A Concise History of Pre-Reconquista Spain and the Reconquista

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 in Geography

Pre-Reconquista Spain

Homo Species in the Iberian Peninsula

The oldest human remains in Spain have been found in the Sima de los Huesos and Gran Dolina in the Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos. These fossils are attributed to Homo antecessor. Abundant human fossils classified as Homo heidelbergensis have also been discovered in the Sima de los Huesos. This species, believed to be a transitional species between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo antecessor, likely migrated to the Peninsula from Africa, possibly following herds of animals upon which they depended for sustenance. The last two species of the Homo genus to appear were Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens.

Early Civilizations and Cultures

  • Tarshish: A prosperous civilization that flourished in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. The Carambolo Treasure stands as a testament to their wealth and sophistication.
  • Iberians: This group settled along the southern Mediterranean coast of the Peninsula. Contact with other settlers spurred their cultural development. They engaged in agriculture, livestock farming, trade, and mining. Their small, easily defensible towns housed a hierarchical society, ranging from an aristocracy to slaves.
  • Celtiberians: Their economy revolved around agriculture and livestock farming, with trade playing a lesser role. They exhibited strong tribal cohesion and resided in fortified villages, such as Numancia.
  • Vettones: This group, inhabiting the Tagus valley, is renowned for their distinctive artistic and cultural contributions, particularly their impressive boar sculptures. These sculptures, often of substantial size, are believed to have been linked to fertility cults and agricultural practices.

The Reconquista

The Christian Cores

Asturias

  • In 722 AD, Pelayo, leading Asturian and Visigothic forces, defeated a Muslim expeditionary force at the Battle of Covadonga, marking the beginning of the Reconquista.
  • Alfonso I, drawing upon the Visigothic legacy, established the “Jurisdiction to prosecute” and oversaw a northward migration of Hispano-Visigothic people, further solidifying the continuity of their culture.
  • Alfonso II established Oviedo as the capital and, during his reign, the tomb of St. James was purportedly discovered.
  • Alfonso III expanded the Asturian kingdom southward to the Douro River and moved the capital to León.

Navarre

  • The Kingdom of Pamplona, later known as Navarre, emerged in the western Pyrenees between France and Al-Andalus after the Battle of Roncesvalles against the Franks.
  • Navarre reached its zenith under Sancho III el Mayor, who extended his rule over Aragon and Castile.

Aragonese

  • The County of Aragon, initially under Carolingian and later Navarrese influence, faced challenges in expanding its territory against the powerful Muslim presence around the Ebro valley.

The Catalan Core

  • The County of Barcelona, established within the Carolingian Frankish kingdom, rose to prominence among the Catalan counties.
  • Wilfred the Hairy, Count of Barcelona, reclaimed territories lost to the Franks and initiated a process of independence from the weakening Frankish kingdom.

Stages of the Reconquista

First Stage

From the Battle of Covadonga (722 AD) onward, the northern Christian centers consolidated their territories and gradually pushed southward, eventually reaching the Douro River. Ordoño II shifted the center of power southward, marking a transition from the Asturian-Leonese kingdom to the Kingdom of León.

Second Stage

Capitalizing on the decline of the Muslim Caliphate and the fragmentation of Al-Andalus into Taifa kingdoms, Castile and León advanced beyond the Cordillera Central and into the Tagus basin. Toledo, a strategically important city, was recaptured in 1085 AD.

Third Stage

Following a period of stagnation due to the Almohad invasion, Castile-León resumed its southward expansion, gaining control of the Guadiana valley and the passes of Sierra Morena. This phase culminated in the decisive Christian victory at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 AD.

Fourth Stage

This stage witnessed the rapid conquest of the Guadalquivir valley (Córdoba, Seville) by Ferdinand III of Castile and the capture of Valencia and the Balearic Islands by James I of Aragon. The Emirate of Granada remained as the last Muslim stronghold in Iberia.

The Catholic Monarchs and the Completion of the Reconquista

  • The marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1469 united the two most powerful kingdoms in Iberia under the Trastámara dynasty.
  • Following the death of Henry IV of Castile, a civil war erupted between Isabella, supported by Aragon, and Juana la Beltraneja, Henry’s alleged daughter who was backed by Portugal. The conflict ended with Isabella’s victory at the Battle of Toro and the Treaty of Alcáçovas, securing the Castilian throne for Isabella.
  • In 1479, Ferdinand ascended to the Aragonese throne, solidifying the dynastic union between the two kingdoms. The Catholic Monarchs then focused on consolidating their rule over the entire Iberian Peninsula.
  • In January 1492, the Catholic Monarchs completed the Reconquista with the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom in Iberia.
  • Prior to the conquest of Granada, the Catholic Monarchs had recovered the territories of Roussillon and Cerdanya from France through the Treaty of Barcelona and completed the conquest of the Canary Islands.
  • Despite the dynastic union, Castile and Aragon maintained their distinct laws and institutions.