Roderick the Great was a prominent figure in the early medieval period, known for being the last king of the Visigoths in Spain. His reign lasted from 710 to 711 AD, during a time of significant political and social upheaval. Roderick's leadership faced challenges from both internal factions and external threats, particularly from the advancing Muslim forces. His rule ended with the decisive Battle of Guadalete, where Roderick was defeated by the Muslim general Tariq ibn Ziyad. This defeat marked the beginning of the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, leading to the decline of the Visigothic kingdom and significant changes in the region's history.