Reconquista Timeline: Umayyad Dynasty 755 – 1002

A sub-branch of the Umayyad family ruled Spain from 755 until 1030. These were the glory years for the Muslims in Spain. Although puppet Caliphs lingered on until 1031, the power of the Umayyad’s was broken by 1002 when the vizier Al-Mansur died.

755

The Umayyad Abd al-Rahman I crossed to Spain, defeated Yusuf al-Fihri, and became independent emir of Spain (Collins, 1983).

759

Franks conquered Muslim Nabonne (Collins, 1983).

763

Abd al-Rahman I suppressed an Abbasid inspired revolt (Collins, 1983).

764

Abd al-Rahman I took Toledo from Hisham ibn Urwa (Collins, 1983).

766

Said al-Matari rebelled in Seville (Collins, 1983).

768-777

A Berber reformer rebelled in central Spain and occupied Merida and other towns to the north of the Tagus (Livermore, 1966). The rebellion was suppressed after nine years.

771 or 774

Syrians under Abd al-Ghaffar rebelled against the Emir (Collins, 1983). Abd al-Rahman I defeated the Syrians on the river Bembezar in either 771 or 774.

777

Abd al-Rahman I suppressed an Abbasid inspired revolt (Collins, 1983).

778 Roncesvalles

The Franks (Charlemagne) attacked Zaragoza but were forced to withdraw (Collins, 1983; Heath, 1980; Livermore, 1966). Basques ambushed Charlemagne’s army as it crossed the Pyrenees out of Spain. The Basques mauled the Frankish rearguard, killing many of the commanders (including the Breton Markgraf Hruotland, aka Roland), and loot the baggage train.

791

Alfonso II became King of Asturias in Oviedo.

A Muslim force raided into Galicia (Livermore, 1966).

794

Asturians defeated Muslims at Lutos (Collins, 1983).

795

A Umayyad force occupied Astorga (Livermore, 1966).

798

In a raid on Muslim lands Alfonso II entered Lisbon but could not occupy it (Livermore, 1966).

800 – 810

Rebellion broke out in the fringes of Al-Andalus (Lisbon, Merida, Toledo) (Livermore, 1966). Each rebellion was bloodily suppressed by the central authorities.

801

Louis the Pious of France conquered Barcelona (Collins, 1983). This was the beginning of Spanish March.

803

Revolt of Banu Qasi in Tudela was suppressed (Collins, 1983).

806

Frankish conquered Pamplona (Collins, 1983).

808

Franks failed to take Tortosa (Collins, 1983).

809

A Umayyad prince defeated and executed Tumlus – a Muslim rebel who had seized power in Lisbon some years before (Livermore, 1966).

819

Franks suppressed a revolt in Pamplona (Collins, 1983).

824

Pamplona rebelled again and Basques destroyed a Frankish army at the second Battle of Roncesvalles (Collins, 1983). Kingdom of Pamplona was established.

825

Muslims attempted to invade Christian territory from Coimbra and Viseu but were driven back (Livermore, 1966).

827

Bernard of Septimania held Barcelona against Gothic rebels (who have Umayyad assistance) (Collins, 1983).

830s

First mention of the tomb of St. James in Compostela.

838

Muslims attempted to invade Christian territory from Coimbra and Viseu but were driven back (Livermore, 1966).

844

Vikings raided the Galician estuaries, were defeated by Ramiro I, attacked Lisbon, and sacked Seville (Collins, 1983; but Livermore,1966, says 840).

Battle of Clavijo. Legendary battle between Christians (commanded by Ramiro I) and Moslems, where St. James helped the Christian Army.

848

William, son of Bernard of Septimania, seized Barcelona (Collins, 1983).

850

Ordoño I became King of Asturias in Oviedo. Beginning of repopulation. Rise of the county of Castile.

859

Vikings raided Andalucian coast (Collins, 1983). They captured and ransomed King Garcia of Pamplona.

Ordoño I of Asturias defeated Musa ibn Musa at Albelda (Collins, 1983).

866

Alfonso III the Great became King of Asturias.

868

Vimara Peres rebuilt Portucale thus establishing a Christian presence on the Duero and effectively starting the county of Portugal (Livermore,1966).

870 or 888

Battle of Padura/Arrigorriaga between the Basques (Lope Fortún, first lord of Biscay and Sancho de Estigiz, lord of Durango) and Leónese (prince Ordoño, son of the king Alfonso the great, and the future king Ordoño II).

886-912

Many revolts occurred in Al-Andalus (Collins, 1983).

909

Alfonso III disposed by his sons yet also proclaimed Emperor.

