The Marca Hispanica (Hispanic or Spanish March, also March of Barcelona) was a buffer zone beyond the province of Septimania, created by Charlemagne in 795 as a defensive barrier between the Umayyad Moors of Al-Andalus and the Frankish Kingdom. In geography a buffer zone is any zonal area that serves the purpose of keeping two or more other areas (often but not necessarily countries) distant from one another Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462 when Septimania was ceded to Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his Events By Place Europe In the earliest recorded Viking raid on Ireland, they attack Iona, Inisbofin and Inismurray The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group It was known as the Upper Mark by the Caliphate to the south.
In its broader meaning, Marca Hispanica refers to a group of early Iberian lordships or counts created by the Franks, of which Andorra is the sole autonomous survivor. Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra ( Catalan: Principat d'Andorra) is a small Landlocked country in western As time passed, these lordships merged or gained independence from Frankish imperial rule.
Contents |
Geographical context
The area broadly corresponds to the region between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River. The local population of the March was diverse, including Iberians, Basques, Jews and Goths who had been conquered or subjugated by the Muslim emirate or the Frankish Empire to the south and north. The territory changed with the fortunes of the Empires and the feudal ambitions of those, whether the Counts or Walis, appointed to administrate the counties. Eventually the rulers and people of the March became autonomous and claimed independence. Out of the welter of counties in the region emerged the principalities of Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia.
Counties that at various times formed part of the March included: Pamplona, Sangüesa, Jaca (Aragón), Sobrarbe, Ribagorza, Pallars, Urgell, Cerdanya, Conflent, Roussillon, Vallespir, Perelada, Empúries, Besalú, Ausona (Osona), Barcelona and Girona. For other meanings see Pamplona (disambiguation. Pamplona ( Basque: Iruñea or Iruña) is the capital city of Navarre Sangüesa is a town in Navarre, Spain, 445 kilometers from Pamplona. Jaca ( Chaca in Aragonese) is a City of northeastern Spain near the border with France, in the midst of the Pyrenees in Sobrarbe is one of the comarcas (counties in the northern part of the province of Huesca, part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain Ribagorza is an Aragonese county or Comarca, in the north-east of the province of Huesca, Spain. The County of Pallars or Pallás was a de facto independent petty state nominally within the Carolingian Empire and then West Francia during Urgell (Spanish Urgel) is one of the historical Catalan counties, bordering on the counties of Pallars and Cerdanya. Cerdanya (Ceritania Cerdagne Cerdaña is a small region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain and which is historically one of the Conflent is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, now part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales Roussillon ( French: Roussillon, ʀusiˈjɔ̃ Catalan: Rosselló, pronounced; Spanish: Rosellón, pronounced) is Vallespir is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales. Perelada is the most northeasterly portion of Spain Located on the French border where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean Sea a large portion is now part of a national park The County of Empúries or Ampurias was a medieval county centred on the town of Empúries and enclosing the Catalan region of Peralada. Besalú is a town in the comarca of Garrotxa, in Catalonia. The town was once more important being the capital of the medieval County Osona, or Ausona (in Latin and Castilian) was one of the Catalan counties of the Marca Hispanica in the Early The Count of Barcelona was the major ruler in Catalonia from the 9th until the 17th century Girona ( Catalan: Girona ʒiˈɾonə Spanish: Gerona xeˈɾona is a city located in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain
Origins
The Marca Hispanica developed as the result of three generations of fighting by the Franks and Muslims (Moors) in the Iberian Peninsula. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The Muslim invasions reached the Pyrenees in the Iberian Peninsula. The Umayyad conquest of Hispania ( 711 – 718) began as an army of the Umayyad Caliphate consisting largely of Berbers inhabitants In 719 Al-Samh ibn Malik surged up the east coast overwhelming the remaining Visigoth kingdom of Septimania and establishing a fortified base at Narbonne. Events By Place Europe Charles Martel defeats king Radbod of the Frisians Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani (السمح بن مالك الخولاني was the Arab governor general of the Muslim occupied region of the Iberian Peninsula called Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462 when Septimania was ceded to Narbonne ( Narbona in Catalan and in Occitan, the Roman Narbo) is a commune in southwestern France in the Control was secured by offering the local population generous terms, inter-marriage between ruling families or treaties.
