Slavs in eastern Spain.

[Kukul-Kan]

Correlation between Slavic settlements and dolichocephalism and hair blondism in eastern Spain


The great Al-Manzor had gained his successes with the help of Berber troops imported from Africa in place of the former Arab militia; he also employed so-called Slavs, troops of European origin who might be of Gallic, Germanic or Spanish as well as of Slavonic extraction; many of these held high offices in the Muslim state. In the troubled years which followed the death of Al-Manzor in 1002, we find the Berbers taking possession of the southern districts from Granada to Cádiz; the Slavs occupied the east coast from Almería to Tortosa

libro.uca.edu/chaytor/hac3.htm

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En el periodo musulmán, Almería fue el centro mercantil más activo de toda Europa y conservó un reino de Taifas durante más de 200 años. A diferencia de los reinos andaluces, establecidos por los berberiscos, el Reino de Almería fue organizado por eslavos, de igual manera que el resto de los levantinos

During the Islamic period, Almería was the most active mercantile center in all Europe and it kept a Taifa Kingdom for more than 200 years. Unlike the Andalusian kingdoms established by Berbers, the Kingdom of Almería was organized by Slavs in the same way the rest of the Spanish Levantine states were.

www.a2000.es/ural/CURIOSO.HTML

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Almería, Castellón and Valencia in the province of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast are the most dolicochephalic regions in Spain.

www.ucm.es/info/museoana/images/Colecciones/mapa50.jpg

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According to Bosch Gimpera the Spanish Mediterranean coast has the highest levels of hair Blondism in Iberia.

La costa mediterránea tiene más rubios que la cantábrica, aunque pudiera parecer lo contrario.

The Mediterranean coast has more blondes than the Cantabrian one, even though it could seem to be the opposite.

From Las Razas Humanas by Pedro Bosch Gimpera.

[Kukul-Kan]

Example of somewhat blonde Valencians





The woman is from Valencia

[Melnorme]

According to Coon, ash-blonde hair typical of Northern Slavs is almost non-existent in Iberia. However, I suppose most Slavs coming to Iberia in the Middle Ages would be Southern Slavs, who have more of the golden-blonde shade ( which is found in Iberia ).

[Melnorme]

www.balagan.org.uk/war/0711/armies.htm

"Slavs (Saqlabi). European Slave troops were employed from the reign of al-Hakam I (796-822) although only became a large professional military force in the 10th century (Kennedy, 1996). Despite being called Slavs, most were recruited from Kingdom of Leon. "

[Kukul-Kan]

Interesting. Yes apparently the Slavonic speakers were the minority with the majority being Northern Spaniards followed by Germanics and French. León also has a “blondish” strain but this time it’s very likely to be the product of the French, German and Flemish settlers that were brought after the “Reconquista”.

..he also employed so-called Slavs, troops of European origin who might be of Gallic, Germanic or Spanish as well as of Slavonic extraction

The real Slavs that were part of the Moorish army were Slaves bought on the shores of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Los califas debieron rodearse de una guardia pretoriana de extranjeros, muchos de ellos comprados por mercaderes judíos en las costas del Mar Negro y en las riberas del Mediterráneo. Llamados "eslavos" fueron odiados por todos, pero cumplieron su cometido de mantener la seguridad del Estado.

The Caliphs had to be surrounded by a Praetorian foreign guard; many of them were bought from Jewish merchants on the coast of the Black Sea and the shores of the Mediterranean. The so called “Slavs” were hated, but they maintained their objective of keeping the State safe.
poesiadelmomento.com/hispanica/17musulmana.html

But yes, you’re essentially right.

En los territorios del sureste peninsular, estos señores fueron denominados «eslavos» ya que eran antiguos esclavos de procedencia hispano-visigoda o europea.

In the territories of the peninsular southeast these Lords were called “Slavs” due to the fact they were former Hispano-visigothic or European slaves.

www.morosicristians.com/benissa/index9.htm

[herrx]

Interesting... What groups can produce ash blonde hair?

[galvez]

Kukul-Kan said:

Yes apparently the Slavonic speakers were the minority with the majority being Northern Spaniards followed by Germanics and French. León also has a “blondish” strain but this time it’s very likely to be the product of the French, German and Flemish settlers that were brought after the “Reconquista”.

In the 9th and 6th centuries B.C. many Celts settled into Spain, however. In northern and central Spain a large portion of the population has a Celtic heritage from ancient times. Some of the blonde elements in other parts of Spain could be Celtic as well, given population movements within the peninsula.

[Kukul-Kan]

galvez said:

In the 9th and 6th centuries B.C. many Celts settled into Spain, however. In northern and central Spain a large portion of the population has a Celtic heritage from ancient times. Some of the blonde elements in other parts of Spain could be Celtic as well, given population movements within the peninsula.

Yes, hair blondism in Spain is very likely to have different sources depending on the specific place we’re dealing with. Celts are very likely to have introduced a lighter element in Northern and Central Iberia.

However, it stroke me as odd that the lowest Cephalic Index as well as the highest percentages of Hair Blondism are to be found in Eastern Spain, where these “Slavs” settled down. We also have to take into account that the highest Cephalic Index is found in Northern Spain .

Coincidentally Bosch Gimpera says the purest Iberians are those in Eastern Spain because elsewhere in the Peninsula they mixed with the Celts and West Pyrenaic populations. In fact he believed Catalans=Iberians and Castilians=Celtiberians.

Here’s an essay and the introduction of his book on this subject (in Catalan):

www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/litEx/12148752791274275209624/index.htm

[AWAR]

This is very interesting! Me being a Slav and all