Na Castillo

PLAZA DEL CASTILLO
During the Germanic invasions of 409 and later as a result of Rechiar´s ravaging, Pamplona went through much disruption and destruction,[6]starting a cycle of general declinealong with other towns across the Basque territory but managing to keep some sort of urban life.[7] During theVisigothic period (fifth to eighth centuries), Pamplona alternated between self-rule, Visigothdomination or Frankish suzerainty in the Duchy of Vasconia (Councils of Toledo unattended by several Pamplonese bishops between 589 and 684). In the years 466 to 472, Pamplona was conquered by theVisigoth count Gauteric,[8] but they seemed to abandon the restless position soon, struggling as the Visigoth Kingdom was to survive and rearrange its lands after their defeats in Gaul. During thebeginning of the 6th century, Pamplona probably stuck to an unstable self-rule, but in 541 Pamplona along with other northern Iberian cities was raided by the Franks.
Circa 581, the Visigoth kingLiuvigild overcame the Basques, seized Pamplona and founded in Vasconia the town of Victoriacum.[9] Despite the legend citing Saint Fermin as the first bishop of Pamplona and his baptising of 40,000 paganinhabitants in just three days, first reliable accounts of a bishop date from 589, when bishop Liliolus attended the Third Council of Toledo. After 684 and 693, a bishop called Opilano is mentioned againin 829, followed by Wiliesind and a certain Jimenez from 880 to 890. Even in the 10th century, important gaps are found in bishop succession, which is recorded unbroken only after 1005.[10]
At thetime of the Muslim invasion in 711, the Visigothic king Roderic was fighting the Basques in Pamplona and had to turn his attention to the new enemy coming from the south. By 714-16, the Muslims troopsreached the Basque held Pamplona, with the town submitting apparently after a treaty was brokered between the inhabitants and the Arab military commanders.[11] During the following years, the...