Further expansion was halted by defeat in the Battle of Toulouse (721). The Battle of Toulouse ( 721) was a victory of a Frankish army led by Duke Odo of Aquitaine over an Umayyad army besieging the city of Wālis were installed in Girona and Barcelona. Wāli or vali is an administrative title that was used during the Ottoman Empire to designate governors of administrative divisions Girona ( Catalan: Girona ʒiˈɾonə Spanish: Gerona xeˈɾona is a city located in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia The Muslim forces however continued to raid their Frankish neighbours to the north, reaching as far as Autun. Autun is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy in eastern France.
Peace was made in 730 between the victor at Toulouse the Duke of Aquitaine and 'Uthman ibn Naissa (Munuza), the Berber deputy governor of Narbonne. Events By Place Europe Charles Martel defeats the last independent dukedom of the Alamanni, and launches raids on the Saxons The Duke of Aquitaine ( French: Duc d'Aquitaine) ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of the Frankish and later the Uthman ibn Naissa was a Berber Wāli of Narbonne and effective Muslim governor of Septimania. Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. A peace treaty was sealed with the marriage of the Duke’s daughter to Munuza. However, when Munuza rebelled against his Andalusian masters he was defeated, and another period of Muslim expansion commenced.
In 732, Muslim forces again attacked Gaul and Aquitaine and secured initial victories including the sacking of Bordeaux. For the area code see Area code 732. Events By Place Europe October 10 — Battle of ( Gascon: Bordèu) is a port city in southwest France, with one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area at a 2008 estimate The Duke of Aquitaine failed to secure support from his Frankish overlord Charles Martel who wanted to re-impose control over the dukedom. Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca At the Battle of Tours, Charles defeated the Muslim army and repelled the invasion. The Battle of Tours (October 10 732 also called the Battle of Poitiers and in معركة بلاط الشهداء (ma‘arakat Balâṭ ash-Shuhadâ’ Battle of Court Control was re-imposed by the Carolingian monarchs who now sought to secure the southern boundary of their kingdom from further Muslim attacks.
Further campaigns in 736–737 drove the Moors further south, although Charles failed to re-take Narbonne which was defended by both its Muslim and its Visigoth citizens. Events By Place Asia The scholar-priest Rōben invites Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at Kinshōsen-ji Events By Place Europe Battle of Narbonne: The Frankish army under Charles Martel again defeats the Moors However, in 759 Narbonne fell to Pippin Charles’ son. Events By Place Europe The Franks capture Narbonne; the Saracens are completely driven out of France. Pepin or Pippin (714 &ndash 24 September 768) called the Short, and often known as Pepin the Younger or Pepin III, was
Although his attempts to extend the defensive boundaries of his kingdom beyond Septimania ended when he died, his son Charlemagne finished the job, creating a strong barrier state between the Umayyad Emirate/Caliphate of Iberia, and the Frankish Kingdom. Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462 when Septimania was ceded to Emir ( Arabic: ar أمير;, female أميرة; emira;) ( Farsi and Urdu: امیر) The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra
Creation
The Franks created the Marca Hispanica by conquering former Visigoth states which had been captured by the Muslims or had become allied with them.
The first county to be conquered was Roussillon (with Vallespir) in around 760. Roussillon ( French: Roussillon, ʀusiˈjɔ̃ Catalan: Rosselló, pronounced; Spanish: Rosellón, pronounced) is Vallespir is a historical Catalan comarca of Northern Catalonia, part of the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales. Events By Place Americas The Maya city of Dos Pilas is abandoned In 785 the county of Girona (with Besalú) to the south of the Pyrenees was taken. Events By Place Europe Widukind and many other Saxons are baptized Girona ( Catalan: Girona ʒiˈɾonə Spanish: Gerona xeˈɾona is a city located in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain Besalú is a town in the comarca of Garrotxa, in Catalonia. The town was once more important being the capital of the medieval County Ribagorza and Pallars were linked to Tolosa and were added to this county around 790. Ribagorza is an Aragonese county or Comarca, in the north-east of the province of Huesca, Spain. The County of Pallars or Pallás was a de facto independent petty state nominally within the Carolingian Empire and then West Francia during Urgell and Cerdanya were added in 798. Urgell (Spanish Urgel) is one of the historical Catalan counties, bordering on the counties of Pallars and Cerdanya. Cerdanya (Ceritania Cerdagne Cerdaña is a small region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain and which is historically one of the Events By Place Europe Coenwulf of Mercia invades Kent, deposes and imprisons King Eadbert Praen, and makes his own The first records of the county of Empúries (with Perelada) are from 812 but the county was probably under Frankish control before 800. Empúries ( Catalan name in Spanish: Ampurias) is a town on the Mediterranean coast of the Catalan comarca of Alt Empordà (Spain Perelada is the most northeasterly portion of Spain Located on the French border where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean Sea a large portion is now part of a national park Events By Place Europe The second Battle of Roncevaux Pass is fought between the Basques and the Franks. Events By Place Europe September 15 - Oldest known mention of Monkey.
After a series of struggles the County of Barcelona (with Ausona) was taken by Frankish forces in 801. The Count of Barcelona was the major ruler in Catalonia from the 9th until the 17th century Osona, or Ausona (in Latin and Castilian) was one of the Catalan counties of the Marca Hispanica in the Early Events By Place Europe December 28 — Louis the Pious occupies Barcelona. A number of castles were established in Aragón between 798 and 802. Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. Events By Place Europe Coenwulf of Mercia invades Kent, deposes and imprisons King Eadbert Praen, and makes his own This article is about the year 802 For other uses see IEEE 802 networking standard Pamplona (and Sangüesa) were briefly controlled by the Franks until 817, when it was lost to Basque and Christian Iberian forces. For other meanings see Pamplona (disambiguation. Pamplona ( Basque: Iruñea or Iruña) is the capital city of Navarre Sangüesa is a town in Navarre, Spain, 445 kilometers from Pamplona. Events By Place Europe Louis the Pious divides his empire among his sons Louis the German becomes king of East Francia The Basques (Euskaldunak are a people who inhabit a region spanning over parts of north-central Spain and southwestern France. The date Sobrarbe was incorporated into the March is unsure. Sobrarbe is one of the comarcas (counties in the northern part of the province of Huesca, part of the autonomous community of Aragon in Spain
After the loss of Pamplona (817) and Aragón (820) the March was often called Gothia after the Visigoth population. In addition, as the Counts often held land in Septimania, the whole region was sometimes referred to as Septimania.
Structure
The local population of the Marches was diverse including Hispano-Romans, Iberians, Basques, Jews and Goths who had been conquered or subligated by the Muslim or Frankish Empires to the north and south. The area changed with the fortunes of the Empires and the feudal ambitions of the Counts or Walis appointed to administrate the Counties. As Frankish imperial power waned, the rulers of the March became independent fiefs. The region would later become part of the principalities of Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia.
