Reconquista

By Sharyn Eastaugh

What's Reconquista about?

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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Reconquista episodes:

04.12.2024
Episode 85 - A bunch of Alfonsos
Following the bunch of deaths which occurred in the last episode, we have a bunch of new Christian kings - most of whom are named Alfonso. As the Third Crusade is launched, we see the new king of Portugal, King Sancho...
03.29.2024
Episode 84 - A bunch of deaths
We cover the Caliph's campaign against the Christians in 1184 and wave goodbye to three major players from our narrative.
03.15.2024
Episode 83 - The rise of the young Alfonsos
We track the progress of the two new kids on the block in Christian Spain - King Alfonso VIII of Castile and King Alfonso II of Aragon.
03.01.2024
Episode 82 - The Caliph's campaign Part 2
We continue to follow the Caliph on his less than optimal military campaign against the Christians in 1172.
02.16.2024
Episode 81 - The Caliph's campaign Part 1
In 1172 the Caliph embarks on an ambitious campaign to conquer Christian Spain.
12.22.2023
Episode 80 - Almohad consolidation
The Almohads finally achieve their goal, becoming the uncontested rulers of al-Andalus. Their next move will be to focus on defeating the Christians.
12.08.2023
Episode 79 - The Wolf King and Geraldo the Fearless
When the new Caliph turns his attention to al-Andalus, he concentrates on two threats - the Portugese freelancer Geraldo the Fearless and the Almohad's traditional foe the Wolf King.
11.24.2023
Episode 78 - A new Caliph
Ambitious plans by the Almohads to dominate al-Andalus are interrupted by the death of the Caliph.
11.10.2023
Episode 77 - Setbacks all around
Some unexpected deaths among the leaders of Christian Spain, result in two kingdoms being ruled by children named Alfonso. Meanwhile, over in the Almohad camp, things aren't going much better with the Caliph and his armies preoccupied in northern Africa.
10.27.2023
Episode 76 - The Kingdom of Leon and the Kingdom of Castile
Following the fateful decision by the late King Alfonso VII to split his kingdom in two, we meet his sons - King Sancho III of Castile and King Fernando II of Leon.
10.13.2023
Episode 75 - Exit King Alfonso VII
King Alfonso VII of Leon and Castile becomes seriously ill just as the Almohads begin to go on the offensive.
09.29.2023
Episode 74 - Christian progress slows
King Alfonso VII's attempts to conquer al-Andalus falter, causing him to search far and wide for extra troops.
09.15.2023
Episode 73 - Christian conquests
At the same time as the King of Portugal is besieging Lisbon, King Alfonso VII and the Count of Barcelona are embarking on conquests of their own.
09.01.2023
Episode 72 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 4
We bring the siege of Lisbon to its conclusion.
08.18.2023
Episode 71 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 3
The siege of Lisbon commences, with the crusaders attacking the suburbs outside the city walls. Construction then begins on some impressive siege equipment.
08.04.2023
Episode 70 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 2
The fleet of crusaders makes its way southwards to discuss its participation in the siege of Lisbon with King Alfonso I of Portugal.
07.21.2023
Episode 69 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 1
King Alfonso I of Portugal decides to take advantage of the crusading movement for his campaign to attack Lisbon.
07.07.2023
Episode 68 - The arrival of the Almohads
As Almoravid rule collapses, the Almohads arrive on the Iberian peninsula.
06.23.2023
Episode 67 - The decline of the Almoravids
We switch our focus to the southern portion of the Iberian peninsula, where Almoravid influence is waning.
06.09.2023
Episode 66 - Succession Drama Part 3
The succession drama following the death of Alfonso of Aragon finally comes to an end with the Christian parts of the Iberian peninsula forming themselves into four separate kingdoms - the Kingdom of Leon & Castile, the Kingdom of Aragon/Catalonia,...
05.26.2023
Episode 65 - Succession Drama Part 2
As the succession drama following the death of Alfonso of Aragon continues, the Kingdom of Aragon struggles to survive.
05.12.2023
Episode 64 - Succession Drama Part 1
Fall out from the death of Alfonso of Aragon leaves leaders from across the region scrambling to take advantage of the situation.
04.28.2023
Episode 63 - Exit Alfonso of Aragon
After an action-packed life, Alfonso of Aragon dies in 1134. However, the terms of his will leave the Kingdom of Aragon facing an uncertain future.
04.14.2023
Episode 62 - French troubles
In an unexpected turn of events, King Alfonso of Aragon finds himself bogged down by events in France.
03.31.2023
Episode 61 - King Alfonso VII
Following the death of Queen Urraca in 1127, a scramble for power takes place in the north - resulting in the coronation of King Alfonso VII.
03.17.2023
Episode 60 - Alfonso of Aragon - Valencia and beyond
Fresh from his conquest of Zaragoza, Alfonso of Aragon embarks on an ambitious campaign pushing deep into Almoravid territory in 1125.
03.03.2023
Episode 59 - Alfonso of Aragon - Zaragoza
We check in on Alfonso of Aragon who is attempting to secure the taifa of Zaragoza.
02.17.2023
Episode 58 - Queen Urraca encounters some difficulties
Queen Urraca finds herself in conflict with Rome following her imprisonment of Archbishop Gelmirez of Santiago de Compostela in 1120.
12.23.2022
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.
12.09.2022
Episode 56 - Zaragoza
King Alfonso of Aragon embarks on an ambitious campaign to conquer Zaragoza in 1118.
11.25.2022
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.
11.11.2022
Episode 54 - Truce
The warring monarchs in the Christian north finally decide to set their differences aside.
10.28.2022
Episode 53 - Family dramas
After the breakdown of the marrage between Queen Urraca and Alfonso of Aragon, events threaten to spiral out of control.
10.14.2022
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.
09.30.2022
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.
09.16.2022
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.
09.02.2022
Episode 49 - Succession issues
The Kingdom of Leon and Castile and the Christian territory of Valencia both grapple with succession issues.
08.19.2022
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.
08.05.2022
Episode 47 - Valencia
El Cid manages to conquer the wealthy taifa of Valencia.
07.22.2022
Episode 46 - The Almoravid advance
The Almoravids invade al-Andalus in 1090 and begin to conquer the taifas.
07.08.2022
Episode 45 - Another interlude
Between the departure of the Almoravids in 1088 and their return in 1090, a number of significant events take place.
06.24.2022
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.
06.10.2022
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.
05.27.2022
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.
05.13.2022
Episode 41 - The struggle for Toledo
As King Alfonso's attentions turn to the east, different factions inside Toledo struggle for supremacy.
04.29.2022
Episode 40 - Toledo Part 3
In the first major victory of the Reconquesta, Toledo falls to King Alfonso VI.
04.15.2022
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.
04.01.2022
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.
03.18.2022
Episode 37 - Barbastro Part 2
Christian armies from France and beyond, hit some speed humps in their attempts to conquer parts of the taifa of Zaragoza.
03.04.2022
Episode 36 - Barbastro Part 1
We turn our attentions to the Christian Kingdoms in the Pyrenees where the King of Aragon has been attempting to conquer territory in Muslim Zaragoza.

