Granada, Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, Marbella, Ronda, Cádiz, Jaen, Almería, Nerja, Tarifa

approx. 236 years Visigoths

In 409, when the Western Roman Empire was in decline, the Suebi, Alans and Vandals launched their first major invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Roman administration, increasingly weakened and unable to defend the empire's borders, looked for allies and called on the Visigoths for help. These Germanic warriors drove the invaders into North Africa and established themselves as a new power on the peninsula. However, the alliance with the Romans was fragile: the Visigoths repeatedly disregarded the agreements, and in view of the progressive weakness of the Western Roman emperor, rule increasingly passed from the Romans to the Visigoths. Finally, in 475, the Visigoths ended Roman rule in Andalusia and established their own empire.

The Visigoths established a largely stable ruling structure, but this was challenged by the invasion of the Byzantines in 552. Byzantine troops occupied large parts of southern Spain, establishing strategically important bastions in cities such as Málaga and Cartagena and advancing as far as Córdoba. While Byzantine control was concentrated on the coastal regions, the hinterland remained largely in the hands of the Visigoths, who defended their position.

A significant turning point in the history of the Visigoths was the year 589, when their king converted to the Catholic faith. This conversion marked the beginning of a close relationship between the Visigothic crown and the Catholic Church. The church gained influence and promoted the feudal distribution of the land, which helped to consolidate social hierarchies. Even today, many Spanish noble families proudly emphasize their alleged descent from the Visigoths, underlining the enduring legacy of this era in Spanish history.

In the 7th century, the Byzantine Empire came under increasing pressure in Spain. It was attacked by external enemies and weakened by internal unrest, which gave the Visigoths the opportunity to reconquer the lost territories. However, the reconquest was not an easy process: the Byzantine governor of Spain was defeated twice and Málaga, a key city, was finally lost around 615. By around 625, the Visigoths were able to reconquer the last Byzantine possessions and consolidate their rule over the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Despite these military successes, Visigothic society suffered from deep social and economic inequalities. While a wealthy upper class clung to their possessions and privileges, the majority of the population lived in poverty and without land ownership. Politically, the kingdom of the Visigoths was weakened by the ongoing dispute over the question of succession to the throne - elective or hereditary monarchy. These internal conflicts and the lack of unity prepared the ground for the success of the Islamic conquest in the early 8th century, which ultimately brought down the Visigothic Empire.

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