The Christian Kingdoms in Medieval Spain: A Concise History
The Christian Kingdoms in Medieval Spain
The Visigoths and the Muslim Invasion
Until 711, the Visigoths ruled Spain. In that year, Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa, establishing resistance centers in the north (Asturias and the Pyrenees, Marca Hispanica).
In 722, the Battle of Covadonga took place, where the Visigoths, led by Pelayo, defeated the Muslims. This victory marked the beginning of the Kingdom of Asturias.
The Kingdom of Asturias
From 850 to 900, the Asturians took advantage of the weakness of the Emirate of Córdoba. The weakened Muslims allowed the Christians to invade their territory, reaching the Douro River.
This period saw the repopulation of the land by Cantabrians, Asturians, Galicians, and Basques. The Mozarabs, Muslims living among Christians under the Kingdom of Asturias, adopted Christian customs while retaining their own religion.
In 856, the capital of the Kingdom of Asturias was moved to León.
Asturleonese Society (until 1000)
This society was characterized by:
- Low population
- Limited trade
- A political and administrative framework based on Asturian Neogothicism (restoring the institutions of the Visigothic kingdom)
- Territorial organization based on counties, emphasizing the importance of local governance.
The Kingdom of Navarre
While these events unfolded in Asturias, resistance against the Arabs in Navarre was led by the Franks. The Franks defeated the Arabs at the Battle of Poitiers, pushing them back into Spain. They established the Marca Hispanica in the Pyrenees as a defense line between France and the Arabs.
However, Navarre resisted Frankish vassalage and defeated them at the Battle of Roncesvalles in 778.
In 810, Íñigo Arista became the first independent king of Navarre.
The kingdom expanded southward through the Rioja region and strategic marriages.
From 1000 to 1035, Sancho III unified the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre under his rule. Upon his death, he divided the territories among his sons, resulting in the separate kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Navarre.
The Kingdom of Aragon
In the 9th century, the Marca Hispanica created by Charlemagne gave rise to the County of Aragon, occupied by natives.
From 812 to 820, Aznar Galíndez was the first Count of Aragon.
Between 900 and 1000, the Countess of Aragon married King Sancho III of Navarre. This marriage united the two kingdoms.
From 1000 to 1035, the County of Aragon was part of the Kingdom of Navarre.
In 1035, after Sancho III’s death, his son Ramiro I became the first king of Aragon. He expanded southward and repopulated the Ebro Valley with Mozarabs.
In the 11th century, the Caliphate of Córdoba collapsed, and Al-Andalus fragmented into small, warring kingdoms called Taifas.
In 1118, Alfonso I the Battler conquered the kingdom of Zaragoza.
Alfonso I died childless, and his brother Ramiro II, a monk, became king. Ramiro II had a daughter, Petronila, who married Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona.
This union formed the Crown of Aragon.
Petronila and Ramon Berenguer had a son, Alfonso II of Aragon, also known as Alfonso I of Catalonia and Alfonso the Chaste.
The Kingdom of Castile
In 960, the County of Castile emerged under Fernán González. It continued to consolidate in the following decades.
From 1000 to 1035, Sancho III unified Castile, Aragon, and Navarre. Upon his death, the Kingdom of Castile was established.
In 1037, Ferdinand I attempted to unify Castile and León, favoring Castile. Upon his death, the kingdoms were divided again.
Castile’s dominance was strengthened by the collection of parias (taxes paid by the Taifas to avoid Christian attacks or in exchange for military aid), repopulation efforts, and the establishment of fueros (cities granted special privileges).
From 1085 to 1109, Alfonso VI conquered the kingdom of Toledo (1085).
General Considerations
In the late 11th century, the Almoravids, Muslim armies from North Africa, arrived in Spain.
During the 12th century, the spirit of the Crusades grew within the Christian kingdoms, defending Christian values against all enemies, initially focusing on the Iberian Peninsula and later aiming to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.
In 1151, the Treaty of Tudilén was signed between the kingdoms of Castile and León and the Crown of Aragon to divide the territories conquered from the Muslims. This treaty marked an alliance between the Christian kingdoms.
In 1146, the Almohads came to power in Muslim Spain.
In 1212, the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa resulted in a decisive Muslim defeat. This victory marked a turning point, and Christian expansion became unstoppable.