Pelayo de Asturias

Pelayo de Asturias was a key historical figure in the early Middle Ages, known as the founder of the Kingdom of Asturias in northern Spain. He is celebrated for leading the Christian resistance against the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in the early 8th century. His most significant victory came at the Battle of Covadonga around 722 AD, which is often seen as a catalyst for the Reconquista, the centuries-long effort to reclaim Spanish territory from Muslim rule. Pelayo’s legacy is emblematic of Christian resistance and the emergence of regional identities in medieval Spain.