History of Europe

Battle of Guadalete (II)

United by the Don Julián plot, Eagle and Muse decide it's time for the raid (in principle). In the year 711 Muza sends a group of about 12,000 men, mostly Berbers, under the command of Tarik. They cross the strait with the ships of Don Julián and land at Gribaltar (Chabal Tarik, "rock of Tarik").

Don Rodrigo is in the North crushing the eleventh Basque revolt, when he is notified of the landing. Cross the peninsula on horseback recruiting along the way all the troops he can, including the partisans of Eagle and Sisbert (brother of this one). The number of the Goda troops was close to 40,000 men.

They meet in the vicinity of the Guadalete River, when Tarik has already conquered some square. Confident in his numerical superiority Don Rodrigo launches his heavy cavalry against the Muslims and leaves the wings of the army under the command of Eagle and Sisberto. At first the Goda cavalry makes the invaders retreat, but after a few moments of euphoria, Tarik’s cavalry, lighter and more manoeuvrable, manages to zafar from their enemy. The king orders the attack of the wings of his army, but to his surprise, Eagle's partisans abandon the battlefield.

The revenge of Don Julian was taking body. The Muslim horse archers start wreaking havoc in the Goda ranks and after several days of battle the king is defeated. It is believed that Don Rodrigo died in the fight although his body was never found, but who managed to escape was Pelayo (we will talk about him in another story). The Muslims obtained the victory and a precious booty, the royal treasure. Eagle and his men were already rubbing their hands at the thought of reclaiming the throne, as the deal consisted of Tarik and his men taking the precious booty and after some more skirmishing they would return to North Africa. But Muza had other plans, to conquer the peninsula and reach as far as Damascus by circumnavigating the Mediterranean.