Iberian Peninsula

Christian Kingdoms
(8th-15th)
The origin of the peninsular
Christian kingdoms
• 8th century (711 battle of Guadalete).
• Muslims who came to iberian peninsula settled in
the valleys of Guadalquivir and Ebro (levantine
coast) because the water (richest agricultural
regions).
• The first pockets of Christian resistance appeared
in the lands of the north protected by Pyrenees
and Cordillera Cantábrica (Visigoths). Later, they
started to expand, mainly to the west.
• The muslim's response to this christian expansion
was to carry out expeditions against the christian
enclaves ir order to plunder the fields and obtain
spoils of war.
The origin of the peninsular
Christian kingdoms
• In the Cordillera Cantábrica, the
Astures and Cantabri defeated the
Muslims in the Battle of Covadonga in
722. Their commander was the
Visigothic nobleman Pelayo.
 Kingdom of
Asturias (León)
• The kingdom included Asturias,
Cantabria and Galicia (nowadays).
• In 914, King Ordoño II moved the
capital to Leon and changed the name
of the kingdom (Kingdom of León).
• Until the start of the 10th century, its
capital was in Oviedo. In 914, King
Ordoño II moved the capital and
changed the name of the kingdom. It
became the Kingdom of León and, at
the 10th century, it dominated the
Submeseta Norte
Kingdom of Castilla
• It was a county that was dependent on
the Astur Kingdom of León.
• It was a heavily fortified area because
it was more exposed to receive attacks
due its geographical conditions.
• In the 10th century, Fernán González
gave Castilla its Independence from
León and established the capital in
Burgos.
Kingdom of Navarra
• It was formed by the
Vascones (Iñigo Arista, 824)
after getting rid of the
Carolingians (The
Carolingians were losing
power in the Pyrenees)
• This kingdom reached its
peak in the early 11th
century under Sancho III “El
Mayor”.
 Kingdom of
Aragón
• It was born in the central
Pyrenean region in 1035 after the
union of the Carolingian counties
of Aragón, Sobrarbe and
Ribagorza.
• it expanded towards the south, as
it took control of Muslim
territories, until it occupied the
area corresponding to the current
autonomous community of
Aragon.
 Catalan Counties
• They were found in the area of the
Eastern Pyrenees (strong frankish
influence).
• The county of Barcelona was the
most powerful county from the
second half of the 9th century
• They became independent from the
Carolingian kings
 Life in the peninsular
Christian kingdoms
(until 10th century)

• SOCIETY
• Was organised following
the dominant feudal
system, but with some
unusual characteristics.
• The nobility was
strengthened in the fight
against muslims.
• Given the need for men
to go to war, rich
peasants who had a
horse and weapons were
ennobled.
 Life in the peninsular
Christian kingdoms
(until 10th century)

• ECONOMY
• Important cities:
León, Oviedo and
Barcelona
(admnistrative and
religious functions).
• Subsistence
economy based on
cereals and raising
livestock.
• Trade was scarce.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1031-1085)
• Christian kingdoms initiated a
process of expansión that
lasted until the 13th century.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1031-1085)
• AL-ANDALUS
• 1031 Caliphate of Cordoba
dissapeared. Al-Andalus
fragmented into taifas (mini
states).
• The most important taifas were
Sevilla, Toledo and Zaragoza.
• The Christians conquered
territories and collect taxes paid in
gold coin (Parias).
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1031-1085)
• KINGDOM OF NAVARRA
• It was ruled by kings of Aragon
between 1076 and 1034.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1031-1085)
• KINGDOM OF CASTILLA
• Fernando I was married to a
princess of León and the
Kingdom of Castilla was linked
to the astur kingdom of León.
• KINGDOM OF LEÓN
• It was overtaken in importance
by Kingdom of Castilla.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• Alfonso VI, King of
Castilla of León, took
Toledo in 1085. This city
had a high symbolic
value, as it was the
centre of a powerful
taifa and had been the
capital of the Visigothic
kingdom.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• AL ANDALUS
• After the conquest of Toledo,
the taifa kings were forced to
seek help from the
Almoravids (Muslims that
had established an empire in
North Africa). Their arrival
stopped the Christian
advance and achieved the
reunification of the
Andalusian territory until the
early 12th century.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• AL ANDALUS
• The Almoravids lost strength.
• the taifa kings requested the
help of the Almohads (North
Africa).
• The Almohads managed to
unite the Andalusian
territory in 1172 and
established the capital in
Sevilla.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• KINGDOM OF ARAGÓN
• The Kingdom experienced a
strog growth with Alfonso I.
They conquered Zaragoza and
occupied part of the Ebro valley.
• In 1137, the marriage of Ramón
Berenguer IV (count of
Barcelona) and Petronila (young
queen of Aragón) led to the
union between the Catalan
Counties and Aragon (forming
the Crown of Aragon).
• Alfonso I and Alfonso II (his son)
continued the expansión
towards the south.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• PORTUGAL
• This was a county
belonging to the
Kingdom of León.
• In 1128 they declared
independent and it
was established as a
kingdom in 1143.
The expansion of the
Christian kingdoms
(1085-1212)
• CASTILLA Y LEÓN.
• It had been strengthened
by the conquest of
Toledo. This opened up
opportunities for
expansión throughout
the lands of the Tajo
river.
• The kingdom was divided
again when Alfonso VII
died in 1157.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

