The origin of the first Peninsular Kingdoms (8th-13th centuries)
How the first kingdoms and counties were formed? During the 8th century, an army of Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Only two mountanious regions in the north resisted the invasion: Cordillera Cantábrica and Pyrenees. The Christian Kingdoms and counties began the Reconquest of the land occupied by the Muslims. Western focus In Asturias, a group of Hispano-Visigothic nobles and families, led by Pelagius, resisted the Muslims and refused to pay tributes to them (722, battle of Covadonga). This led to the creation of the Kingdom of Asturias , wich after expanding west (Galicia), east (Cantabria) and south, stablished its capital in Oviedo and recovered visigothic laws (IX century). Pyrenean region The counties that formed the Marca Hispanica in the Pyrenees were controlled by the Carolingian Empire. The Frankish emperor chose the nobles (counts and marquis) who ruled the territories. The counties gained independence from Frankish rule and became the counties of Aragón , the Catal