-
711
The Muslim Arrival
The Muslims came to the Iberian Peninsula in 711 and defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Guadalete. A new army continued advancing north. Muza, governor of North Africa, led this advance.
There were 2 reasons why the Muslims came to the Iberian Peninsula:
1. The Visigoths were in a civil war.
2. Context of Islamic expansion. -
Period: 711 to 718
The Muslim Conquest
They took 7 years to occupy almost the entire territory of the Iberian Peninsula. Only a few regions within the Cantabrian Mountains resist. Some Visighotic nobles and clerics took refuge in this regions. -
Period: 711 to 756
Dependent emirate
From 711, during the Umayyad Caliphate, Al-Andalus was a dependent emirate of the Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus, and an emir governed it. -
Period: 711 to 1031
The golden age of Al-Andalus
The Muslims established their capital in Córdoba, and it became one of the most important cities in the Mediterranean. During its period of Muslim rule, the political organisation of Al-Andalus evolved. -
713
Treaty of Theodemir
Visigoth and Muslim submission treaties In the name of God,the merciful and compassionate. This is a document granted by Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa to Theodemir establishing a treaty of peace, and the promise. That his situation and that of his people won't change, that they won't be killed,nor taken prisoner,nor separated from their women and children nor prevented from practising their religion. -
Period: 718 to 778
The key areas of Christian resistance
There were places along the Cordillera Cantábrica and the Pyrenees which remained outside of Muslim control. Two important areas of Christian resistance developed within them. These regions represent the origins of the Christian kingdoms. -
722
Battle of Covadonga (Kingdom of Asturias)
A number of Visigoths, mainly from the nobility, sought refuge in the mountains after fleeing the Muslims. Finding protection, they mixed with the local populations. Don Pelayo was a Visigothic noble who became the first king of the Kingdom of Asturias in 718. He led the Christian resistance during the Battle of Covadonga in 722. -
732
Battle of Poitiers
The Muslim troops came to the Iberian Peninsula but were stopped by the Franks in the Battle of Poitiers. -
Period: 756 to 929
Independent emirate
In 756, Abd al-Rahman I, escaping death at the hands of the Abbasids, fled to the Iberian Peninsula. He seized power, proclaimed himself Emir and refused to recognise the political authority of the Caliph. He continued to recognise their religious superiority. Al-Andalus was an independent emirate of the Islamic Empire. -
778
Battle of Roncesvalles (Kingdom of Pamplona)
This region was the southern border of the Kingdom of the Franks. In 778, the Basques attacked Frankish troops in the region during the Battle of Roncesvalles. Their victory led to the creation of the Kingdom of Pamplona. Only eastern parts of the Pyrenees remained under Frankish rule. These represented the Hispanic March and included the Catalan counties. -
Period: 929 to 1031
Caliphate of Córdoba
In 929, Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed himself Caliph of the Caliphate of Córdoba. In addition to political power, he also held the highest religious authority. The golden age of Al-Andalus developed. -
Period: 1031 to 1492
The decline of Al-Andalus
During the rule of Caliph Hisham II, Almanzor served as chief minister and de facto ruler of the Córdoba Caliphate. During this time, he carried out military campaigns against the Christian kingdoms. When he died in 1002, the caliphate entered a period of instability which lasted until its disintegration in 1031. -
Period: 1031 to 1085
The Taifa Kingdoms
After its disintegration, the caliphate divided and became Taifa kingdoms, which former governors of the territories ruled. The Taifa kingdoms were weak, so they had to pay parias to the Christian kingdoms to stop them invading. Despite this agreement, Alfonso VI captured Toledo from the Muslims in 1085. -
Period: 1085 to 1212
The North African period
To stop the Christian advance, the Muslims asked for help from the Almoravids. The Almoravids controlled a large empire in North Africa with its capital in Marrakech. They came to the Iberian Peninsula in 1086.
In the 12th century, the Almohads defeated the Almoravids. They were another North African Muslim dynasty. They came in 1146 and dominated Al-Andalus. They made Seville the capital. The Christians defeated at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212. -
Period: 1212 to 1492
Nasrid Kingdom of Granada
Eventually, the Christian advance limited the Muslim territory on the Iberian Peninsula to the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. For the next two centuries, it paid parias to Castile to avoid military confrontation. The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada was eventually conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. -
1492
Conquered of Granada (Catholic Monarchs)
The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs.