Pelayo of Asturias

Pelayo of Asturias was a key figure in the early stages of the Christian resistance against the Moors in the Iberian Peninsula during the 8th century. He is best known for leading the Battle of Covadonga in 722, where his forces achieved a significant victory, marking the beginning of the Reconquista, the centuries-long effort to reclaim land from Muslim rule. Pelayo became the first king of Asturias and is often regarded as a founding figure of the Spanish monarchy. His leadership symbolized the Christian effort to resist and gradually reclaim territory in northern Spain.