exotic, or a desire to subjugate Islamic culture. More recent scholarship has shifted to examining the motivations of patrons in specific case studies; however, many of these case studies are still framed within the overarching theory that Mudejar architecture was the result of a common architectural heritage among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The reasons for Mudejar patronage cannot be confined to a single broad theory, but instead individual projects and patrons must be studied within their specific contexts and then compared to one another to provide a more accurate understanding of Mudejarismo. This dissertation traces the development of Mudejar architecture in Seville from the time of the city's conquest by Christian forces in 1248 to the early sixteenth century, just after the expulsion of Muslims and Jews from the Kingdom of Castile, in order to demonstrate the changing nature of Mudejar patronage in the city and how it relates to the relations among Christian, Jews, and Muslims. In establishing the chronology and the patronage of Seville's Mudejar monuments through a close analysis of their formal elements, three distinct phases in their construction become apparent: 1) the approximately fifty years following the city's conquest; 2) a period between the earthquake of 1356 and the initial construction of the Gothic cathedral in the 1430's; and 3) the remainder of the fifteenth century through the first years of the sixteenth century. Prevalent features of Mudejar architecture during each of these phases are considered within the socio-political climate of the time as evidenced in primary sources. While economic, social, and demographic factors contributed to the construction of Mudejar architecture in Seville, its patronage was largely the result of the changing political agendas of the city's ruling elite. Shortly after the city's Castilian conquest, Alfonso X favored Gothic over Mudejar features because of his goals of asserting the new Christian authority in a city still threatened by Muslim forces and creating for himself a cosmopolitan imperial image. By the mid-fourteenth century, when Christian hegemony was no longer a concern, Mudejar forms signified the absolute power desired by Pedro I and his rebellious half-brother Enrique II. The construction of Seville's enormous Gothic cathedral throughout much of the fifteenth century in addition to the patronage of the Catholic Monarchs and the rise of the Renaissance largely ended Mudejar patronage in the city with the exception of centrally-planned chapels and elaborate wooden roofs, which by this time had become a source of local pride. Thus, no general theory can encompass all of the reasons for Mudejar patronage in late medieval Seville, which were varied and continually in flux.

[ES] Los ocho siglos de dominio de la cultura islámica en la Península Ibérica motivaron la proliferación de un extenso patrimonio cultural, arquitectónico y artístico. En este contexto, nació el arte mudéjar como una fusión de estilos dada la convivencia entre distintas culturas. Siendo las torres alminares-mudéjares aragonesas el fiel reflejo de este tipo de arquitectura, éstas constituyen el objeto de estudio del presente trabajo. En este sentido, el marco geográfico de la tesis abarca el territorio de la antigua Marca Superior de Al-Andalus, que incluye los valles de los ríos Ebro, Jalón, Jiloca y afluentes, como centros neurálgicos de la esencia del mudéjar (con sus torres como máximo exponente). La inquietud por investigar acerca de la evolución histórico-constructiva de dichas torres nace de su peculiar arquitectura, producto de la síntesis entre Oriente y Occidente. Asimismo, la escasa presencia de documentación de la época unida a los estudios que se han venido realizando hasta el momento, genera todavía una serie de carencias en el conocimiento de dichas torres, especialmente en lo referente a su origen. Por tanto, resulta conveniente abordar dichas necesidades aportando un nuevo enfoque al estudio de su evolución histórico-constructiva. Para ello, se establece una metodología de levantamiento digital (específica para elementos con tipología de torre), mediante la aplicación de las técnicas de fotogrametría y escáner láser, como herramientas de apoyo a la lectura de sus fábricas. El gran potencial a nivel gráfico que ofrecen los resultados obtenidos (modelos tridimensionales hiperrealistas texturizados, con alta precisión geométrica y muy buena definición), permite profundizar en el conocimiento de estas torres. Dichos resultados de la investigación, resultan eficaces y cuentan con el rigor científico adecuado para la posterior formulación de una hipótesis sobre el alminar original, del que procede la torre objeto de estudio, y que se podría extrapolar al resto de torres. / [CA] Els huit segles de domini de la cultura islàmica en la Península Ibèrica van motivar la proliferació d'un extens patrimoni cultural, arquitectònic i artístic. En aquest context, va nàixer l'art mudèjar com una fusió d'estils donada la convivència entre diferents cultures. Sent les torres minarets-mudèjars aragoneses el fidel reflex d'aquesta mena d'arquitectura, aquestes constitueixen l'objecte d'estudi del present treball. En aquest sentit, el marc geogràfic de la tesi comprén el territori de l'antiga Marca Superior d'Al-Andalus, que inclou les valls dels rius Ebro, Jalón, Jiloca i afluents, com a centres neuràlgics de l'essència del mudèjar (amb les seues torres com a màxim exponent). La inquietud per investigar sobre l'evolució històric-constructiva d'aquestes torres naix de la seua peculiar arquitectura, producte de la síntesi entre Orient i Occident. Així mateix, l'escassa presència de documentació de l'època unida als estudis que s'han realitzat fins al moment, genera encara una sèrie de mancances en el coneixement d'aquestes torres, especialment referent al seu origen. Per tant, resulta convenient abordar aquestes necessitats aportant un nou enfocament a l'estudi de la seua evolució històric-constructiva. Per a això, s'estableix una metodologia d'alçament digital (específica per a elements amb tipologia de torre), mitjançant l'aplicació de les tècniques de fotogrametria i escàner làser, com a eines de suport a la lectura de les seues fàbriques. El gran potencial a nivell gràfic que ofereixen els resultats obtinguts (models tridimensionals hiperrealistes texturizados, amb alta precisió geomètrica i molt bona definició), permet aprofundir en el coneixement d'aquestes torres. Aquests resultats de la investigació, resulten eficaces i compten amb el rigor científic adequat per a la posterior formulació d'una hipòtesi sobre el minaret original, del qual procedeix la torre objecte d'estudi, i que es podria extrapolar a la resta de torres. / [EN] The eight centuries of Islamic culture in Iberian Peninsula led to the proliferation of an extensive cultural, architectural and artistic heritage. In this context, Mudejar art was born as a fusion of styles due to the coexistence of different cultures. Aragonese minaret-Mudejar towers are a faithful reflection of this type of architecture, and are the object of study of this work. In this sense, thesis' geographical framework covers the territory of ancient Marca Superior of Al-Andalus, which includes the river valleys of Ebro, Jalón, Jiloca and tributaries, as nerve centres of the essence of Mudejar architecture (with its towers as its maximum exponent). The interest in researching the historical-constructive evolution of these towers stems from their peculiar architecture, a product of the synthesis between East and West. Likewise, the scarce documentation of that period, together with different studies that have been carried out up to now, still generate a series of deficiencies in the knowledge of these towers, especially with regard to their origin. It is therefore advisable to address these needs by providing a new approach to the study of their historical-constructive evolution. For this purpose, a digital survey methodology is established (specifically for tower typology elements), using photogrammetry (SfM) and laser scanner techniques as tools to support the reading of their walls. A great graphic potential offered by the results obtained (reality-based 3D models, with high geometric precision and optimal definition), allows us to deepen our knowledge of these towers. These research results are effective and have an appropriate scientific rigour for the subsequent formulation of a hypothesis about the original minaret, from which the tower under study originates, and which could be extrapolated to the rest of the towers. / Molina Sánchez, S. (2022). Alminares mudéjares de la marca superior. Nueva aproximación a su evolución histórica. El caso de la torre de San Pablo en Zaragoza [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/188135