Episode 112 - Muhammad's rebellion
While King Alfonso X is absent from the Iberian peninsula, Muhammad of Grenada invades Castile - leaving the kingdom scrambling to defend itself.
Jun 20, 2025•21 min•Ep. 112
Reconquista
The history of the rise of Al-Andalus and the gradual re-conquering of Spain by the Spanish Christian kingdoms is an epic tale beginning in the year 712 and concluding with the fall of the Kingdom of Grenada in 1492. Join the History of the Crusades Podcast as we cover this lengthy piece of narrative history.
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Episodes
Episode 111 - Alfonso of the wrongs
King Alfonso X introduces a number of unpopular policies inside his realm, causing a rebellion to break out.
Jun 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 111
Episode 110 - Crusading capers
As peace settles over the Iberian peninsula, some of the Christian kings decide to journey to the Holy Land on crusade.
May 23, 2025•21 min•Ep. 110
Episode 109 - The Muslim uprising of 1264
The Kingdom of Grenada launches a large scale uprising against Castilian rule in 1264.
May 09, 2025•22 min•Ep. 109
Episode 108 - King Alfonso X of Leon and Castile Part 2
An increasingly frustrated King Alfonso attempts to extend Castilian territory into Navarre, Gascony and northern Africa.
Apr 25, 2025•21 min•Ep. 108
Episode 107 - King Alfonso X of Leon and Castile
We welcome a new ruler to the kingdoms of Leon and Castile - King Alfonso X. This very ambitious monarch commences his reign by attempting to become the next Holy Roman Emperor.
Apr 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 107
Episode 106 - The Kingdom of Grenada
Following the fall of Seville, many of its Muslim residents relocated to the Kingdom of Grenada. We take a closer look at this Muslim territory.
Mar 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 106
Episode 105 - The fall of Jaen and Seville
Two milestone events in the Reconquista occur under the leadership of King Fernando III - the defeat of the cities of Jaen and Seville.
Mar 14, 2025•24 min•Ep. 105
Episode 104 - The downfall of King Sancho II of Portugal
During the busy years of the 1240's King Sancho II of Portugal loses his battle with the church, while ibn al-Ahmar attempts to annex the city of Seville.
Feb 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 104
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'.
Dec 20, 2024•23 min•Ep. 103
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.
Dec 06, 2024•21 min•Ep. 102
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.
Nov 22, 2024•21 min•Ep. 101
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.
Nov 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 100
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.
Oct 25, 2024•22 min•Ep. 99
Episode 98 - Christian conquests
We follow King James I of Aragon and King Alfonso IX of Leon as they go on the offensive.
Oct 11, 2024•22 min•Ep. 98
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.
Sep 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 97
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.
Sep 13, 2024•22 min•Ep. 96
Episode 95 - More crusading
As crusading fever sweeps across Europe, a number of crusades are launched against the Almohads - with mixed results.
Aug 30, 2024•22 min•Ep. 95
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.
Aug 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 94
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.
Aug 02, 2024•23 min•Ep. 93
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.
Jul 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 92
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.
Jul 05, 2024•22 min•Ep. 91
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.
Jun 21, 2024•23 min•Ep. 90
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.
Jun 07, 2024•22 min•Ep. 89
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.
May 24, 2024•20 min•Ep. 88
Episode 87 - Alarcos
The truces between the Christian rulers and the Caliph expire and both sides clash at the Battle of Alarcos in 1195.
May 10, 2024•22 min•Ep. 87
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.
Apr 26, 2024•21 min•Ep. 86
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.
Apr 12, 2024•23 min•Ep. 85
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.
Mar 29, 2024•22 min•Ep. 84
Episode 83 - The rise of the young Alfonsos
We track the progress of the two new kids on the block in Christian Spain - King Alfonso VIII of Castile and King Alfonso II of Aragon.
Mar 15, 2024•23 min•Ep. 83
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