Important Dates in Medieval Spanish History
5th Century
Spain ceases to be a part of the Roman Empire (which splits in two with its better, richer half
moving its capital east to Constantinople) and experiences a series of invasions by the Vandals,
Suevi, and Alani, and then is dominated by Visigothic rule. It must be noted that the Visigoths
never achieved cultural dominion over the region. To a large extent they adopted that of the
Hispano-Romans, composing their official documents in Latin and eventually accepting
Christianity as the official faith of their Empire of Toledo, which stretched from Asturias to
Morocco.
406
The decline of the Roman Empire in Spain marks a period of invasions by Germanic tribes such
as the Suevi, Vandals and Alani. Though the Roman era ends in Spain at this date, the Roman
influence on Spanish culture is still present to this day.
415
The Visgioths, a Germanic people who had long inhabited the frontier regions of Rome itself,
invade the Iberian Peninsula by crossing the Pyrenees and capturing Barcelona, thus displacing
the tribes that had come before them. Though the Visigoths establish their elective monarchy and
become the chief political authority in Spain, they are relatively few in number and are greatly
influenced by Hispano-Roman culture.
485
By the end of the fifth century, CE the Visigoths control (poltically and militarily, anyway) all of the
Iberian peninsula.
The Sixth Century
The Visigoths continue to strengthen their empire in Spain with the adoption of Roman
Catholicism as the religion of the state and the establishment of Toledo as the capital of the
Visigothic Empire (henceforth called the "Imperio toledano"). The population of Spain is made up
of three major groups: the Visigoths, though a minority, hold political and military power; the
Hispano-Roman majority is able to maintain the ranks of nobility and social classes of the Roman
era, as well as holding onto their Latin culture; the Jews, who began to arrive in the peninsula
during the 1st Century CE, are a minority but a definite cultural presence..
568
The reign of Leovigild, the most important and capable of Visigothic rulers.
589
Leovigild's successor, Reccared, renounces Arianism (named for Arius, a 4th century CE
Alexandrian priest, who professed that the Word of God [Jesus Christ] was not eternal, but was
the first of all creatures). A small point maybe, but this effectively denies Christ's divinity--a
problem for Catholics, to say the least.... His public conversion to Roman Catholocism creates
almost total religious unity in Spain. As Catholicism becomes the religion of the state, the support
of the Church greatly strengthens the power and authority of the crown.
The Seventh Century
Though religious unity is all but achieved, there exist violent persecutions of heretics and Jews.
This, coupled with the corruption of the clergy and nobility, fragments the overall political unity of
the region. The Visigoths continue to rule their empire, yet it is plagued by a series of weak,
ineffectual rulers. The net result is a number of palace and dynastic disputes that ultimately lead
to the downfall of the Visigothic Empire. Still, St. Isidore manages to compose some pretty
amazing books (in Latin, of course)....
653
The 8th Council of Toledo completes and approves the great legal code, Forum judicum, which
combines the Roman code and Visigothic laws. It remains the basic secular code for Christians
until the 13th century, CE.
The Eighth Century
A period of swift changes and cultural diversity, the seventh century, CE sees the invasion and
conquest of the Iberian peninsula by Muslim forces, a major dynastic change in Damascus, the
beginning of the Carolingian Renaissance in Frankish lands and the beginnings of a Jewish and
Muslim Golden Age in al-Andalus.
711
The weak Visigothic empire under King Roderic is given the ol' heave-ho after its defeat near
Medina Sidonia (prov. of Cádiz) by the Berber governor of Tangier, Tariq ibn Ziyad. This marks
the end of the Visigothic Empire in Spain. Muslim conquest of the Iberian peninsula begins in the
summer of this year with Tariq's expedition of roughly 1,700 men and is complete by 713. The
force of this conquest cannot be overstated: In the 81 years following the death of the prophet
Mohammed, Islam had spread its influence from the Arabian Peninsula to the Atlantic Ocean and
was threatening to take France next (Their advance was finally halted by Charlemagne's granddad, Charles Martel, at Poitiers in 732). Compare this to the two centuries it took Rome to
successfully colonize the Iberian peninsula.... A small percentage of the Christian population in
the North flees to the mountains of Asturias to escape Muslim rule.