917

Battle of S. Esteban de Gormaz. León (Ordoño II) defeated a Muslim army (Emir Abd el-Rahman III).

918

Battle of Talavera where Muslims (Abd el-Rahman III) defeated the Leónese.

920

Battle of Valdejunquera where Muslims (Abd el-Rahman III) defeated the Leónese (again).

929

Abd-Al-Rahman III proclaimed caliph in Cordoba (Collins, 1983).

933

Battle of Osma where Castilian-Leónese troops (count Fernán González) defeated a Muslim army (Abd el-Rahman III).

939

Battle of Simancas where León (Ramiro II) defeated Muslims (Abd el-Rahman III) (Collins, 1983).

Chrisitians ?? defeated Al-nasir at Alhandega (Kennedy, 1996).

946

The county of Castile became independent.

966

Vikings raided Galicia again (Collins, 1983; but Livermore,1966, says 968). They killed the biship of Stantiago in battle, but his successor, St Rudesind, rallied the local forces and killed Gundered the Viking King.

971

Another minor Viking raid (Collins, 1983).

974

A Cordoban expedition under Ibn Tumlus crushed a rebellion in Seville (Kennedy, 1996).

976

Caliph al-Hakan al-Mustansir died on 1 Oct and al-Mansur took over in the name of his protégé Hisham. The Christians took advantage of the resulting confusion and commence raided into Muslim territory.

977

Al-Mansur volunteers to lead the army against the Christians and was successful (Kennedy, 1996).

981

Al-Mansur defeated his old friend Ghalib in a confused battle near Atienz (Jul) (Kennedy, 1996). Al-Mansur force included Berbers (at least 600 men under Jafar ibn Ali ibn Hamdun aka Ibn al-Andalusi), Christian mercenaries, and Andalusian troops from Zaragoza under Man ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Tujibi. Ghalib’s force includes Andalusians and a Castilian contingent under their Count (Garcia Fernandez). Ghalib was killed in the battle. Al-Mansur subsequently killd off both Ibn al-Andalusi and Man al-Tujibi.

983

After failing in a rebellion in the Maghreb the Berber Chief Zawi ibn Ziri, of the Tunisian royal family, brought a formidable force of Sanhaja horsemen to join Al-Mansur. However, they were not allowed to cross the straits for many years (sometime 1002-1008).

985

Al-Mansur sacked Barcelona (Collins, 1983; Kennedy, 1996; Menéndez, 1934).

986

Al-Mansur burnt down the monastery of San Cugat de Valles.

987

Al-Mansur laid waste to the now Christian Coimbra (Livermore,1966).

988

Al-Mansur razed León to the ground (Collins, 1983). He sacked Leon, Zamora, and Sahagun, and set fire to the great monasteries of Eslonza and Sahagun.

989

Al-Mansur seized Osma.

995

Despite stout resistance by the Beni-Gomez – Christian counts of Saldaña, Liebana, Carrion, and Zamora – Al-Mansur destroyed their capital, the city of Santa maria de Carrion.

997

Al-Mansur seized the castles north of the Duero, and destroyed the Church of Santiago (Collins, 1983; Kennedy, 1996; Livermore, 1966; Menéndez, 1934).

998

Wadih, a Slav and the best Andalusian commander of the time, took Fez in Morocco with a large force.

999

Muslimes briefly attempted to establish a garrison at Zamora (Kennedy, 1996).

1000

Sancho Garcia, Count of Castile, inflicted major losses on the Muslims and nearly clinched a remarkable victory (Kennedy, 1996).

1002

Al-Mansur raided into La Rioja, was defeated by a coalition of Christian armies at the Battle of Calatañazor, and died on his return to Cordoba (Menéndez, 1934). Power in Al-Andalus was subsequently divided between the old Arab nobility, the Berber mercenaries, and the “Slavs” (slaves).

1002-1008

Al-Muzaffar (Al-Mansur’s son) conducted the annual raids against the Christians (Kennedy, 1996).

1003

Muslims laid waste to León (Menéndez, 1934).

References

Collins, R. (1983). Early Medieval Spain: Unity in Diversity, 400-1000 [2nd ed.]. NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Heath, I. (1980). Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066 (2nd ed.). Wargames Research Group.

Kennedy, H. (1996). Muslim Spain and Portugal: A political history of al-Andalus. London: Longman.

Livermore, H. V. (1966). A New History of Portugal. Cambridge University Press.

Menéndez Pidal, R. (1934). The Cid and his Spain [H. Sutherland Trans.]. Frank Cass.

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