Background information on Roman Spain

In the year 226 BC a contract which defined the Ebro as a boundary was concluded between Rome and Carthage. The conquest of Sagunt through Hannibal in the year 219 caused the 2nd Punic war.

Four years after the war, in the year of 197 BC, Rome occupied a broader part along the whole Mediterranean Sea coast. It was so broad that in the south a part of the Atlantic coast appertained to it. Two provinces were established: Hispania ulterior and Hispania citerior. In the year 154 BC the eastern half of the peninsula was occupied approximately.

The occupation of the peninsula was accompanied again and again from revolts. Between 154 and 133 this were the rebellion of Viriathus and the Numantinian war. In the year 133 BC still the northeast of the peninsula was not under roman control.

In the year 81 BC Quintus Sertorius, the Praetor of Hispania citerior, was driven out by Sulla's followers. Soon onto that the Lusitanian's recalled him as their chief. After greater conquests he was betrayed an murdered by former supporters in 72 BC.

Hispania ulterior was subdued however not until under Gaius Iulius Caesar between 61 to 45 BC. Between 27 to 19 BC the whole peninsula was conquered. Under Augustus were established in the year 27 BC three provinces on the Iberian Peninsula: Lusitania, Baeticum (in the south) and Tarraconensis.

From the year AD 260 were Franks and Alemanni invasions on the peninsula for approximately 12 years.

Under Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (284 - 305 AD) were established five provinces on the peninsula (Callaecia, Lusitania, Tarraconensis, Carthaginiensis, Baetica) during the 4th century six (Insulae Baleares).

From the year AD 409 the peninsula was occupied by the Alans (Portugal), Vandals (Southern Spain) and Suebi (Northwest). From the year of AD 415 the Visigoths conquered the peninsula, only the Suebi could hold themselves.