European Kingdoms

Christian Kingdom of Asturias & Galicia
AD 718 - 910

This state was founded in the north-western mountains of Spain by the Astures people of Iberia, shortly after the Umayyad Islamic invasion of Iberia. Asturias fronted the Bay of Biscay. Created just seven years after the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom, Asturias was a Christian revival of that former kingdom and its Suevi antecedent (although not the earliest - the County of Barcelona was established one year before, in 717). It was centred on Oviedo, until expansion saw the capital moved. The Basques were soon brought under its command, although the extent of their territory is not known.

The Asturians had a long history in the region, being descended as they were from the warlike Astures tribe whom both the Romans and the Visigoths had struggled to conquer.

718 - 737

Stopped the Arabs at Covadonga (718).

722

Under Pelagius the Asturians defeat the invading Muslims at the Battle of Covadonga in the Picos de Europa. Subsequent Asturian efforts continually keep the Muslims at bay.

c.725

The kingdom expands to encompass the former Suevi kingdom in Galicia.

732

The Frankish mayor of the palace, Charles Martel, defeats an army of 90,000 Arabs at Tours in France, ending the northward expansion of the empire through Iberia and into southern France.

737 - 739

739 - 757

King of the Astures. Hereditary Basque chief.

751

The Islamic Umayyads are overthrown and massacred in the Abbasid revolution, with the survivors fleeing to Iberia where they rule independently. This signals the end of the Arab empire.

757 - 768

757 - 768

The reign of Fruela 'the Cruel' ignites a rebellion in the Basques of Cantabria, although they are ultimately unsuccessful in their attempt to rid themselves of Asturian rule.

768 - 774

774 - 783

783 - 788

788 - 791

791 - 842

842

842 - 850

850 - 866

855

Leon is freed from Islamic control.

866 - 910

868

Alfonso grants the re-conquered land between the Douro and Minho rivers to Vimera Peres. The county of Portugal is established.

871

The lands to the south of Portugal are freed from the Omayyid Moors. The county of Coimbra is created to govern the area on a military footing under Alfonso's overlordship.

910

The kingdom expands and evolves into the kingdom of Leon. Galicia is sub-divided, and with its attached county of Portugal it remains nominally independent.