The muslim conquest of Spain summary

the muslim conquest of spain summary

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The muslim conquest of Spain summary

THE MUSLIM CONQUEST OF SPAIN

In A.D. 711 Arab and Berber Muslims streamed across the narrow straits between North Africa and Spain in search of lands to conquer. By 719 they had driven as far north as the Pyrenees. Their conquests were made easier by the assistance of many Spaniards, who hated their Visigoth rulers. The excerpt below from the History of the Conquest of Spain by Ibn-el-Hakem, was written in the mid 800s. The excerpt describes the first Muslim invasion of Spain led by the Berber general, Tariq. As you read the excerpt, ask yourself to what the author attributed Tariq’s success.

Musa Ibn Nosseyr [the Governor of North Africa]… appointed Tarik Ibn Zeiyad governor [of Tangier]…. Tarik remained some time in this district, waging a holy war…. The governor of the straits between this district and Andalus [Spain] was a foreigner called Ilyan, Lord of Septa…. Tarik put himself in communication with Ilyan, and treated him kindly, until they made peace with each other. Ilyan had sent one of his daughters to Roderic, the Lord of Andalus, for her improvement and education; but she became pregnant by him. Ilyan having heard of this, said, I see for him no other punishment or recompense, than that I should bring the Arabs against him. He sent to Oarik, saying, I will bring thee to Andalus…. Tarik went to Ilyan who was in Septa on the straits. The latter rejoicing at his coming, said, I will bring thee to Andalus. But there was a mountain called the mountain of Tarik [Gibraltar] between the two landing places, that is, between Septa and Andalus. When the evening came, Ilyan brought him vessels, in which he made him embark for that landing-place, where he concealed himself during the day, and in the evening sent back the vessels to bring over the rest of his companions. So they embarked for the landing-place, none of them left behind: whereas the people of Andalus did not observe them, thinking the vessels crossing and recrossing were similar to the trading vessels which for their benefit plied backwards and forwards…. The news of Tarik and those who were with him, as well as of the place where they were, [finally] reached the people of Andalus. Tarik, going along with his companions, marched over a bridge of mountains to a town called Cartagena. He [then] went in the direction of Cordova….
As Abd-Errahman has related to us…: There was a house in Andalus, the door of which was secured with padlocks, and on which every new king of the country placed a padlock of his own, until the accession to power of the king against whom the Moslems marched. They therefore begged [Roderic] to place a padlock on it, as kings before him were wont to do. But he refused saying, I will place nothing on it, until I shall have known what is inside; he then ordered it to be opened; but behold inside were portraits of the Arabs, and a letter in which it was written: “When this door shall be opened, these people will people will invade this country.”
When Tarik landed, soldiers from Cordova came to meet him; and seeing the small number of his companions they despised him on that account. They then fought. The battle with Tarik was severe. They were routed, and he did not cease from slaughter of them till they reached the town of Cordova. When Roderic heard of this, he came to their rescue from Toledo…. They fought a severe battle; but God, mighty and great, killed Roderic and his companions…. Tarik [passed] over to Toledo. He, then, entered it and asked for the table, having nothing else to occupy himself. This, as the men of the Bible related, was the table of Suleyman Ibn Dawid [Solomon]….
…Tarik was told that the table was in a citadel… two days’ journey from Toledo, and the governor of this citadel was a nephew of Roderic. Tarik, then, wrote to him, promising safety both for himself and family. The nephew descended from the citadel, and Tarik fulfilled his promise with reference to his safety. Tarik said to him, deliver the table, and he delivered to him. On this table were gold and silver, the like of which one had not seen…. The table was valued at two hundred thousand dinars, on account of the pearls that were on it. He took up the pearls, the armour, the gold, the silver, and the vases which he had with him, and found that quantity of spoils, the like of which one had not seen. He collected all that. Afterwards he returned to Cordova, and having stopped there, he wrote to Musa Ibn Nosseyr informing him of the conquest of Andalus, and of the spoils which he had found

Reading Review

Why did the people of Andalus not take any notice of Tariq’s invasion ships?
Why did the Visigoth soldiers from Cordova look upon Tariq’s invasion force with disdain?
To what did the author attribute Tariq’s success in conquering Spain?

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