Battle of Covadonga
722 AD defeated
Fought near Covadonga in the Picos de Europa, either in 718 or 722, it resulted in a victory for the forces of Pelagius over the Umayyad Caliphate.
It is traditionally regarded as the foundational event of the Kingdom of Asturias and thus the initial point of the Christian Reconquista ("reconquest") of Spain after the Umayyad conquest of 711.
On July 9, 721, a Muslim force that had crossed the Pyrenees and invaded the Kingdom of the Franks was defeated by them in the Battle of Toulouse, in present-day France. This was the first serious setback in the Muslim campaign in southwestern Europe. Reluctant to return to Córdoba with such unalloyed bad news, the Ummayad wāli, Anbasa ibn Suhaym Al-Kalbi, decided that putting down the rebellion in Asturias on his way home would afford his troops an easy victory and raise their flagging morale.
In the aftermath of Pelagius's victory, the people of the conquered villages of Asturias now emerged with their weapons, and killed hundreds of Alqama's retreating troops. Munuza, learning of the defeat, organized another force, and gathered what was left of the survivors of Covadonga. At some later date, he confronted Pelagius and his now greatly augmented force, near the modern town of Proaza. Again Pelagius won, and Munuza was killed in the fighting.
The battle is commemorated at the shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga.
Subjects Who or What defeated?
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Asturias (Kingdom of) A kingdom in the Iberian... -
Pelagius of Asturias (Pelayo) Hispano-Visigoth noblema...
Objects To Whom or What was defeated?
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Umayyad Caliphate (Omayyad, ٱلْخِلافَةُ ٱلأُمَوِيَّة) The second of the four m...
Attachments
Holy Cave at Covadonga The Holy Cave, place where Our Lady of Covadonga appeared to Pelayo
Events in 722 MORE