722
Historians symbolically attribute the defeat of a Moorish army at the Battle of Covadonga to a
Christian noble, Pelayo. Whatever really happened at Covadonga, it is certain that Pelayo gains
fame and is elected King of Asturias. The battle itself continues to exist as a part of Spanish
historical legend. It has become part of the national "creation myth" much as Paul Revere's
midnight ride or "the shot heard 'round the world" has in the United States. Alfonso I eventually
succeeds Pelayo's son.
756
The ruling Umayyad dynasty in Damascus gives way to the Abbasids from Bagdad. Abd arRahman (an Umayyad) flees to Egypt and eventually to Spain where he ousts the governor and
appoints himself emir. His reign sees the beginning of the construction of the great mosque in
Córdoba, the quelling of a number of rebellions, a peace treaty with the Asturians and perhaps
most importantly, the beginning of a Muslim society and culture in Spain that is independent from
Damascus. "Al-Andalus," as the region is called, begins to take on a life of its own.
778
Charlemagne attempts to conquer Spain. He penetrates as far as Zaragoza when he is called
back to France (not by his mother). On the return trip, his rear guard (including his great captain,
Roland) is attacked and killed by Basque troops. Popular legend and countless toubadours (who
probably had a lot to do with the popular legends) have blamed the Muslims, who seem to have
been more interested in fighting with each other at this time than in attacking Charlemagne's rear
guard at Roncesvalles....
9th Century
800
Charlemagne takes Barcelona. He is granted the title of "Holy Roman Emperor" by Pope Leo III
in order to guarantee his protection of Rome from the invading Lombards.
811
Charlemagne gains control of all of Cataluña, which is designated, "The Spanish Mark" or
"March" until 874.
874
Wilfred "The Hairy," (a name he was proud of?) Count of Barcelona, wins Catalan independence.
At the same time, the Basques of Navarre emerge as a strong Christian state with its capital at
Pamplona.
10th Century
From 912 to 961, CE, Abd ar-Rahman III establishes a strong central Muslim authority in Spain.
He drives back the Christians in the North and diplomatically subdues much of North Africa. His
army and navy are the strongest in Europe at this time, and the cultural achievments of his
caliphate (on January 16, 929 he declares himself caliph, signifying his total political
independence) are unmatched by any Christian or Muslim state. The period of his reign (and
really until 1031) marks the Golden Age of both Arab and Jewish culture in Spain.
931
United under count Fernán González, the counts of Castile win their semi-independence from the
Kingdom of León (formerly the Kingdom of Asturias). A border province dotted with fortifications
(castles), and somewhat isolated from León by mountains, Castile quickly begins to develop a
cultural identity of its own.
11th Century
1030
The dissolution of the caliphate of Córdoba into 23 taifas, or republican oligarchies. The King of
Seville manages to grab some of the powers of the now-defunct caliphate and assert some
measure of central authority.
1035
Castile, due to a political marriage of convenience, is united with Navarre. In 1035, by the
testament of King Sancho III (the Great) of Navarre and Count of Castile, Castile is made fully
independent with Fernando I (no nickname) as its king. By the same testament the Kingdom of
Aragon is also born.
1050
The power of Seville declines. To protect themselves from invading Christians, many Taifas are
forced to call upon Muslim armies from outside of Spain to help them deal with the Christian
threat. These kingdoms quickly find themselves the objects of these "invited" forces' reformist
zeal.
1065
The death of Ferdinand I. Upon his death he divides his kingdom feudally among his children. He
leave Castile to his son Sancho and León to his other son, Alfonso. In 1072 Sancho is
assassinated (a sharpshooter in a book depository, acting alone) and Alfonso VI becomes the
first King of León-Castile.
1085
King Alfonso VI (1065-1109) of Castile conquers Toledo, the old Visigothic capital, gaining control
of, among other things, its immense library. This library held hundreds of volumes on astronomy,
medicine, philosophy, metaphysics, algebra, ethics, etc. It is precisely through this library (and the
heavy translating efforts of many toledanos) that Europe came to know the works of Aristotle,
Plato and Muhammed abu-Muhammed al-Ghazali.
1086
In response to the taifas' pleas, the Almoravids (a Muslim fundamentalist movement from
Morocco) lead a counter-attack against Afonso VI at Sagraias. They return to Africa after this
expedition, but return to stay in 1090, signifying the beginning of the dissolution of Alfonso VI's
kingdom.
1092
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid) sets himself up as absolute ruler of the Muslim city of Valencia. It
is during his second exile from castile that the Cid, with a combined army of Moors and
Christians, takes Valencia (in the service of Zaragoza).
