Tariq´s Invasion - Moorish Invasion of Iberia - 8th Century
In Toledo, where the gorge of the river Tagus opens out onto the plane, there are ruins called the Baths of La Cava. According to legend, it was here that Rodrigo, the last Visigothic King in Spain, seduced fair Florinda as she bathed in the river. ‘Florinda La Cava' was the daughter of Count Julian, Rodrigo's Governor in North Africa, and to avenge the dishonoring of his daughter.
We do not know whether the legend is true. What we do know is that Julian changed his allegiance in 709, when King Rodrigo withdrew his trust in him and stripped him of his domains on the northern coast of Africa. Julian then joined forces with the Muslims to promote the Islamic invasion of Iberia.
Julian approached Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Moorish commandant at Tangier in the name of Musa, the Governor of Ifriqiya (North Africa). Following their agreed plans, Julian himself lead a small party over the strait in coasting boats and went underground to await their leader. Tariq joined the last contingent, landing at Gibraltar regrouping and marching on and seizing Algeciras.
The Rock of Gibraltar was chosen as the optimal location for this operation due to its proximity to the embarkation point and its defensibility against Visigothic attacks. Most Muslim historic sources agree that Gibraltar was the landing site for the invading forces led by Tariq, and the mountain subsequently became known as Gabal Tariq (Mount of Tariq).
Incursions preceding the 711 landing
In fact, a year earlier in July 710, Musa had launched an initial reconnaissance, sending Tarif ibn Maluk with 400 infantry and 100 horsemen from Tangier over to Tarifa using the island of Tarifa as its base. (Tarif is hence the city's namesake) in four ships. They encountered no opposition, possibly because the garrisons of Bética were almost without forces at that time due to political rivalries for the throne after King Witiza's death in early 710. They pushed as far as Algeciras, laying hands on money and enslaving women before returning.
Prior to this, in late 709, Julián led a raid on the Visigothic coast of the Strait. This operation is mentioned in all the available literature, and some authors state that it lasted only one day. Julián encountered no naval opposition during this incursion. Some historians also mention a third incursion into the same area, led by an elderly Berber — possibly Abu Zarah — with an army of up to a thousand men./p>
Battle of Guadalete
Hearing that Visigoth King Rodrigo was on his way south with an army of 100.000, Tariq requested reinforcements from Musa. He received 7,000 men, giving him a total of just 12.000. Nonetheless, Tariq met Rodrigo on the banks of a river, which had been identified as the Guadalete. Battle of Guadalete lasted from morning to nightfall. When the two flanks of Rodrigo's army fled, the centre lead by Rodrigo was left with the swampy areas behind them. Whereas most reports state that Rodrigo disappeared during the fight, modern research believes he died at the confluence of the Arroyo Vico and the Almodóvar river, when his horse became bogged down in the mud. His body was never recorded as found.
More recent research in "The battle of the Montes Transductinos: location and reconstruction of the itineraries of the battle that decided the fate of the Visigoth kingdom" by the Spanish Association of Military History journal Atenea, places the battle on the Almodóvar River, between the Torrejosa hill (near Facinas, Tarifa) and the lagoon of the Janda, about 60 kilometers from Guadalete. See map below. Source.
Tarik marches north to Toledo
Next, Tariq routed the remains of Rodrigo's army at Ecija, and took Julian's advice to march on Toledo, where the city gates were simply opened up to him. He entrusted the siege of Cordoba to his lieutenant Moghit and dispatched different military detachments for Elviria, Malaga and Murcia.
Tariq's rapid conquering force was overtaken by Musa's, which enjoyed numerous successes as it advanced to Zaragoza, across the Ebro and even into France.
No counter-movement by the Visigothic
All of Iberia, except Galicia and Asturias, was now in Muslim hands. Musa was not even certain he could retain control over so vast a country with so few resources. He made Seville, rather than Toledo, his base as it would be easier to evacuate.
Musa travelled to Damascus to give his account of the opportune conquest to the Caliph, and laid at his feet an immense booty and thousands of captives.
Why was the invasion and occupation so fast
These combined military forces conquered Iberia very quickly. Following Rodrigo's death, there was no counter-movement by the Visigothic nobility, Wanda's princes or the people to push the invaders back. Perhaps the Visigoths saw Tariq's Berber tribesmen as allies of convenience who would free them from fiscal and clerical tyranny, and then, once they had amassed enough loot, return to North Africa. Indeed, almost everyone helped them on their way like a liberating army, guiding them and opening city gates. Research published in the journal Nature identifies drought as a contributing cause.
The Visigoths primarily lacked significant naval capabilities, a factor that contributed to the success of the 711 invasion. Their strategy against African threats seemed to rely more on a "defence in depth" on land rather than on preventing small coastal incursions, confident in their terrestrial military strength
Moorish history of Andalucia
Tariq’s Invasion
Umayyads
Almoravids and Almohads
Las Navas de Tolosa
Nasrids
Boabdil
Next page: Jews in Spain