The Iberian Frontier

2/3/10 12:18 PM Visigothic Kings of Iberia Wamba (r. 672 ? 680) Expelled unconverted Jews 680 ? Tricked into becoming a monk An ambitious youth, Erwig, decided to overthrow the king Gave Wamba a sleeping potion and shaved the crown of his head By Gothic law, Wamba could no longer be a king because of this, and became a monk 687 ? Died Erwig (r. 680 ? 687) After Wamba became a monk, he appointed Erwig his successor Began his reign rather uneasy Nobles and bishops took advantage of him Restored to favor those who had been out of it in the time of Wamba Proclaimed his son-in-law Ergica his heir in 687 and retired to a monastery Egica (r. 687 - 701/703) Wamba?s nephew, married Erwig?s daughter 694 - Strong anti-Jewish laws Confiscated Jewish land Declared all Jews enslaved to Christians Declared all Jewish children over the age of 7 to be taken from their homes and raised as Christians Due to disintegrating Visigothic power, these were hardly enforced beyond the capital city 694 ? Associated ruling with Wittiza, his son (still a minor) 700 ? Had Wittiza anointed 701/703 ? Died in his bed, succession secured The Last Visigothic Kings Wittiza (700 ? c. 710) Co-ruled with his father Ergica as early as 693 Chronicle of 754 places it at 698 700 ? Anointed to be king at his coming of age (around 14) 702/703 ? Ergica dies, Wittiza becomes king Clergy hated him Forced marriage upon Catholic clergy Reference in the Chronicle of 754 Made an effort to reform corruptions in the Visigothic Catholic Church The people loved him Rescinded the exiles of several noblemen Returned their slaves and their property Reinstated them in their palatine offices Returned all the land that his family was holding to the royal fisc in accordance with the law Died around 710 Chronicle of 754 implies he was assassinated by Roderic (only in his twenties at death) Divided Country Roderic ? king of southern Iberia Ruled 710 ? 712 Famous as ?the last king of the Goths? Killed by invading Muslims Agila III ? king of northern Iberia Ruled 710 ? 714 Known solely from coins and regnal lists and is unmentioned by reliable narrative histories Suggested he may have been a son of Wittiza?s Died in battle with the Muslim invaders Primary source = Chronicle of 754 Also known as the Continuatio Hispana Latin language history 95 chapters Narrative theme ? the ruin of Spain Composed in 754 Either in Toledo or Cordoba Written by an anonymous Christian Mozarab (?like an Arab?) living under the Uamayyad Arabs in Iberia Covers the years 610 ? 754 One of the best sources for post-Visigothic history Early Islamic Expansion (622 - 750) The Muslim Conquest of Iberia Sketchy sources for the invasion Two legends Wittiza?s family asked for help to regain throne Julian, count of Ceuta, asked for help seeking revenge against Roderic Four scholarly theories The Umayyads from Damascus had sent forces to Spain Muslims that invade Iberia were a reconnaissance force to test the strength of Iberia 10-15,000 men Muslims that invade meant to do so to conquer and establish themselves there Muslims that invades were operating independently from Damascus and had no justification to be there other than to raid 711 ? Tariq ibn Ziyad invaded Iberia Battle of Guadalete or Transductine Promontories Roderic defeated Most Visigothic nobles killed By 721 Muslims reached Pyreneese The Iberian Frontier 2/3/10 12:18 PM 2/3/10 12:18 PM