Reconquista

For other uses, see Reconquista (Disambiguation).

The Pyrenees? block

The Spanish Marches were settled in 775 AD and allowed the growth of small states in the Pyrenees. Once the Franks had driven the moors out of France, the necessity of defending the mountain passes of the Pyrenees became an important point in Charlemagne?s policy. Fortifications were built, and protection was given to the inhabitants of the old Roman cities, such as Jaca and Gerona. The main passes were (eastwards) Roncesvalles, Somport and Junquera. In each of them, Charlemagne settled the counties of Pamplona, Aragon and Catalonia (which was formed from a number of small counties, Pallars, Gerona, Urgell being the most promonent).

Related Topics:
Spanish Marches - Pyrenees - Franks - Jaca - Gerona - Roncesvalles - Somport - Junquera - Pamplona - Aragon - Catalonia - Pallars - Urgell

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In 778, the Frankish expedition against Saragossa failed and the army was destroyed while fleeing back to France. This fact is sung in the ?Chanson de Roland? At any rate, this battle set the western Pyrenees free from Frankish rule and as a result, two different states appeared: the kingdom of Pamplona (later known as Navarre) and the counties of Aragon, Sobarbe and Ribagorza. Navarre emerged as a kingdom around Pamplona, its capital, and controlled Roncesvalles pass. Its first king was Iñigo Arista. He expanded his domains up to the Bay of Biscay and conquered a few towns beyond the Pyrenees, but never directly attacked the Carolingian armies, as he was in theory their vassal. It was not until Queen Jimena in the 9th century that Pamplona was officially recognised as an independent kingdom by the Pope. Aragon, founded in 809 by Aznar Galíndez, grew around Jaca and the high valleys of the Aragon River, protecting the old Roman road. By the end of the 10th century, Aragon was annexed to Navarre. Sobarbe and Ribagorza were small counties, with little importance to the Reconquista.

Related Topics:
778 - Saragossa - Chanson de Roland - Pamplona - Navarre - Aragon - Sobarbe - Ribagorza - Iñigo Arista - Bay of Biscay - Queen Jimena - 9th century - Pope - 809 - Aznar Galíndez - Aragon River - 10th century

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The Catalonian counties protected the eastern Pyrenees? passes and shores. They were under the direct control of the Frankish kings and were the last remains of the Spanish Marches. Catalonia included not only the southern Pyrenees? counties of Gerona, Pallars, Urgell, Vic and Andorra but also some which were on the northern side of the mountains, such as Perpignan and Foix. The most important of them all was Barcelona, once it was conquered in 801 by Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. Soon, in the late 9th century under Count Wilfred, Barcelona became the capital of Catalonia. It controlled the other counties? policies in a union, which lead in 948 to the independence of Catalonia under Count Borrel II, who declared that the new dynasty in France (the Capets) were not the legitimate rulers of France nor, as a result, of Catalonia.

Related Topics:
Catalonia - Gerona - Pallars - Urgell - Vic - Andorra - Perpignan - Foix - Barcelona - 801 - Louis the Pious - 9th century - Count Wilfred - 948 - Count Borrel II - Capet

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Theses states were small and did have much capacity for expansion (except for Navarre), as Asturias had, and due to their situation in the mountains, they had no chance against a united and strong Al-Andalus. As results, their borders stayed the same for two centuries.

Related Topics:
Navarre - Asturias - Al-Andalus

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