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Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic

The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century.

The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century. The conquest resulted in the end of Christian rule in most of Iberia and the establishment of Muslim Arab-Moorish rule in that territory, which came to be known as al-Andalus, under the Umayyad dynasty.

During the caliphate of the sixth Umayyad caliph al-Walid I (r. 705–715), military commander Tariq ibn Ziyad departed from North Africa under the command of Musa bin Nusayr in early 711 to cross the Straits of Gibraltar, with a force of about 1,700 men, to launch a military expedition against the Visigoth-controlled Kingdom of Toledo, which encompassed the former territory of Roman Hispania.

Historical Significance

The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century.

Events Before

  1. John VII ends his reign as Catholic Pope

    Pope John VII (Latin: Ioannes VII; c. 650 – 18 October 707) was the bishop of Rome from 1 March 705 to his death on 18 October 707.

  2. Sisinnius begins his reign as pope but dies just 20 days later

    Sisinnius begins his reign as pope but dies just 20 days later

  3. Constantine begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff.

  4. Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708)

    Year 708 (DCCVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar, the 708th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 708th year of the 1st millennium, the 8th...

  5. Saracens invade Sardinia

    Sardinia, officially the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, and one of the twenty regions of Italy.

Events After

  1. Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

    Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

  2. St Gregory II begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    St Gregory II begins his reign as Catholic Pope

  3. Ragenfrid defeats Theudoald at the Battle of Compiègne

    Theudoald (or Theodald; c. 708 – 741) was the Frankish mayor of the palace, briefly unopposed in 714 after the death of his grandfather, Pepin of Herstal.

  4. Battle of Vincy: Charles Martel and the Austrasians defeat the King of the Franks, Chilperic II, and his mayor, Ragenfri

    Battle of Vincy: Charles Martel and the Austrasians defeat the King of the Franks, Chilperic II, and his mayor, Ragenfrid, in Cambrai during the Frankish Civil War

  5. Odo of Aquitaine defeats a Umayyad Muslim army at the Battle of Toulouse, halting Arab expansion in Western Europe

    Odo of Aquitaine defeats a Umayyad Muslim army at the Battle of Toulouse, halting Arab expansion in Western Europe

More from the 710s

Islamic conquest of Iberia: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberi

Islamic conquest of Iberia: Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus)

Battle of Vincy: Charles Martel and the Austrasians defeat the King of the Franks, Chilperic II, and his mayor, Ragenfri

Battle of Vincy: Charles Martel and the Austrasians defeat the King of the Franks, Chilperic II, and his mayor, Ragenfrid, in Cambrai during the Frankish Civil War

Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

Catholic Pope Constantine dies after seven years in office

St Gregory II begins his reign as Catholic Pope

St Gregory II begins his reign as Catholic Pope

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 19, 711?
The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century. The conquest resulted in the end of Christian rule in most of Iberia and the establishment of Muslim Arab-Moorish rule in that territory, which came to be known as al-Andalus, under the Umayyad dynasty. During the caliphate of the sixth Umayyad caliph al-Walid I (r.
Why is Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Ro... significant?
The Umayyad Caliphate destroyed the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century.

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July 19 in HistoryYear 711