In the year 1109, the Almoravid leader Ali ibn Yusuf launched a campaign against the Kingdom of Castile. During the campaign, they captured Talavera and other towns and forts. but they failed to capture Toledo.

Prelude

After two months passed since the Battle of Uclés, the Almoravid leader, Ali bin Yusuf, set sail to Andalusia in August. He left

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with a large army and crossed the straits. He arrived in Cordoba, where he stayed for one month before beginning his campaign.

Campaign

According to Muslim accounts, the Almoravids first went to

Talavera de la Reina Talavera de la Reina () is a city and municipalities of Spain, municipality of Spain, part of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. Its population of 83,303 makes it the second most populated municipalit ...

, which was situated on the

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River west of

Toledo Toledo most commonly refers to: * Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain * Province of Toledo, Spain * Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States Toledo may also refer to: Places Belize * Toledo District * Toledo Settlement Bolivia * Toledo, Or ...

. The Almoravids assaulted the town and sacked it, killing or enslaving the inhabitants. The Almoravids also freed Muslim prisoners. The Christians who survived the onslaught escaped to the

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. The Christians managed to escape the Kasbah, which allowed the Almoravids to capture it. The city was sacked, and its church was returned as a mosque. Ali then established a strong garrison. The Almoravids then invaded the Toledo vicinity, assaulting and capturing 27 forts. They also captured

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and

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. They then invested in Toledo, but after a siege of three days, they retreated after ravaging its vicinity. Christian accounts, however, present different versions. The Almoravids first went to Toledo; they destroyed the castles of San Servando and Aceca. They then invested in Toledo. The city was defended

Álvar Fáñez Álvar Fáñez (or Háñez; died April 1114) was a Leonese nobleman and military leader under Alfonso VI of León and Castile, becoming the nearly independent ruler of Kingdom of Toledo (Crown of Castile), Toledo under Urraca of León and Castile, ...

. The siege has lasted for seven days, during which the Castilians managed to repel the Almoravids attempts to capture the city, suffering heavy losses and many siege equipments in 1110. After the failed siege, the Almoravids assaulted and sacked Madrid, Talavera, Olmos, Canales, and many other towns, carrying a large number of prisoners and plunder. After the campaign, Ali returned to Cordoba, then to

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. Despite the difference in both accounts, it agrees that the campaign was large and had effect on the Castilians.Muhammad Abdullah Enan, p. 69

References

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Sources

*Muhammad Abdullah Enan, The State of Islam in Andalusia, Vol. III: The Era of Almoravids and Almohads, Part

*Ronald A. Messier (2010), The Almoravids and the Meanings of Jiha

*Richard Fletcher & Simon Barton (2000), The World of El Cid: Chronicles of the Spanish Reconquest. 1109 in Europe 1110 in Europe Conflicts in 1109 Conflicts in 1110 Battles of the Reconquista Battles involving Castile Battles involving the Almoravid Empire 12th century in al-Andalus Military history of the Mediterranean