The Byzantine Province of Spania: A Forgotten Chapter in Iberian History

When we think of pre-Islamic Spain, we often picture the Visigothic kingdom that ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula. The Visigoths entered Hispania in 415 CE and gradually took control from the weakening Western Roman Empire. Their rule lasted from the 5th to the early 8th centuries CE. However, there's a lesser-known but fascinating chapter in this period: the Byzantine province of Spania. This small coastal territory in southern Spain played a crucial role in the geopolitics of the western Mediterranean for over 70 years.

The Fall of Rome and the Rise of Spania

As the Western Roman Empire crumbled in the 5th century, various Germanic peoples, including the Visigoths, carved out kingdoms from its former territories. By 507 CE, the Visigoths had established control over much of Iberia. However, they didn't rule the entire peninsula.

In 552 CE, taking advantage of a civil war among the Visigoths, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I sent forces to southern Spain. This was part of Justinian's grand strategy to reconquer the lost western provinces of the Roman Empire. The Byzantines quickly established control over a strip of coastal territory stretching from modern-day Málaga to Cartagena.

The Byzantine province Spania more or less covered the territory of current day Andalucia.

Life in Byzantine Spania

The new province, named Spania, was administered from Carthago Spartaria (modern Cartagena). The Byzantines fortified urban centers and revitalized trade networks, connecting Spania to the broader Mediterranean world.

Byzantine rule brought a degree of continuity with the Roman past. Greek became an administrative language alongside Latin, and Eastern Roman coinage circulated. The province also played a role in the religious conflicts of the time, with the Byzantines supporting Catholic orthodoxy against the Arian Christianity of the Visigoths.

The Long Decline

Despite initial success, maintaining Spania proved challenging for the Byzantines. The province was far from Constantinople and vulnerable to Visigothic attacks. Gradually, the Visigoths began to chip away at Byzantine territory.

The turning point came during the reign of the Visigothic King Sisebut (612-621 CE). He launched successful campaigns against the Byzantines, capturing several key cities. His successor, Suintila, delivered the final blow. Around 624 CE, he conquered the last Byzantine strongholds, ending the province of Spania after approximately 72 years of existence.

Legacy and Significance

Though short-lived, the Byzantine presence in southern Spain had lasting impacts:

• It delayed full Visigothic control of the peninsula by over 70 years.

• It maintained a link between Iberia and the Eastern Mediterranean, influencing culture and trade.

• It likely strengthened the position of Chalcedonian (Catholic) Christianity in the region. Those present at the Council of Chalcedon accepted Trinitarianism and rejected Arianism, the religion of the Visigoths.

The story of Byzantine Spania reminds us of the complex tapestry of early medieval Spain. For over seven decades, this small province stood as an outpost of the Eastern Roman Empire, a reminder of past glories and unfulfilled ambitions. Its fall to the Visigoths in 624 CE marked the first time a single power controlled the entire Iberian Peninsula since the fall of Rome. This unity, however, would be short-lived. Less than a century later, in 711 CE, a new force would arrive from across the Strait of Gibraltar, once again reshaping the political and cultural landscape of Iberia.