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In 910, the Kingdom of Asturias split into three separate kingdoms: León, Galicia and Asturias.
Summary
The Kingdom of Leon was a medieval Spanish kingdom that existed from the 9th to the 12th centuries. It was one of the earliest Christian kingdoms to emerge in the Iberian Peninsula following the Umayyad conquest of Visigothic Hispania in the early 8th century.
The kingdom originated in the mountainous region of Asturias, where a small group of Visigothic nobles and commoners had taken refuge from the Muslim conquerors. In 718, this group elected Pelayo as their king, marking the beginning of the Reconquista - the gradual retaking of the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.
Under Pelayo and his successors, the Kingdom of Leon expanded gradually southward, incorporating territories such as Galicia and the former Visigothic capital of Leon. By the 10th century, Leon had become one of the most powerful Christian states in medieval Iberia, rivaling the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba in influence and military might.
The Kingdom of Leon was characterized by a strong monarchical tradition, with a succession of able rulers who consolidated the kingdom's territory and governing institutions. Notable Leonese monarchs included Alfonso III the Great, who solidified the kingdom's administrative structure, and Bermudo III, under whom Leon reached the height of its power.
Culturally, the Kingdom of Leon was heavily influenced by its Visigothic heritage, with the city of Leon serving as an important center of Christian learning and the arts. The kingdom also played a crucial role in the preservation of the Romance languages, including the development of the Leonese language.
Over time, the Kingdom of Leon became increasingly entangled with its Iberian neighbors, particularly the Kingdoms of Castile and Navarre. This eventually led to a dynastic union between Leon and Castile in 1230 under Ferdinand III, marking the beginning of the end of Leon as a distinct political entity.
Establishment
January 911: It is generally assumed that the old Asturian kingdom was divided among the three sons of Alfonso III of Asturias: García (León), Ordoño (Galicia) and Fruela (Asturias), as all three participated in the deposition of their father.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
It is generally assumed that the old Asturian kingdom was divided among the three sons of Alfonso III of Asturias: García (León), Ordoño (Galicia) and Fruela (Asturias), as all three participated in the deposition of their father.
Were a series military campaigns from the 8th century until 1492 by the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula to reconquer the region from the Islamic rulers that had conquered it during the Umayyad conquest of Hispania.
July 939: Ramiro masterminded a Pamplona/León coalition that defeated a joint Andalusian counter-offensive in the Battle of Simancas (939). This victory allowed the advance of the Leonese border of the Duero to the Tormes.
February 954: End of Morrish raid in Galicia.
January 981: Zamora, Rueda, Atienza, Sepúlveda among others fell into the hands of the Muslims.
January 988: In 987, Almansor, the powerful ruler of the Umayyad Caliphate in Al-Andalus, launched a devastating campaign in the Iberian Peninsula. He destroyed Coimbra and advanced north, conquering several castles and reaching Santiago de Compostela. The city was evacuated and razed to the ground by the Moors.
February 988: The Umayyads of Cordoba leave Coimbra and Santiago de Compostela after a raid.
January 989: In 988, Almansor, the de facto ruler of the Caliphate of Córdoba, led a devastating attack on the cities of León, Zamora, and Sahagún.
February 989: End of a Cordoban raid in Léon.
January 997: Astorga conquered by Caliphate of Córdoba.
January 998: In 997, the Caliphate of Córdoba, led by Al-Mansur, looted Castro Bergidum (El Bierzo) and Santiago de Compostela.
February 998: Leon led a military campaign against the Muslim forces, ending the looting of Castro Bergidum in El Bierzo and Santiago de Compostela.
January 1004: In 1003, the Caliphate of Córdoba, led by Al-Mansur, launched a devastating attack on the Kingdom of Leon.
February 1004: End of Moor raid in Leon.
January 1010: In 1009 The Muslims devastate León, but left the region after the raid.
January 1010: The taifa of Badajoz rose, like the other taifa kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, after the fragmentation of al-Andalus.
February 1010: In 1009 The Muslims devastate León, but left the region after the raid.
January 1032: With the breakup of the Caliphate of Córdoba in 23 taifas, sveral of its territories were acquired by its neighbours.
January 1036: Sancho III of Pamplona, also known as Sancho the Great, divided his possessions among his four sons upon his death in 1035.
July 1058: Conquest of Viseu by forces of the Kingdom of Leon.
January 1061: Forces from Leon captured the fortresses of San Esteban de Gormaz, Berlanga and Vadorrey, and afterwards proceeded through Santiuste, Huermeces and Santamara.
January 1064: Barbastro besieged and taken by a united Christian army, which was joined for the first time by many French and Norman knights.
July 1064: Coimbra, at the mouth of the Mondego, was taken by Christian forces after a six-month siege.
January 1213: In 1212, the Kingdom of Castile, led by King Alfonso VIII, captured the fortresses of Calatrava, Alarcos, and Benavente before facing the decisive battle of Las Navas de Tolosa against the Almohad Caliphate on July 16th.
