I. Introduction
The Battle of Covadonga occupies a special place in the grand chapter of the Spanish Reconquista.
Though by the strength of the armies involved it could be considered only a minor skirmish, the Battle of Covadonga, has a great symbolic value, because it marks a turning point in the struggle of Christian Spain against the new Moorish Islamic rulers.
Eleven years after Tariq’s crushing victory at Guadalete in 711 AD, the Muslims were close to total domination of the Iberian Peninsula.
One leader, Pelagius(Spanish Pelayo), decides to make a stand against the new Muslim rulers.
Without further ado, let us learn together the important details and chain of events that led to the Battle of Covandonga as well as its consequences.
II. Historical context 711-722
After Tariq’s decisive victory at the Battle of Guadalete, in the year 711 AD, any effective Visigothic resistance against the Islamic expansion into Iberia ceased to exist.
Tariq’s forces were soon joined by an 18.000 strong Arab army led by Musa ibn Nusayr, the Umayyad leader of the North African provinces.
Together they will subdue and plunder most of the Iberian peninsula in a very short timeframe.
Cordoba, Toledo, Seville, Leon, and Zaragoza all fell one by one under the control of the combined forces of Tariq and Musa.
By early 716, almost two-thirds of the Iberian peninsula was under Muslim control, and the newly conquered province received the name Al-Andalus.
With the victory secured, Tariq and Musa are summoned by the Umayyad Caliph back to Damascus.
Abd al-Aziz, Musa’s son was left in charge of the internal affairs of Al-Andalus.
Despite these remarkable victories, the combined Berber and Arab forces failed to subdue one important region.
This region will later play a vital role in what will become the start of the Reconquista.
Located in the Northern part of the Iberian Peninsula and perfectly shielded by the favorable terrain offered by the Cantabrian Mountains, the region of Asturias proved too difficult for the Arabs to conquer and maintain an occupation force.
III. Causes of the Battle of Covadonga
The Arab military conquest of Iberia was quick, but the occupation regime was another story.
Many Christian locals and former Visigothic nobles, unhappy with the new rulers and the imposed taxes, decided to flee and take refuge in Asturias.
Harsh taxation also contributed to the growing discontent among the locals.
One tax, in particular, known as the Jizya, was the Muslim tax on the local population who refused to convert to the Islamic religion. The combination of the terrain advantages and the unhappy locals with the new Muslim regime made Asturias the perfect location for starting a successful guerrilla campaign.
All that was missing was a charismatic ruler for this guerrilla war, so Pelagius(Spanish Pelayo) enters the scene.
Historical sources about the origins of Pelagius contradict each other.
Some tend to agree that he was a former Visigothic noble, with high connections. This in turn could explain why he succeeded in rallying so many people around him in the early stages of the guerrilla campaign.
According to the “Chronicle of Albelda” a historical source written in the 9th century AD, Pelagius was a grand-nephew of King Roderic, who was expelled from Toledo by another Visigothic ruler, King Witiza.
After being expelled he sought refuge in Asturias and then raised the banner of the rebellion.
According to another historical source, during the initial Muslim expansion into Iberia, Pelagius was captured and held hostage in Cordoba, but he manages to escape and run to Asturias.
Other sources mention that Pelagius might have had more personal reasons to start the war against the Arabs.
More specifically, the local Governor wanted to marry his sister. Pelagius was against this relationship.
The Ummayad governor tricked him by sending him on a far mission. When Pelagius returned he discovered that his sister was already married to his enemy.
Angry, Pelagius swears to take revenge.
Taking advantage of the discontent generated by the new Islamic occupation and the harsh taxes imposed, Pelagius rallies the remaining Visigothic and local elites under his banner.
His first action against the occupiers is represented by the refusal to pay the jizya, the tax imposed on the non-Muslims that refused to convert to Islam.
His small guerrilla movement then attacks the local Ummayad garrison from Asturias and successfully expels the Muslim forces from the region.
Munuza, the local governor of Asturias, was left without options and was also forced to flee from the area.
After the liberation of Asturias, the Arabs didn’t see any need to crush the Pelagious rebellion.
Since Pelagius guerrilla warfare didn’t threaten the existence of Al-Andalus, the Ummayyad ruler simply choose to ignore the rebellion, at least for now.
Not only that they ignore the rebellion, but the Muslim rulers choose to continue the military expansion across the Pyrenees Mountains, into modern-day France.
Between the years 719-722, the Ummayad forces attacked and raided the regions of Septimania and Aquitaine (modern-day France).
Unfortunately for the Arabs, their expansionist plans suffer a setback because of the decisive actions of Duke Odo of Aquitaine.
In 721 during the Battle of Toulouse, the Umayyads are defeated.
