The Battle of Covadonga and the Dawn of The Reconquista

'In this tiny mountain hamlet, history was about to be made.' In this episode, we explore the story of Pelayo, the first king of Asturias, and his legendary victory at the Battle of Covadonga. To understand the significance of this battle, we delve into the history of the Visigoths, who had established a kingdom in Spain after the fall of the Roman Empire. We examine the Visigothic legacy and their eventual defeat by the Muslim invaders in 711 AD. Against this backdrop, we turn to the story of Pelayo, a nobleman who refused to submit to the Moors and launched a rebellion against their oppressors. At the Battle of Covadonga, Pelayo and his men faced an huge army of Moors with only a few hundred fighters of their own. Against all odds, they emerged victorious, marking the beginning of the Reconquista - the centuries-long struggle to recapture Spain from Muslim rule. Join us for this fascinating exploration of one of the most significant battles in Spanish history and the remarkable figure who led his people to victory against all odds. Join The Anthology on Instagram for extra content related to this episode! Supporting Pictures/Sources/Further Reading/Attributions are available in episode links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices