New History of Spain

In episode 39, I explain the origins of Catalonia, the end of the Carolingian Empire, and the independence of the counties of the Spanish March. We explore figures such as Count Ramon of Ribagorza and Pallars, Sunyer II of Empúries, and Delà of Girona, and Wifred the Hairy himself, a much-mythologized figure. Here, I attempt to separate fact from fiction. I discuss the succession of Wifred the Hairy without the intervention of the Frankish king. SUPPORT NEW HISTORY OF SPAIN: Patreon: https://patreon.com/newhistoryspain  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/newhistoryspain PayPal: https://paypal.me/lahistoriaespana Bitcoin donation: bc1q64qs58s5c5kp5amhw5hn7vp9fvtekeq96sf4au Ethereum donation: 0xE3C423625953eCDAA8e57D34f5Ce027dd1902374 Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jUvtdRKxUC Follow the show for updates on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/newhistoryspain.com Or Twitter/X: https://x.com/newhistoryspain YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@newhistoryspain Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-history-of-spain/id1749528700 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hstfgSYFfFPXhjps08IYi Spotify (video version): https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFZ00DSgMAEle9vngg537 Spanish show 'La Historia de España-Memorias Hispánicas': https://www.youtube.com/@lahistoriaespana TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hook 00:31 When Was Catalonia Born? 04:07 The End of the Carolingian Empire 08:45 The Last Appointed Counts of the Spanish March 11:40 The lesser-known counts: Delà of Girona and Sunyer II of Empúries 14:42 The Independence of the Counties of Ribagorza and Pallars 17:29 The Ecclesiastical Conflict of Esclua 20:27 Wifred the Hairy: Between Myth and History 25:32 The Deeds of Wifred the Hairy's Rule 29:54 The Hereditary Succession of Wifred the Hairy 34:19 The Verdict: The Gray Scale of Independence and Sovereignty 35:56 Outro

The Kingdom of Asturias greatly expanded its borders under King Alfonso III of Asturias (866-910), nicknamed the Great. Episode 38 covers most aspects of his reign and the final years of his father, Ordoño, including the origins of Castile and Portugal as counties, the society of comital Castile, and the tragic story of the end of Alfonso's reign with the revolt of his sons and the division of the Kingdom of Asturias. SUPPORT NEW HISTORY OF SPAIN: Patreon: https://patreon.com/newhistoryspain  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/newhistoryspain PayPal: https://paypal.me/lahistoriaespana Bitcoin donation: bc1q64qs58s5c5kp5amhw5hn7vp9fvtekeq96sf4au Ethereum donation: 0xE3C423625953eCDAA8e57D34f5Ce027dd1902374 Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jUvtdRKxUC Follow the show for updates on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/newhistoryspain.com Or Twitter/X: https://x.com/newhistoryspain YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@newhistoryspain Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-history-of-spain/id1749528700 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hstfgSYFfFPXhjps08IYi Spotify (video version): https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFZ00DSgMAEle9vngg537 Spanish show 'La Historia de España-Memorias Hispánicas': https://www.youtube.com/@lahistoriaespana TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hook 00:22 The End of Musa ibn Musa 03:41 The Conditions of Asturian Expansion 06:17 The Birth of the County of Castile 12:24 Settlement and Power in Comital Castile 16:45 Alfonso the Great, King in Asturias 21:03 Expansion on the Western Flank: The Counties of Portugal and Coimbra 24:57 Ibn al-Qitt and the Day of Zamora 29:10 Revolts and Conspiracies. The Division of the Kingdom of Asturias 33:04 The Verdict: Alfonso the Not So Great 34:14 Outro

In episode 37, we explore the political history of the Iberian Peninsula in the 850s, with events such as a major rebellion in Toledo, the expansion of Asturias into León and Astorga under Ordoño I of Asturias, the founding of Madrid, and conflicts with the Banu Qasi and the Vikings. It was a period of significant political change that heralded the civil war that swept through the Emirate of Córdoba shortly afterward. SUPPORT NEW HISTORY OF SPAIN: Patreon: https://patreon.com/newhistoryspain  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/newhistoryspain PayPal: https://paypal.me/lahistoriaespana Bitcoin donation: bc1q64qs58s5c5kp5amhw5hn7vp9fvtekeq96sf4au Ethereum donation: 0xE3C423625953eCDAA8e57D34f5Ce027dd1902374 Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jUvtdRKxUC Follow the show for updates on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/newhistoryspain.com Or Twitter/X: https://x.com/newhistoryspain YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@newhistoryspain Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-history-of-spain/id1749528700 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hstfgSYFfFPXhjps08IYi Spotify (video version): https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFZ00DSgMAEle9vngg537 Spanish show 'La Historia de España-Memorias Hispánicas': https://www.youtube.com/@lahistoriaespana TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hook 00:27 The rise to the throne of Muhammad I of Córdoba 02:13 The Rebellion of Toledo and the Battle of Guadacelete 09:43 The Asturian Incorporation of León and Astorga 12:54 The Islamic Foundation of Madrid 16:04 Musa ibn Musa, Lord of the Upper March. The Battle of Albelda 22:16 The Vikings Return: The Expedition of 858–860 25:30 The Verdict: Making the Enemy Bigger Than He Really Was 26:27 Outro

In episode 36, we explore the political history of the Kingdom of Asturias under Kings Alfonso II, Nepotian, and Ramiro I. I also discuss the origins of the Jacobean cult and the emergence of Asturian pre-Romanesque art. SUPPORT NEW HISTORY OF SPAIN: Patreon: https://patreon.com/newhistoryspain  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/newhistoryspain PayPal: https://paypal.me/lahistoriaespana Bitcoin donation: bc1q64qs58s5c5kp5amhw5hn7vp9fvtekeq96sf4au Ethereum donation: 0xE3C423625953eCDAA8e57D34f5Ce027dd1902374 Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jUvtdRKxUC Follow the show for updates on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/newhistoryspain.com Or Twitter/X: https://x.com/newhistoryspain YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@newhistoryspain Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-history-of-spain/id1749528700 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hstfgSYFfFPXhjps08IYi Spotify (video version): https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFZ00DSgMAEle9vngg537 Spanish show 'La Historia de España-Memorias Hispánicas': https://www.youtube.com/@lahistoriaespana TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hook 00:22 Alfonso II of Asturias versus Abd al-Rahman II 06:05 The Origin of the Cult of Saint James 12:12 Ramiro versus Nepotian for the Asturian Throne 15:21 The Reign of Ramiro I of Asturias 18:25 Asturian Pre-Romanesque Art 26:35 The Verdict: The Power of a Lie 27:29 Outro

In episode 35, I talk about the voluntary martyrs of Córdoba, the Jewish convert Bodo, the Black musician Ziryab, the situation of the Abbasid Caliphate from its foundation to the year 861, and how Islamic justice worked. SUPPORT NEW HISTORY OF SPAIN: Patreon: https://patreon.com/newhistoryspain  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/newhistoryspain PayPal: https://paypal.me/lahistoriaespana Bitcoin donation: bc1q64qs58s5c5kp5amhw5hn7vp9fvtekeq96sf4au Ethereum donation: 0xE3C423625953eCDAA8e57D34f5Ce027dd1902374 Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jUvtdRKxUC Follow the show for updates on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/newhistoryspain.com Or Twitter/X: https://x.com/newhistoryspain YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@newhistoryspain Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-history-of-spain/id1749528700 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7hstfgSYFfFPXhjps08IYi Spotify (video version): https://open.spotify.com/show/2OFZ00DSgMAEle9vngg537 Spanish show 'La Historia de España-Memorias Hispánicas': https://www.youtube.com/@lahistoriaespana TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Hook 00:25 The Martyrs of Córdoba 08:35 Bodo, the Deacon who Became a Jew 11:25 Ziryab, the Influencer of Abd al-Rahman II's Court 18:01 The Abbasid Caliphate up to 861 25:03 Maliki Islamic Law and the Ulema 36:04 The Verdict: The Danger of Focusing on Exceptions 37:19 Outro