Ardo

Ardo was from about 714 to about 721 the last king of the Visigoths. Since the invading Muslim army then conquered the Iberian Peninsula, Ardo's dominion was limited to a relatively small, further shrinking part of the former Visigothic kingdom area.

Very little is known about Ardo. From its origin, the circumstances of his elevation and his government activity we know nothing. In contrast to its predecessor Agila II are not even receive coins from him. The only source of evidence for his existence is his nomination in a king list, where he is cited as successor agilas and indicated his government period of seven years.

Already Agila had only ruled a portion of the Visigothic kingdom territory; his power extended to at least portions of the Tarraconensis region ( north and east of the peninsula) and on the part of the empire Septimania north of the Pyrenees, while the south was occupied by the Muslims. The Muslim invasion force had won in July 711, the war decisive battle at Rio Guadalete in which the Visigoth King Roderick fell.

In the years 716-719, the Muslims completed the subjugation of the Tarraconensis. This Ardo's dominion was limited to the part of the empire north of the Pyrenees. Soon the Muslims invaded there. To 720 they conquered Narbonne, the capital Septimaniens. Probably Ardo was then or soon afterwards died. The last cities Septimaniens (Carcassonne and Nîmes) fell but only 725

Previously it has been suggested that Ardo was identical with one of the sons of the Visigoth Witiza called Ardabastus. This assumption was based on the similarity of names. However, it can not be true, because the family Witizas (including the named Ardabastus ) was, according to a reliable source to those Arab Goths, who quickly agreed with the new rulers and their property maintained.

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