Charlemagne's son Louis took Barcelona from its Moorish ruler in 801, thus securing Frankish power in the borderland between the Franks and the Moors. Louis the Pious (778 &ndash 20 June 840) also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781 and co-Emperor Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia Events By Place Europe December 28 — Louis the Pious occupies Barcelona. The Counts of Barcelona then became the principal representatives of Frankish authority in the Hispanic March. The Count of Barcelona was the major ruler in Catalonia from the 9th until the 17th century The March included various outlying smaller territories, each ruled by a lesser Miles with his armed retainers and who theoretically owed allegiance through the Count to the Emperor. An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of This oath of loyalty weakened with each successive Carolingian and, later, Ottonian successor. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of Germanic Kings (919-1024 named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin The rulers were called Counts, when they governed several Counties they often took the name Ducem (Duke). When the County formed the border with the Muslim Kingdom the Frankish title, Marquis was chosen. In the counties occupying the area of modern Catalonia, each Mile incorporated a catlá ("castellan" or lord of the castle) in an area largely defined by a day's horse ride. The region became dotted with these strongholds and became known by their name as "Catalunya". Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The same thing occurred later in Castile. A former kingdom, Castile (Castilla kasˈt̪iʎa or) gradually merged with its neighbors to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain
Counties formed in the 9th century at the eastern end of Pyrenees as an appanages of the Counts of Barcelona included Cerdanya, Girona and Urgell. The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés An apanage or appanage is the grant of an estate titles offices or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign who under the system of Cerdanya (Ceritania Cerdagne Cerdaña is a small region of the eastern Pyrenees divided between France and Spain and which is historically one of the Girona ( Catalan: Girona ʒiˈɾonə Spanish: Gerona xeˈɾona is a city located in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain Urgell (Spanish Urgel) is one of the historical Catalan counties, bordering on the counties of Pallars and Cerdanya.
In the early 9th century, Charlemagne began issuing a new kind of land grant, the Aprisio, which reallocated land previously held by the imperial crown fisc in deserted or abandoned areas. Under the Merovingians and Carolingians the fisc (Root word of "fiscal" applied to the royal Demesne which paid taxes entirely in kind This included special rights and immunities that allowed considerable independence from the imperial control. Historians have interpreted the aprisio both as an early form of feudalism and in economic and military terms as a mechanism to entice settlers to a depopulated border region. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Such self-sufficient landholders would aid the Counts in providing armed men to defend the Frankish frontier. A frontier is a Political and Geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary, or of a different nature Aprisio grants (the first ones were in Septimania) were given personnally by the Carolingian king, so that they reinforced loyalty to central power, to counterbalance the local power exercised by the Marcher Counts. Septimania was the western region of the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis that passed under the control of the Visigoths in 462 when Septimania was ceded to
However poor communications and a distant central power allowed basic feudal entities to develop often self-sufficient and heavily agrarian. Feudalism, a term first used in the early modern period (17th century in its most classic sense refers to a Medieval Europe Political system composed Each was ruled by a small hereditary military elite. These developments in Catalonia follow similar patterns in other borderlands and Marches. For example the first Count of Barcelona Bera was appointed by the King in 801), however subsequently strong heirs of Counts were able to inherit the title such as Sunifred, fl. Events By Place Europe December 28 — Louis the Pious occupies Barcelona. 844–848. Events By Place Europe Rhodri ''Mawr'' ('the Great' becomes king of Gwynedd. Events By Place Europe The Saracens destroy Leontini. Charles the Bald, Louis the German and This gradually became custom until Countship became hereditary (for Wifred the Hairy in 897). Wilfred or Wifred, called the Hairy, was Count of Urgell (870&ndash897 Cerdanya (870&ndash897 Barcelona (878&ndash897 Events By place Asia Emperor Uda of Japan is succeeded by Emperor Daigo. Eventually the County was declared independent (by Borrell II in 985). Borrel II (died 992 was Count of Barcelona, Girona, and Ausona from 947 and Count of Urgel from 948 Events By Place Europe Barcelona is sacked by Al-Mansur. Greenland is colonized by Icelandic
At each stage the de facto situation precedes the de jure assertion. The law regularising the existing facts. Certain Counts aspired to the Frankish (Germanic) title "Margrave of the Hispanic March". The title Prince of Gothia ( princeps Gothiæ) or Prince of the Goths ( princeps Gothorum) was a title of nobility sometimes assumed A "Margrave" is a Graf ("Count") of the March. The early History of Andorra in the Pyrenees provides a fairly typical example of a lordship of the region, and is the only modern survivor of the Hispanic March. Andorra is the last independent survivor of the Marca Hispanica, the Buffer states created by Charlemagne to keep the Islamic Moors
External links
- Archibald R. Lewis, "The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718-1050"
- Ian Meadows, "The Arabs in Occitania"
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic