Reconquista

As peace settles over the Iberian peninsula, some of the Christian kings decide to journey to the Holy Land on crusade. 

The Kingdom of Grenada launches a large scale uprising against Castilian rule in 1264.

An increasingly frustrated King Alfonso attempts to extend Castilian territory into Navarre, Gascony and northern Africa.

We welcome a new ruler to the kingdoms of Leon and Castile - King Alfonso X.  This very ambitious monarch commences his reign by attempting to become the next Holy Roman Emperor. 

Following the fall of Seville, many of its Muslim residents relocated to the Kingdom of Grenada.  We take a closer look at this Muslim territory.

Two milestone events in the Reconquista occur under the leadership of King Fernando III - the defeat of the cities of Jaen and Seville.

During the busy years of the 1240's King Sancho II of Portugal loses his battle with the church, while ibn al-Ahmar attempts to annex the city of Seville. 

During the 1240s, the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile go on the offensive against al-Andalus, in a campaign known as 'the great game'. 

In a major milestone for the Reconquista, King James I of Aragon conquers the city of Valencia in 1238.

King James I of Aragon commences his conquest of Valencia and we welcome a new player to the narrative - King Thibaut I of Navarre. 

The Christians succeed in taking one of the most important cities in al-Andalus - the city of Cordoba which surrendered in 1236.

As the Muslims of al-Andalus fight each other, King Fernando of Leon and Castile takes advantage of an opportunity to strike Cordoba.

We follow King James I of Aragon and King Alfonso IX of Leon as they go on the offensive.

As Caliphs come and go at a dizzying rate, Almohad rule in al-Andalus crumbles - giving rise to a new ruler, ibn Hud.

King Fernando III of Castile embarks on his first crusade, while one of the contenders for Caliph forms an unlikely alliance with Castile.

As crusading fever sweeps across Europe, a number of crusades are launched against the Almohads - with mixed results.

We welcome a new King to the throne of Castile and join the Portugese in a crusade to seize a Muslim stronghold to the south of Lisbon.

A bunch of consequential deaths in the years following the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, upend the politics of the Iberian peninsula.

We conclude our look at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which ends in a decisive victory for the crusaders.

It's crusade time!  A major crusading expedition leaves Toledo in June 1212 under the command of King Alfonso VIII of Castile.  It heads directly southwards, intending to confront the Caliph's forces.  

After a decade-long period of peace, the Christians and Muslims of the Iberian peninsula clash once again, with the Caliph targetting the Christian stronghold of Salvatierra.

A decade long period of peace between the Almohads and the Christians commences, leaving the Christian kings free to do what they do best - fight each other.

Following its loss at the Battle of Alarcos, the Kingdom of Castile faces an existential threat in 1196 as it is attacked simultaneously by Leon, Navarre and the Almohads.

The truces between the Christian rulers and the Caliph expire and both sides clash at the Battle of Alarcos in 1195.

During the years 1190 and 1191, the Caliph launches a number of military campaigns against the Kingdom of Portugal, intent on reclaiming the town of Silves.