Achila II facts for kids

Achila II (also known as Agila or Aquila) was a Visigothic king who ruled parts of Hispania (modern-day Spain and Portugal). His reign lasted from about 710 or 711 until his death around 714. During his time, the Visigothic kingdom was facing major challenges, especially from the Arabo-Berber invasions.

Who Was Achila II?

Achila II's rule is mainly known from old coins and lists of kings. We don't have many detailed stories or histories written about him. Gold coins with his name have been found in places like Girona, Zaragoza, Tarragona, and Narbonne. These locations were in the northeastern part of Hispania.

Achila and Roderic: Two Kings at Once

During the same years Achila was king, another king named Roderic also ruled. This means they were likely rivals. Roderic probably took the throne after the previous king, Wittiza, died or was overthrown. It's thought that the Visigothic kingdom was split between these two leaders.

Roderic controlled the southwest, including the capital city of Toledo. Achila ruled the northeast, which included areas like Tarraconensis and Narbonensis. It's not clear which king controlled other parts of the kingdom. Achila and Roderic never seem to have fought each other directly. This might be because Roderic was busy dealing with early Arab raids.

Was Achila Related to the Previous King?

Some old records suggest that Achila ruled for three years right after Wittiza. Some historians even believe Achila might have been Wittiza's son. If so, Roderic would have tried to take the throne from him. It's also possible Achila was a co-ruler with Wittiza before 711. If he was Wittiza's son, he would have been quite young in 711. Achila's reign likely began shortly after Roderic's and ended around 713 or 714.

The Arab Invasions and Achila's Reign

During Achila's short time as king, Arab raids started happening in the south of Hispania, where Roderic ruled. Roderic tried to fight them off but was killed in battle. Some people who supported Achila might have even left Roderic's army during his last fight.

Historians have wondered if different groups worked together against Roderic. Some think that Muslims, King Achila, and Jewish communities might have teamed up to overthrow Roderic. This is because Roderic's predecessors had been harsh towards Jewish people, and there was a large Jewish population in Achila's territory.

The Fall of the Kingdom

It's possible that another person named Oppa was declared king in Toledo by people who didn't support either Roderic or Achila. This might have happened before Roderic's defeat or after his death.

Within a few years of Roderic's death, most of Hispania fell to the Arabs. Only a few areas like Gallaecia, the Asturias, the land of the Basques, and the Ebro valley remained free. In 713, the Arabs and their Berber allies began conquering the Ebro valley, taking cities like Zaragoza. These events happened around the end of Achila's reign. It's possible he died fighting these invaders. For example, coins found near El Bovalar suggest that the area was destroyed by invaders around 714.

Achila was followed by Ardo, who only ruled the part of the kingdom north of the Pyrenees mountains. Ardo likely died during the Arab invasion of that region in 721.

See also

In Spanish: Agila II para niños