📜The Moors; Who, What, When, Where, Why... and How?🚋Bababobo shop, Souvenirs and Handicraft, Lisbon, Alfama, Portugal🛺
- BabaBobo
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 29
🤔Who?
Against a backdrop of power struggle and political instability, the opportunist leader Musa ibn Nusayr, governor of Ifriqiya, North Africa, and general under the orders of the Umayyad caliphate, plans to seize the Visigoth kingdom. Then, as one man, an army of 12,000 Berber and Arab warriors, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, led by the intrepid general Tariq ibn Ziyad, to which, triumphant, he gave his name, “djebel Tariq”, “djabal Ṭāriq”, “mountain of Tariq”.
⛵How?
“Tariq the One-Eyed”, as the occupied called him, had obtained the precious help of his friend, Count Julien, Yulyan, Julianus, Don Julián, Count of Ceuta, a fleet of ships, which allowed him to carry out his enterprise.
🗓️When?
The landing on the Iberian Peninsula would have taken place on the night of April 27 to 28, 711, and it is reported that Ṭāriq ibn Ziyad would have burned these ships and said these words:
“O people, where is the escape? The sea is behind you, and the enemy before you, and all you have from God is sincerity and patience..."
👸Why?
The epic battle of Guadalete lasted no more than 24 hours, on July 19, 711 the Visigoth king Roderic died there, the sullied honor of Countess Florinda, daughter of the Count of Ceuta whose promise of vengeance was satisfied, was thus restored, the decline of the Visigoth kingdom of Hispania began.
🌍Where?
A decade has passed, and born from this conquest Al-Andalus - name derived from the Arabic term "Handalusia", meaning "evening region" or "West", Spain, Portugal, as well as Andora and some French territories are integrated into the Umayyad caliphate which extends its influence over the West and leaves deep marks there during 800 years of occupation.
The Moors therefore marked the destiny of Europe... but who were they really?🤔
🎓What? 🚋Bababobo shop, Souvenirs and Handicraft in Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal🛺
Not least is the legacy that survived the Reconquista - which actually began in the year 718 with the Battle of Covadanga led by the valiant Pelágio das Astúrias; the Moors are the scientific vanguard of the known world, naval architecture and engineering are examples of the invaders' fertile contribution to the future empires established by Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, they profoundly transforme agriculture, introducing revolutionary techniques, in a lighter but no less remarkable register, the lute, which they carry in their luggage, give rise to the guitar, which in turn travel and evolve throughout the continent, they plant olive trees, spices, almonds, potatoes, and more... they import their culinary and artisanal know-how... such as these famous tiles called azulejos🙂!
And the story doesn't end here; It flourishes today in Lisbon - "Al-Lishbuna", "Ulishbona" for the Visigoths, "Olissipona" for the Romans, "Felicita Julias" under Julius Caesar, or even "Allis Ubbo, "pleasant bay"" for the Phoenicians - reproductions of these azulejos on supports as numerous as they are varied: pens, hats, tea towels, clothes, handcrafted jewelry...
...so, if you allow it, we would like now submit our own collection for your consideration 🙂!
If you are looking for a present different, made in Portugal, know that "local crafts" is precisely our slogan😊!
