The Armies of Iberian

Introduction

The following words were written by the poet ar-rundi after Seville fell to Ferdinand III of Castile (1129-1252) in December 1248. By that date many other cities, including Valencia, Murcia, Jaen and Cordoba, had been captured and it seemed that the end of Muslim Iberia was imminent. However, it was not until 1492 that the Moorish kingdom of Granada finally surrendered.

The conquest and then re-conquest of Iberia lasted for approx 800 years, starting with the Berber Muslim invasion in 711-21 and finishing with the fall of Granada the the Christians in 1492. Over that period armies on both sides developed and changed considerably, there were many influences, from Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Some of these units and there equipment is included in these pages

The info included in these pages are taken from various sources – mainly

1/ History Today April 2002 vol 52(2) – The Muslim Expulsion from Spain

2/ El Cid and the Reconquista 1050 – 1492 – David Nicolle – illustration by Angus McBride

3/ The Moors – The Islamic West – 7th to 15th centures AD – David Nicolle – illustration by Angus McBride