Middle Ages | home
History of Extremadura | Prehistoric | Roman | Middle Ages | Conquistadors | Modern History | Religious History | Changing Times
During the Middle Ages, the history of Extremadura can be broken down into three main periods: a) Barbaric Peoples
b) Arab Conquest
c) Christian Reconquest
The Occupation by the Barbaric People
With the invasion of the Barbaric tribes came the loss of influence of many of the Roman cities, (with the exception of Mérida, which continued on as the regional capital) and the increasing ruralization of Extremadura. In the year 411 A.D. Mérida was seiged by the Alans, and chosen by their king Atace as the seat of his kingdom. Afterwards, Extremadura was occupied by the Sueve kings, Hermigario, Rechila, and Rechiario. Rechila (441-448) was noted as favoring the Arian religious sect, while Rechiario (448-457) reputedly converted to Catholicism. Later, the Visigothic king Teodorico refrained from attacking Mérida, due to the supposed supernatural intervention of the martyr saint Eulalia. However, another Visigothic king, Eurico, did end up seiging Mérida. Later on, Claudius, the Duke of Mérida, revolted against the Visigothic king Liuva II and was eventually forced to submit. The continued cultural importance of Mérida is evidenced in its election as the seat of the Archbishopric of Spain. The archbishop Masona was elected by the Fathers of the Spanish church to preside the Third Council of Toledo, in which the Visigothic king Reccared officially renounced his loyalty to Arianism and converted to Catholicism. As a result, there was an increased merging of hispano-roman and visigothic cultures.
The Conquest and Domination of the Arabs
In the year 713, Mérida fell captive to the advancing army of the Arab general, Muza. From this time, on several occasion the Berbers who settled in Mérida, as well as the remaining Christians, attempted uprisings against the Emirate of Córdoba, but were eventually put down. In 855, when Mérida is defeated by the forces of Mohammed I, that the population of Mérida looks to the protection of Abderramán-ibm-Meruvan, who had established himself in the then small village of Badajoz. In the following years as Meruvan gained in power, Badajoz gained in significance and prestige, surpassing the importance of Mérida in the region. In the year 930, Mérida and Badajoz were named as capitals of two separate provinces. In the following year, power changed hands various other times among various Arab rulers until the year 1110 when Raimundo of Borgoña, an independent Christian count from Portugal, conquered Badajoz.
The Christian Reconquest
In 1142 Alfonso VII reconquered Coria and initiated the great Christian advance in Extremadura. During succeeding years, various cities and fortresses in the region changed hands back and forth between Christian and Muslim forces. During the years 1218-1230, important Christian gains were made under the reign of Alfonso IX and the contribution of the military orders of Alcántara and Calatrava, and the troops of the bishop of Plasencia, don Benito. In 1221 Valencia de Alcántara was taken by the order which bears its name, and in 1227, Cáceres was taken with the help of the knights of Santiago. Soon afterwards, in the winter of 1229-1230, Montánchez, Mérida, and Badajoz are conquered by the Christians. In the following years, various other fortresses are taken and all of Extremadura is eventually annexed to the Christian kingdom of Castille and León. During the 1300’s there was some infighting among local Christian forces and invaders from Portugal. Also, the land was divided during this period primarily between local aristocracy and the religious military orders. In 1383 the Castillian king Juan I married the Portuguese princess Beatriz in Badajoz. When the Portuguese king died in 1384, Juan I tried to consolidate himself as king over Portugal, but is defeated by the maestre of Avís, and Badajoz was taken by the Portuguese army, and left in ruins. Years later Enrique IV of Castille attempted to arrange a marriage between his daughter Juana “la Beltraneja” and the king of Portugal. In the war launched thereafter by Isabella “the Catholic queen” and Juana “la Beltraneja”, Extremadura was sharply divided. In 1474, Mérida fell into the hands of Juana’s troops. However, shortly thereafter, in the battle of La Albuera, all of Extremadura was taken by the forces of Isabella, and continued throughout her reign as part of the united kingdom of Castille.