Their defeat forced the new governor of Al-Andalus, Anbasa ibn Suhaym al-Kalbi, to find a way to recover the strategic initiative and boost the morale of his forces.
And that is how Pelagius’s revolt now becomes a priority for the Muslim forces of Al-Andalus.
In 722, two Umayyad military leaders, Alqama and Munuza are dispatched with important forces to deal with this threat once and for all.
According to the legend, the forces of Alqama and Munuza were joined by Oppas, the Bishop of Seville.
Oppas attempted but without success to broker a peace deal between Pelagius and the Umayyad commanders. Pelagius was not the one who would give up without a fight.
According to one version of the story, Oppas told Pelagius the below:
“I know, brother, that it is no secret to you that not long ago all of Spain was under the sole rule of the Goths, and the army of all Spain was gathered together but could not resist the impetus of the Ismaélites; how much less able are you to defend yourself on the top of this mountain. But hear my advice and turn your mind from this purpose so you may enjoy many good things .. . in peace with the Arabs. . . .“
To this ultimatum, Pelagius replied:
“I will not associate with the Arabs in friendship nor will I submit to their rule. . . . For we trust in the Lord’s mercy that on this little hill that you see the well-being of Spain and of the army of the Gothic people will be restored.”
Initially, Alqama and Munuza gain the military initiative and advance into the mountainous terrain of Asturias, forcing Pelagius and his guerilla forces to withdraw to avoid a pitched battle.
Knowing that the numbers were not on his side, Pelagius carefully sets up an ambush in a strategic location near the village of Covadonga.
The ambush would allow his small guerilla army to inflict the maximum possible damage, with as few losses as possible. The local terrain also prevented the attackers from using the numerical advantage at its full potential.
The location chosen by Pelagius for the ambush was a valley, flanked on both sides by cliffs, which allowed the defenders to rain arrows, stones, and other projectiles on the defenders.
The nearby caves, also provided shelter for the defenders, while awaiting the perfect moment to strike.
Alqama wanting to defeat the guerilla movement quickly abandons his most important advantage and marches his elite forces straight into the ambush set up by Pelagius.
When Alqama’s troops entered the valley, they were greeted with a volley of arrows, stones, and projectiles from the defenders strategically positioned above the cliffs.
Alqama and his forces lost the military initiative and were overwhelmed.
At the peak of the battle, Pelagius personally leads a heroic charge into the valley against the invaders and drives away Alqama’s army, which suffers heavy losses.
Unfortunately for the Ummayads, very few troops survived this ambush and even Alqama himself lost his life during the fight.
Among the survivors was the Bishop of Seville, Oppas, who was captured during the fight.
Encouraged by Pelagius’s victory, the nearby Asturian villages revolted and attacked the retreating Muslim soldiers.
Learning about Alqama’s defeat, Munuza, and his forces attempted to regroup and organize another resistance against the Asturians.
Thanks to the great prestige obtained during the Battle of Covadonga, Pelagius receives additional reinforcements that will allow him to march against the remaining troops led by Munuza.
The battle between Pelagius and Munuza will take place near the modern-day town of Proza, with Pelagius obtaining another important victory.
With the defeat of both Alqama and Munuza, the independence of the last Christian Kingdom in Spain was secured.
IV.Battle of Covadonga outcome/consequences
Depending on the historical sources, the Christian favorable works tend to greatly exaggerate the importance of the Battle of Covadonga and its strategic impact.
On the other hand, the Islamic works, either don’t mention the skirmish battle between Pelagius and Alqama or tend to give it little to no relevance.
The truth is that the Battle of Covadonga had a more symbolic value because it laid the foundation for the Kingdom of Asturias.
The foundation of the Kingdom of Asturias and consequently the Reconquista would not have been possible without Pelagius’ victory at Covadonga.
Thanks to the immense prestige gained by this victory, Pelagius solidifies his rule over the Kingdom of Asturias.
With his rule secured, Pelagius establishes the capital of the Kingdom of Asturias in the town of Cangas de Onís.
V. Other important notes about the Battle of Covadonga.
1. The exact year of the battle is still debated. Many historians favor the year 722, while others think that the battle was actually fought in 718.
2. Though a victory for the Christians, it didn’t affect the overall Moorish/Muslim occupation of Iberia.
3. The victory consolidated Pelagius’ prestige and Asturias’s position as the last Christian stronghold.
VI. Sources and further reading
- William D. Phillips, Jr and Carla Rahn Phillips, A concise history of Spain, Cambridge University Press
- Joseph F. O’Callaghan, A History of Medieval Spain, Cornell University Press
3. Roger Collins, Caliphs and Kings Spain, 796–1031, Wiley-Blackwell; 1st edition
4. Richard Fletcher, Moorish Spain, University of California Press