What's Reconquista about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Reconquista episodes:

Episode 85 - A bunch of Alfonsos

Episode 84 - A bunch of deaths

Episode 83 - The rise of the young Alfonsos

Episode 82 - The Caliph's campaign Part 2

Episode 81 - The Caliph's campaign Part 1

Episode 80 - Almohad consolidation

Episode 79 - The Wolf King and Geraldo the Fearless

Episode 78 - A new Caliph

Episode 77 - Setbacks all around

Episode 76 - The Kingdom of Leon and the Kingdom of Castile

Episode 75 - Exit King Alfonso VII

Episode 74 - Christian progress slows

Episode 73 - Christian conquests

Episode 72 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 4

Episode 71 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 3

Episode 70 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 2

Episode 69 - The Kingdom of Portugal and the Second Crusade Part 1

Episode 68 - The arrival of the Almohads

Episode 67 - The decline of the Almoravids

Episode 66 - Succession Drama Part 3

Episode 65 - Succession Drama Part 2

Episode 64 - Succession Drama Part 1

Episode 63 - Exit Alfonso of Aragon

Episode 62 - French troubles

Episode 61 - King Alfonso VII

Episode 60 - Alfonso of Aragon - Valencia and beyond

Episode 59 - Alfonso of Aragon - Zaragoza

Episode 58 - Queen Urraca encounters some difficulties

Episode 57 - Queen Uracca makes some moves

Episode 56 - Zaragoza

Episode 55 - Portugal

Episode 54 - Truce

Episode 53 - Family dramas

Episode 52 - Alfonso of Aragon & Urraca

Episode 51 - Yes, another episode about succession issues

Episode 50 - Some more succession issues

Episode 49 - Succession issues

Episode 48 - El Cid

Episode 47 - Valencia

Episode 46 - The Almoravid advance

Episode 45 - Another interlude

Episode 44 - Interlude

Episode 43 - The Almoravids

Episode 42 - A serpent in the basket

Episode 41 - The struggle for Toledo

Episode 40 - Toledo Part 3

Episode 39 - Toledo Part 2

Episode 38 - Toledo Part 1

Episode 37 - Barbastro Part 2

Episode 36 - Barbastro Part 1