How did the Umayyad Caliphate conquer Hispania?

In the early eighth century, military commander Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed from North Africa into the Iberian Peninsula, defeating the Visigothic King Roderic at the Battle of Guadalete. This campaign destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom and established Muslim rule over the territory known as al-Andalus under the Umayyad dynasty. Despite internal revolts and northern Christian resistance like the Battle of Covadonga, Umayyad rule was eventually consolidated across most of the peninsula.

What we know

• Tariq ibn Ziyad departed from North Africa in early 711 to launch a military expedition against the Visigothic Kingdom based in Toledo. [1, 2]
• The Umayyad forces defeated King Roderic at the Battle of Guadalete in July 711. [1, 2]
• The Visigothic count of Murcia, Theodemir, conditionally surrendered in 713. [2]
• Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa was named the first governor of al-Andalus in 715, establishing Seville as his capital. [2]

Still open

• The exact role and background of Julian, Count of Ceuta, in allying with the Muslims are derived from sources that vary in their details.

Where to go next

• whoWho was Tariq ibn Ziyad?
• how it workedWhat happened at the Battle of Guadalete?
• the bigger pictureWhat was the Visigothic Kingdom?
• a case in pointHow did the Battle of Covadonga unfold?
• what followedWhat was the Reconquista?
• an unexpected connectionHow did Roman provinces relate to Umayyad expansion?The Umayyad military expedition targeted the Visigothic Kingdom that encompassed the former territory of Roman Hispania.

Sources

• [1]Umayyad conquest of Hispania (Wikidata Q1455917) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Julian, Count of Ceuta · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Hispania · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Battle of Tours · CC BY-SA 4.0