1099
The death of the Cid. Valencia retaken by the Moors.
12th Century
1118
The fall of Zaragoza to Christian forces.
1143
Afonso Henrique recognized as the King of Portugal by Castilian king, Alfonso VII.
1146
Almohad Berbers (like the Almoravids, a fundamentalist movement from Morocco) invade Spain
and incorporate much of Muslim Spain (al-Andalus) into the African Almohad Empire.
1164
Barcelona becomes part of the Kingdom of Aragon when Alfonso II inherits both.
1195
Castilian King Alfonso VIII (1158-1214) challenges Almohad emperor Yacub to battle. It ends in
the defeat of the Christian army at Badajoz.
13th Century
1212
Alfonso VIII returns to fight Yacub. The Christian armies of León, Castile, Navarre and Aragon
defeat the Almohads in the decisive Battle of Navas de Tolosa, a mountain pass that guaranteed
Christian forces passage into Southern Spain.
1215
The Fourth Lateran Council pronounces sweeping reforms of the Church. These seem to produce
little effect among peninsular clerics, especially in the frontier provinces of Castile.
1236
Ferdinand III (1217-1252) of Castile conquers Córdoba.
1238
Jaume I of Aragon takes Valencia from the Moslems. He also gains control of the prized paper
mills at Xativa.
1252
King Ferdinand III dies, leaving his throne to his son Alfonso.
1252-1284
Reign of King Alfonso X "El Sabio." His reign is marked by lavish patronage of scholarship as well
as much political instability.
14th Century
1312
Ferdinand IV dies while preparing to go to battle against Granada. Alfonso XI of Castile (13121350) begins his reign amidst the chaos of civil wars.
1316
Prince Pedro, the king's nephew, assembles an army and conducts his first attack against
Granada. He dismisses, however, Granada in favor of the frontier stronghold of Tiscar.
1319
Prince Pedro conducts his second attack against Granada. His troops are surprised by a wellprepared king, Ismail. He destroys their army and the prince dies.
1325
Alfonso XI decides to avenge the defeat against his army in 1319. His armies attack Granada
once again. This time, they are victorious and manage to defeat King Muhammad IV.
1333
A Muslim army, formed by an alliance between Granada and Marinid, recovers Granada.
1348
Las siete partidas, a book of law assembled by King Alfonso X, is promulgated by King Alfonso
XI.
1391
Jewish synangogues and quarters in Seville are attacked by the Christian populace (who had
been incited by friars such as Ferrant Martínez). Soon the aljamas of Toledo, Burgos and
Barcelona are destroyed. Thousands of Jews are killed during these pogroms, thousands more
are converted to Christianity, and an equally large number choose to leave the peninsula. This
date marks the first major Jewish diaspora from Spain, though it is overshadowed by the events
of 1492.
15th Century
1410
An attack against Granada is led by Ferdinand of Aragon. He doesn't capture Granada, but he
takes the city of Antequera. This is considered the most important victory since the reign of
Alfonso XI.
1412
Ferdinand becomes the king of Aragon as a result of his victory at Antequera. His victory also
results in the revival of the spirit of the reconquest in Castile.
1453
Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) falls to the Ottoman Turks.
1469
Isabella I of Castile (the half-sister of the "heirless" Enrique IV) marries Ferdinand V of Aragon.
1474
With the coronation of Isabella and her marriage to Ferdinand, the principal kingdoms of the
Iberian peninsula combine.
1478
The beginning of the Spanish Inquisition. Its goals are to "mend the ways" (often using less than
humane techniques) of heretics and converted Jews whose religious practices do not agree with
Catholic orthodoxy.
1481
A Moorish army occupies the castle at Alhona, a frontier stronghold of Castile.
1482
The king decides to defend his position at Alhona. The battle for the city endures 10 years. In
1491, the battle is won by Christian forces and Granada is conquered the following year.
1492
Arguably the biggest year in European (and American) history: Christopher Columbus reaches
the Americas; the first grammar of any vernacular language (Castilian) is produced by Antonio de
Nebrija; the last Muslim kingdom in Spain (Granada) is conquered; and the Edict of Expulsion is
signed by the Catholic Monarchs, forcing all Muslims and Jews in Spain to either convert or
emigrate. This date also symbolically marks the close of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the
Early Modern Era.