Legends and Myths
She is blamed in legend for the fall of Visigothic Iberia.
Who is La Cava?
This was the name of Muslim-ruled Spain.
What is Al-Andalus?
This 711 battle ended Visigothic rule.
What is the Battle of Guadalete?
This city is the destination of a major Christian pilgrimage.
What is Santiago de Compostela?
This kingdom, founded in the north after 711, became the base for early Christian resistance.
What is the Kingdom of Asturias?
The Frankish emperor dreamed of St. James revealing a path to his tomb.
Who is Charlemagne?
These were Christians who adopted Muslim customs.
Who are Mozarabs?
This Christian victory in 718 became symbolic of resistance.
What is the Battle of Covadonga?
This apostle became Spain’s legendary protector.
Who is St. James (Santiago)?
This nobleman is credited with leading the first Christian victory against Muslim forces at Covadonga.
Who is Pelayo?
This knight dies heroically at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass.
Who is Roland?
This city became the cultural heart of Al-Andalus.
What is Córdoba?
This battle in 732 halted Muslim expansion into France.
What is the Battle of Poitiers?
This symbol is used to mark the Camino de Santiago.
What is the scallop shell?
This king ruled Asturias for over 50 years and promoted Christian expansion and the cult of St. James.
Who is Alfonso II (The Chaste)?
This legend frames the Muslim conquest as divine punishment.
What is the legend of Roderick and La Cava?
This status was given to Christians and Jews under Islamic rule.
What is dhimmi?
This long campaign sought to retake Iberia from Muslim control.
What is the Reconquista?
In the Middle Ages, this city was the most popular pilgrimage destination in all of Western Europe.
What is Jerusalem?
This military frontier zone was established by the Carolingians to defend against Al-Andalus.
What is the Spanish March?
This literary form mixed epic history and religious messaging in medieval France.
What is a chanson de geste?
This Spanish term describes the coexistence—real or idealized—of Muslims, Christians, and Jews in medieval Iberia.
What is convivencia?
This battle united Christian forces in 1212 for a major victory.
What is the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa?
He was king when the tomb of Santiago was rediscovered.
Who is Alfonso II?
This region became a fully independent Christian kingdom in the 12th century under Afonso Henriques.
What is Portugal?