RODERICK

died 711 also spelled Roderic, Spanish Rodrigo the last Visigothic king of Spain, who died in the Muslim invasion. Roderick's predecessor, King Witiza, died in 710, leaving two young sons, for whom Witiza's widow and family tried to secure the succession. But the Visigothic nobles elected Roderick and drove the Witizans from Toledo. Roderick seems to have been dux (duke) or military commander of one of the provinces, perhaps Baetica. He faced a revolt of the Basques and was never recognized in the Northeast. Meanwhile, Witiza's family had made contact with the Muslims. From North Africa, the Muslims sent over a raiding party, which caused Roderick to march to the south. The Muslim governor of Tangier, Tariq (or Tarik) ibn Ziyad, crossed with his main force and defeated Roderick near the Ro Barbate (near Cape Trafalgar), and Roderick apparently perished in the field. Tariq marched straight on to Toledo, and most of Spain capitulated. The episode is encrusted with legends; versions of Roderick's survival are apocryphal.