January 1230: Alfonso IX of Leon advances along the Guadiana River and conquers Mérida and Badajoz.
June 1230: In 1230, the Kingdom of Leon, under the rule of King Alfonso IX, conquered the entire region of Extremadura, including the cities of Cáceres and Badajoz. This marked a significant expansion of Leon's territory and influence in the Iberian Peninsula.
2.1.Conquests of Abd ar-Rahman III
Were the conquests of the Emir and later Caliph of Córdoba, Abd ar-Rahman III.
January 954: Moorish invasion of Galicia.
2.2.Crusade of Barbastro
A military expedition by the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, sanctioned by Pope Alexander II, to take the Spanish city of Barbastro form the Muslims.
September 1064: An international expedition, sanctioned by Pope Alexander II, took the Spanish city of Barbastro.
Was a war fought between the Kingdoms of Leon and Pamplona that ended with the invasion and annexion of Leon by Sancho III of Pamplona.
April 1033: Sancho of Pamplona conquered Zamora.
January 915: In 914, upon the death of Garcia, without issue, Ordoño was also proclaimed king of León, thus reunifying Galicia with León.
January 925: When Fruela II, in 925, reunified the three kingdoms again into a single kingdom, he moved the capital of the kingdom to León, giving life to a new kingdom: the Kingdom of León.
September 982: The kingdom of León was divided into two large areas of influence: the Galician-Portuguese territory supported Bermudo, while Castile and the Leonese territory proper remained loyal to Ramiro.
June 984: In 984, the lands of Cea and the county of Saldaña recognized Bermudo II as their king. Bermudo II was a King of León and Galicia, known for his military campaigns against the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula.
June 985: The death of Ramiro III in 985 left Bermudo II as sole sovereign over the entire kingdom of León.
January 1035: In 1034, the city of León, the imperiale culmen (imperial capital, as Sancho saw it), fell, and there Sancho of Pamplona had himself crowned.
January 1036: Sancho III of Pamplona, also known as Sancho the Great, divided his possessions among his four sons upon his death in 1035.
September 1037: Bermudo III of León, was ultimately killed in the Battle of Tamarón by Ferdinand of Castile. This allowed Ferdinand to unite his Castilian county with the new-won crown of León as king Ferdinand I.
January 1054: Ferdinand of Leon ceded Bureba to his elder brother García Sánchez III of Navarre.
September 1054: The relationship between García of Navarre and Ferdinand of Leon deteriorated with time, the two disputing the lands on the Pamplonese-Castilian border, and ended violently in September 1054 at the Battle of Atapuerca, in which García was killed, and Ferdinand took from Pamplona the lands in La Bureba and the Tirón River.
January 1065: The Kingdom of Leon extended its control over more of the western territory of Navarre at the expense of Sancho IV.
June 1065: In 1065, the king of the taifa of Zaragoza, Al-Muqtadir, with the help of the other rulers of al-Andalus, reconquered the city of Barbastro.
December 1065: By his will, Ferdinand of Leon divided his kingdom among his three sons: the eldest, Sancho, received Castile; the second, Alfonso, León. From the latter the region of Galicia was carved off to create a separate state for García.
July 1071: In May or early June 1071, Alfonso of Leon invaded Galicia and northern Portugal.
August 1071: Alfonso of Leon leaves Galicia.
January 1072: Sancho of Castile's attack on León resulted in Alfonso's defeat and exile in 1072. Sancho reunited Castile and Leon.
January 1158: Division of the Kingdom of Castile and Leon after the death of Alfonso VII.
January 1164: In 1163 the King of Portugal occupied Salamanca in retaliation for the repopulation of the area ordered by the King of León.
January 1165: Ferdinand II of Leon, defeated King Afonso I of Portugal in 1164 in Salamanca.
January 1169: In 1168 Afonso of Portugal again felt menaced by Ferdinand II's repopulation of the area of Ciudad Rodrigo: he then attacked Galicia, occupying Tui and the territory of Xinzo de Limia.
February 1169: Ferdinand II of Leon was able to push the Portuguese out of Galicia and to rush to Badajoz.
January 1179: Ferdinand of Leon surprised his nephew Alfonso VIII of Castile, and occupied Castrojeriz and Dueñas.
June 1230: In 1230, the Kingdom of Leon, under the rule of King Alfonso IX, conquered the entire region of Extremadura, including the cities of Cáceres and Badajoz. This marked a significant expansion of Leon's territory and influence in the Iberian Peninsula.
September 1230: When Alfonso IX died in 1230, his son by Berenguela of Castile, Ferdinand III of Castile, invaded León and assumed the crown.
January 1297: Secession of Leon from Castile.
January 1297: Denis of Portugal invaded and annexed the district of Ribacôa (which today includes the municipalities of Almeida, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Pinhel and Sabugal), between the Côa and Duero rivers.
September 1297: The Treaty of Alcañices defined the modern borders between Castile and Portugal.
Disestablishment
January 1302: Prince John renounced his claims to the kingdom of León, in exchange for large donations.
Kingdom of Leon