AL ANDALUS
• The Almoravids impeded the
expansion of the Christian
Kingdoms, until the Christian´s
victory in the Battle of Las
Navas de Tolosa in 1212.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

• The battle of Las Navas de

Tolosa (1212) was a major
victory for the Christian
kingdoms and made the
occupation of the
Guadalquivir Valley.
• In this battle, the kings of
Castilla, Navarra and Aragon
fought together.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

• PORTUGAL
• They reached the
southern costas of
the peninsula and it
was the end of its
expansion.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

• CASTILLA AND LEÓN

• The definitive union of
Castilla and Leon came
with Fernando III in 1230.
• This King conquered the
two great islamic capitals
(Cordoba and Sevilla).
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

• NAVARRA
• Navarra turned to France,
with whom it had closest
ties.
• A french dinasty occupied
the throne of Navarra.
The expansion of the Christian
kingdoms (1212-1250)

• ARAGÓN
• Jaime I conquered the
Balearic Islands in 1235
and Valencia in 1245.
• AL ANDALUS
• In 1250, there was only
one andalusian kingdom
(Granada).
 THE LATE MIDDLE
AGES ON THE IBERIAN
PENINSULA
• The 14th and 15th centuries
were marked by conflicts
between Christian kingdoms
and civil wars caused by rivalry
between the nobility and the
monarchy.
• Nobles wanted to increase
their privileges and the kings
wanted to restrict the power of
the nobles but the needed the
military aid.
 THE LATE MIDDLE
AGES ON THE IBERIAN
PENINSULA
• In the 14th century, Hispanic
Kingdoms suffered a serious
demographic crisis brought on
by hunger, wars and the black
death. This demographic crisis
had an economic impact.
• Social conflicts added to the
demographic and economic
problems. Confrontations
between groups brought to light
the crisis of the feudal system.
 THE LATE MIDDLE
AGES ON THE IBERIAN
PENINSULA
• CROWN OF ARAGÓN
• They launched an expansion
campaign in the mediterranean
to defend it commercial
interests and to establish
numerous trade consulates in
the north of Africa.
• CROWN OF CASTILLA
• They began the exploration of
Canary Islands and
incorporated territories in the
area of the Strait of Gibraltar.
THE BIRTH OF A NEW MONARCHY
THE BIRTH OF A
NEW MONARCHY
• In 1469, Fernando II of Aragón married
Isabel I.
• Isabel I, to gain their right to the throne
of Castilla, had to defeat Juana in a civil
war (Isabel was suppoorted by Aragón in
the war).
• The marriage of Isabel and Fernando laid
the foundation for the development of
modern Spain, and also for the Catholic
Monarchy. The pope gave them the title
of Catholic Monarchs in 1496, after the
conquest of Granada.
THE BIRTH OF A
NEW MONARCHY
• The new monarchy was a dynastic
union because it was the result of a
marriage of two monarchs, not a
fusion of two kingdoms.
• Each Crown kept its symbols, laws,
institutions and borders. They only
shared policies in specific areas,
such as religion.
• They conquered the Kingdom of
Granada in 1492.
1492