Reconquista

Episode 103 - Christian expansion

During the 1240s, the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile go on the offensive against al-Andalus, in a campaign known as 'the great game'. 

Episode 102 - The Conquest of Valencia Part 2

In a major milestone for the Reconquista, King James I of Aragon conquers the city of Valencia in 1238.

Episode 101 - The Conquest of Valencia Part 1

King James I of Aragon commences his conquest of Valencia and we welcome a new player to the narrative - King Thibaut I of Navarre. 

Episode 100 - The Conquest of Cordoba Part 2

The Christians succeed in taking one of the most important cities in al-Andalus - the city of Cordoba which surrendered in 1236.

Episode 99 - The Conquest of Cordoba Part 1

As the Muslims of al-Andalus fight each other, King Fernando of Leon and Castile takes advantage of an opportunity to strike Cordoba.

Episode 98 - Christian conquests

We follow King James I of Aragon and King Alfonso IX of Leon as they go on the offensive.

Episode 97 - Too many Caliphs

As Caliphs come and go at a dizzying rate, Almohad rule in al-Andalus crumbles - giving rise to a new ruler, ibn Hud.

Episode 96 - The Crusade of King Fernando III

King Fernando III of Castile embarks on his first crusade, while one of the contenders for Caliph forms an unlikely alliance with Castile.

Episode 95 - More crusading

As crusading fever sweeps across Europe, a number of crusades are launched against the Almohads - with mixed results.

Episode 94 - The Crusade of Alcacer do Sal

We welcome a new King to the throne of Castile and join the Portugese in a crusade to seize a Muslim stronghold to the south of Lisbon.

Episode 93 - A bunch of deaths

A bunch of consequential deaths in the years following the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, upend the politics of the Iberian peninsula.

Episode 92 - The Crusade of Las Navas de Tolosa Part 2

We conclude our look at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which ends in a decisive victory for the crusaders.

Episode 91 - The Crusade of Las Navas de Tolosa Part 1

It's crusade time!  A major crusading expedition leaves Toledo in June 1212 under the command of King Alfonso VIII of Castile.  It heads directly southwards, intending to confront the Caliph's forces.  

Episode 90 - Salvatierra

After a decade-long period of peace, the Christians and Muslims of the Iberian peninsula clash once again, with the Caliph targetting the Christian stronghold of Salvatierra.

Episode 89 - Peace with the Almohads

A decade long period of peace between the Almohads and the Christians commences, leaving the Christian kings free to do what they do best - fight each other.

Episode 88 - Castile in the crosshairs

Following its loss at the Battle of Alarcos, the Kingdom of Castile faces an existential threat in 1196 as it is attacked simultaneously by Leon, Navarre and the Almohads.

Episode 87 - Alarcos

The truces between the Christian rulers and the Caliph expire and both sides clash at the Battle of Alarcos in 1195.

Episode 86 - Confrontations

During the years 1190 and 1191, the Caliph launches a number of military campaigns against the Kingdom of Portugal, intent on reclaiming the town of Silves.

Episode 85 - A bunch of Alfonsos

Following the bunch of deaths which occurred in the last episode, we have a bunch of new Christian kings - most of whom are named Alfonso.  

As the Third Crusade is launched, we see the new king of Portugal, King Sancho I, join with a fleet of crusaders to attack the Muslim town of Silves. 

Episode 84 - A bunch of deaths

 We cover the Caliph's campaign against the Christians in 1184 and wave goodbye to three major players from our narrative.