In the early eighth century, the Muslim general Tariq ibn Ziyad led his forces across the Straits of Gibraltar and conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula. However, alongside the flourishing kingdom of al-Andalus, the small Christian realm of Asturias-Len endured in the northern mountains. This book charts the social, economic and political development of Asturias-Len from the Islamic conquest to 1031. Using a forensic comparative method, which examinesthe abundant charter material from two regions of northern Spain - the Libana valley in Cantabria, and the Celanova region of southern Galicia - it sheds new light on village society, the workings of government, and the constantswirl of buying, selling and donating that marked the rhythms of daily life. It also maps the contact points between rulers and ruled, offering new insights on the motivations and actions of both peasant proprietors and aristocrats.

Robert Portass is Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Lincoln.