409 - 710 Spain ruled by the Visigoths (Western Goths) who conquer northern Africa and Carthage. In 554 Roman Emperor Justinian briefly obtained a small area, Spania on the southern coast, until 624.
711 - 718 Arab Moors in northern Africa "return the favour" by conquering nearly all Spain (it becomes known as al-Andalus). Its capital city is Cordoba in the south. Compostela in Galicia and Asturias in the far north-west hold out under Pelagius first King of Asturias.
741 A Berber mutiny allows Asturias to reclaim land south to Douro River. Much of the land remained empty, forming a buffer area.
756 Abd al-Rahman I, ruler of Cordoba, declares independence from the Abbasid dynasty in Damascus.
773 Porto and several cities of northwestern Portugal taken by Alfonso I of Asturias.
801 Barcelona in the north-east captured by Louis the Pious (Charlemagne's son). Becomes a buffer zone ruled by the Count of Barcelona. Today known as Catalonia, possibly from Gathalania, land of the Goths. Their language Catalan similar to the language of Valencia further south.
856 King Alfonso III of Asturias captures Leon, in 884 Burgos, in 868 appointed his Count, Vimara Peresas, first Count of Portus Cale (today Portugal). Upon his death in 910, his kingdom splits between his three sons becoming Galicia Asturias and Leon.
912 Cordoba issues first gold dinars. Promotes much classical Greek culture, by 1000 rules over 50% of the peninsula.
1004 Pamplona captured by Kingdom of Navarre in the north.
1008 Abd al-Raḥmān Sanchuelo takes power in Cordoba, but he lacked the fortitude to maintain control built up by his father and brother. An uprising that sought to vindicate the rights of Hishām II (a rival caliph) resulted in Sanchuelo’s death in 1009. The south descended into civil war, with aid sought from "Christian" knights in the north, with taxes raised to pay for ongoing protection. Cordoba subsequently loses its prosperity and fame, becomes an isolated city with the "ruling elite" well known for their "disinterest in the outside world ... and intellectual laziness" (Cordoba: Historical Overview).
1035 In the north, the Kingdom of Aragon is formed inside Navarre.
1065 Castile separates as a kingdom from the Kingdom of Leon. In 1085 Castile captures the city of Toledo, followed by Madrid. Toledo becomes capital of Castile, and eventually in 1492 capital of Spain. Note, it wasn't until 1561 that King Phillip II made Madrid capital of Spain.
1086 Having captured the gold mines in the Sahara making gold coins, Almoravid Berber Moors under Yusuf ibn Tashfin arrive in Algeciras in the far south.
1094 El Cid, a powerful Castilian knight takes Valencia after its ruler (whom he had been protecting) was killed. Following El Cid's death in 1099, Valencia retaken by the Almoravids in 1102. They rule in the south until 1147, followed by the Almohad dynasty, under Abd al-Mu'min.
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| Spain 1100-1200 |
1118 Zaragoza, captured by the Almoravids in 1110, is now taken by Aragon, and made their capital.
1139 County of Portugal becomes a Kingdom under Afonso 1 reigning from his capital at Coimbra. This separation from the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile was recognized by them in 1143. In 1147 Afonso captured Lisbon. In 1255 Lisbon becomes Portugal's new capital, having a more centralized location.
1157 Leon and Castile issue "maravedi" coins with 3.8 grams of gold, each worth one "almoravid".
1212 Major battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, near Elena in the Jaén province, with Castile joined by the armies of Navarre, Aragon, and Portugal to defeat the Almohad dynasty and drive them out permanently. To pay their bills, gold content of the maravedi drops to one gram, with paper maravedi records requiring nearly four coins to clear debts. Awkward.
In 1252 a silver maravedi coin issued with just 3.67 grams of silver. In 1258 paper maravedi records said to require six coins to clear debts, in 1271 three coins, in 1286 paper records and silver coins said to be exchangeable 1:1. Silver content however continues to drop.
1344 Algeciras (ruled by the Marinid dynasty after 1244) is captured. Just the southern strip of Granada (which includes the cities of Almeria, Malaga and Gibraltar) ruled by Muhammad I, founder of the Nasrid dynasty. They pay their taxes, accordingly.
1350 a small silver coin called a Reale was issued, weighing 3½ grams and valued at 3 Maravedis.
1469 Isabella of Castile marries Ferdinand of Aragon, uniting their two kingdoms.
1492 Granada falls. Isabella and Ferdinand issue the Treaty of Granada, requiring peace (i.e. conversion to Christianity) to be expected of all Jews and, shortly after, Mohammedans, else expulsion from Spain, forfeiting all monetary assets. Many accordingly convert, laying the grounds for the terrors of the upcoming Spanish Inquisition.
And, that same year, Columbus discovers America.
1516 After Ferdinand's death, his grandson Charles (via his daughter Joanna), becomes the first King Charles I of Spain, and in 1519, due to the Hapsburg in-laws, Holy Roman Emperor.
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