OwlTail
Reconquista
The history of the rise of Al-Andalus and the gradual re-conquering of Spain by the Spanish Christian kingdoms is an epic tale beginning in the year 712 and concluding with the fall of the Kingdom of Grenada in 1492. Join the History of the Crusades Podcast as we cover this lengthy piece of narrative history.
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The history of the rise of Al-Andalus and the gradual re-conquering of Spain by the Spanish Christian kingdoms is an epic tale beginning in the year 712 and concluding with the fall of the Kingdom of Grenada in 1492. Join the History of the Crusades Podcast as we cover this lengthy piece of narrative history.
Episode 57 - Queen Uracca makes some moves
While King Alfonso of Aragon is occupied in Zaragoza, Queen Uracca embarks on a misson to defeat her enemies in the north of the peninsula.
Dec 23 2022
22mins
Episode 56 - Zaragoza
King Alfonso of Aragon embarks on an ambitious campaign to conquer Zaragoza in 1118.
Dec 09 2022
24mins
Episode 55 - Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal emerges while Queen Urraca endures one of the worst experiences of her reign in the town of Santiago de Compostela.
Nov 25 2022
23mins
Episode 54 - Truce
The warring monarchs in the Christian north finally decide to set their differences aside.
Nov 11 2022
22mins
Episode 53 - Family dramas
After the breakdown of the marrage between Queen Urraca and Alfonso of Aragon, events threaten to spiral out of control.
Oct 28 2022
21mins
Episode 52 - Alfonso of Aragon & Urraca
The marriage of King Alfonso I of Aragon to Urraca of Leon and Castile gets off to a rocky, gravelly and croaky start - just like my voice in this episode unfortunately.
Oct 14 2022
23mins
Episode 51 - Yes, another episode about succession issues
Just when King Alfonso VI believes he has his succession issues all sorted, an unexpected event throws everything up in the air.
Sep 30 2022
23mins
Episode 50 - Some more succession issues
While a looming succession crisis emerges for both king Alfonso VI and the Almoravids, a shift in popular consciousness begins to take place following the death of El Cid.
Sep 16 2022
21mins
Episode 49 - Succession issues
The Kingdom of Leon and Castile and the Christian territory of Valencia both grapple with succession issues.
Sep 02 2022
21mins
Episode 48 - El Cid
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (aka El Cid) scores a memorable victory against the Almoravids at the battle of Cuarte in 1094.
Aug 19 2022
20mins
Episode 47 - Valencia
El Cid manages to conquer the wealthy taifa of Valencia.
Aug 05 2022
21mins
Episode 46 - The Almoravid advance
The Almoravids invade al-Andalus in 1090 and begin to conquer the taifas.
Jul 22 2022
22mins
Episode 45 - Another interlude
Between the departure of the Almoravids in 1088 and their return in 1090, a number of significant events take place.
Jul 08 2022
22mins
Episode 44 - Interlude
In the period of interlude between the departure of the Almoravids and their return to al-Andalus, some significant events take place.
Jun 24 2022
22mins
Episode 43 - The Almoravids
The Almoravids of northern Africa arrive in al-Andalus and clash with King Alfonso VI at the battle of Sagrajas in October 1086.
Jun 10 2022
22mins
Episode 42 - A serpent in the basket
As King Alfonso VI and Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar prepare to face off in Zaragoza, a new threat emerges to the south.
May 27 2022
22mins
Episode 41 - The struggle for Toledo
As King Alfonso's attentions turn to the east, different factions inside Toledo struggle for supremacy.
May 13 2022
21mins
Episode 40 - Toledo Part 3
In the first major victory of the Reconquesta, Toledo falls to King Alfonso VI.
Apr 29 2022
23mins
Episode 39 - Toledo Part 2
The taifa of Toledo hits a rocky patch which King Alfonso VI swings to his advantage. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (later known as El Cid) makes a couple of bad choices and ends up in exile.
Apr 15 2022
22mins
Episode 38 - Toledo Part 1
During the 1070s, two assassinations - one in al-Andalus and one in the Christian north - send shockwaves across the Iberian peninsula.
Apr 01 2022
22mins