What was the battle of Covadonga and how is it defined?

Magnified by Spanish nationalists who mistakenly consider it the beginning of the reconquest, since it is not even certain that it took place more than a border skirmish, nor was the peak moment in which the tables are turned (which was the battle of Poitiers in 732) the battle of Covadonga (possibly fought sometime between 718 and 722) was a victory for the Asturian tribes allied with the Visigothic remnants that had ruled the peninsula before the arrival of the Muslims, led by a warlord who would also become part of the national mythology Spanish: Don Pelayo.

This fact can also be seen as the last death throes of Roman Hispania, since the Astures, Romanized, resisted Visigothic rule with various riots and uprisings, and even -and due to the Celtic origin of this tribe- it can be seen as the last flash of pre-Roman Hispania, although in a very forced interpretation of the social reality of the peninsula in the epoch.

The Kingdom of Asturias, which would be born in 718, would be the first of the medieval kingdoms that would end up forming the

political map that would end up leading to the formation of Spain, Portugal and Andorra.

There are more doubts than historical certainties about the supposed battle that, fueled later by a Christian faction in need of feats to encourage its warriors and citizens, at a time when the inheritance of the Visigothic kingdom of the peninsula began to form a political backbone to resist the Muslim advance through the peninsula and Europe.

Some historians cling to the lack of contemporary documents about the battle to affirm that it possibly never existed, not even as a skirmish, and which was a later invention, sometime around the year 900, to justify the Christian monarchs of the time as heirs of said victory and, therefore, legitimate holders of the crown as representatives of those who won said battle united against the common enemy.

precedents

The advance of the Muslim troops through the Iberian Peninsula after their landing near Gibraltar in 711 was rapid, since that they had the acquiescence of both some Visigothic nobles in conflict with their own leaders, as well as part of the population Hispano-Romana who felt the Visigoths as invaders (and, the truth is that this people of Germanic origin never integrated in general with the pre-existing autochthonous population).

This rapidity caused large areas of territory nominally under Muslim rule, although in practice they were ruled by local warlords who swore allegiance to the Muslims. new dominators, or they directly made their life without giving much importance to what happened outside their domains, also counting that the new Muslim authorities would do nothing immediately to subdue them, due to the fragility of their own situation.

It is in this context that the Astures, subjugated since the 6th century AD. c. by the Visigoths, and although socially diluted, still structured as a differentiated people that had staged various revolts against the dominators of Germanic origin, choose Pelayo as leader, who would later give rise to the first dynasty of kings Asturian-Leonese.

Despite the fact that the Asturian nobles had delivered hostages to the Muslims, and that they had some garrison on the terrain (as in Gijón), resistance to the new ruling class ended up being organized in the northern mountainous area, led by Pelayo. The forces he commanded began a policy of harassment against Muslims, consisting of small actions against detachments, both fixed and step, a guerrilla war in which later the Asturian Christians returned to their bases in the areas mountainous.

Little by little, the Muslim troops and authorities were being expelled from the northwestern geographical area of ​​the peninsula, for which reason the I was worth (governor) decides to carry out a raid against the rebel forces.

As I have said before that the date of the battle is not certain, this figure who acted as the Muslim governor of the northwest of the peninsula could be Otman ben Neza, known as Munuza, or his successor in office, Anbasa ibn Suhaym al-Kalbi (Anbasa).

The battle'

Due to the lack of contemporary sources, many details of the Muslim incursion and its subsequent defeat are unknown and, therefore, what is narrated here consists of the thesis more accepted by the historiography current.

With the advancement of a force Muslim that could have been several thousand soldiers, the Astures led by Pelayo took refuge in the vicinity from the current town of Covadonga, in a valley area flanked by mountains near the Picos de Europa, in the north peninsular.

This area was easily defensible considering that the defenders had taken up positions and could comfortably observe the enemy's movements.

Some chronicles allude to the fact that Pelayo would have hidden part of the 300 warriors with whom he could have counted, and that they would be outnumbered by a part of the attacking Muslim forces, currently estimated at between 800 and 1,400 effective. The Muslims sent an embassy to talk with Pelayo, but it did not reach any agreement.

After this, the Muslim troops entered the valley, being surprised by the launch of arrows and projectiles from the superior positions occupied by the Astures, who in this way decimated the attackers, inflicting not only casualties but also causing panic among their rows.

In the rout that would have followed this first attack, Pelayo's hidden forces (according to legend, they were waiting in a large nearby cave), very probably cavalry, would have attacked the broken Muslim ranks, 'sweeping' in their path the groups that could still pose a certain endurance.

Consequences

All the chronicles of the events are after the battle, and while Christian sources magnify the battle (even citing a confrontation between the 300 of Pelayo and more than 100,000 Muslims), the Muslims diminish their importance, reducing it to a simple skirmish.

A middle ground is probably the right one: the battle was neither large nor decisive, but it made it difficult to advance in the area Muslims, in addition to strengthening the leadership of Pelayo who, in a short time, would also ensure the independence of the Kingdom of Asturias.

Through the east of the peninsula, the Muslims continued advancing northward, until they reached present-day Tours, 200 km from Paris, where on October 732 they would be defeated and put to flight, going on to stabilize the front that divided Islam and Christianity in the northern part of the peninsula iberian.

With this battle of Poitiers, the reconquest would begin, which would culminate in 1492 with the reconquest of the Kingdom of Granada.