Aquitainian Wars (Fidem Pacis)

The Aquitanian Wars were a series of conflicts from the 9th to the 14th centuries, fought between France and Spain mainly on the territory of modern-day Aquitaine, which was then a part of Spain.

By the 9th century France and Spain had already been fighting for control of Aquitaine for hundreds of years, but the introduction of Islam increased the tension. Although King Alfonso of Spain converted in the year 860, the religion was slower to take hold among the common people - giving the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire a casus belli to invade. In 872 the Franks entered Spanish territory in an attempt to overthrow Alfonso and impose a Christian king. They were defeated at the Battle of Cadurcorum later that year, but the seeds of a 500 year enmity had been sown.

By the late 10th century the majority of Spain had peacefully converted, but the northern province of Aquitaine still resisted. In 983 a French-sponsored uprising managed to throw off Spanish control over the region, and the following year the Frankish army invaded the Iberian peninsula itself. With both Barcelona and Toledo sacked, King Ramiro appealed to a group of Norse mercenaries, known as Normans, for help. The Normans defeated the Franks, and in return were granted much of Lusitania as a fief...