The Almoravid northern Expeditions was a series of raids led by Muhammad ibn al-Hajj, the governor of Zaragoza against the

Kingdom of Aragon The Kingdom of Aragon (; ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Monarchy, kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain. It became a part of the larger ...

and

Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...

Background

In 1110, the Almoravids took over the

Taifa of Zaragoza The taifa of Zaragoza () was an independent Arab Muslim state in the east of Al-Andalus (present-day Spain) with its capital in Saraqusta (Zaragoza) city. It was established in the early 11th century as one of the many Taifa kingdoms that foll ...

and its capital

Zaragoza Zaragoza (), traditionally known in English as Saragossa ( ), is the capital city of the province of Zaragoza and of the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries, the ...

. The city of Zaragoza was the most important cities in

Sharq al-Andalus The Sharq al-Andalus () is defined as the eastern lands of al-Andalus, territories that have lived under a political power of acceptance of Islam as a belief and as a political structure and that geographically would include the territories of Murc ...

, as the Almoravids made it the capital of the

Upper March The Upper March (; Spanish ''Marca Superior'') was an administrative and military division in northeastern al-Andalus, roughly corresponding to the Ebro valley and adjacent Mediterranean coast, from the 8th century to the early 11th century. It ...

(), It was also a base for them to launch campaigns against the

and Catalan Counties.

Expeditions

In 1112, Ibn al-Hajj left from Zaragoza with his forces heading to the lands of Aragon, where he destroyed the

Huesca Huesca (; ) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon between 1096 and 1118. It is also the capital of the Spanish Huesca (province), ...

region and the surrounding cities, the Almoravid forces reached the town of Ayera northeast of Huesca, where they captured and sacked it. Its governor Íñigo Sanz de Laves was among the prisoners. The invading forces continued their attacks north, raiding the Cinca River and foothills of the Pyrenees Between 1113 and 1114, the Almoravids, led by Ibn al-Hajj carried out heavy raids on the regions of

and

Barbastro Barbastro (Latin: ''Barbastrum'' or ''Civitas Barbastrensis'', Aragonese: ''Balbastro'') is a city in the Somontano county, province of Huesca, Spain. The city (also known originally as Barbastra or Bergiduna) is at the junction of the rivers C ...

, during this campaign, the Almoravids recaptured the towns of

Chalamera Chalamera () is a municipality located in the Huesca (province), province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain), INE), the municipality has a population of 153 inhabitants. Notable peop ...

Ontiñena Ontiñena () is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census ( INE), the municipality has a population of 623 inhabitants. See also * List of municipalities in Huesca This is a list of the munici ...

, ,

Sariñena Sariñena is a municipality in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. It is located in the Monegros comarca, near the Sierra de Alcubierre range. The Baroque monastery of Nuestra Señora de las Fuentes is located in the municipal term. Villag ...

and Velilla de Cinca, the attacks reached

and the foothills of the Pyrenees. There was no Aragonese or Christian resistance, as Ibn al-Hajj returned to

after that.

Aftermath

The absence of Alfonso I had a profound impact on the southern borders of his kingdom, which he was then tasked with defending.Rábade Obradó, María del Pilar 2005, p. 329 In late 1114, the governors of Zaragoza and

Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

, Muhammad ibn al-Hajj and Muhammad ibn Aisha, launched a campaign against Catalonia. While returning to Zaragoza, they were ambushed at Martorell by Catalan troops, resulting in the deaths of Muhammad ibn al-Hajj. In 1118, after six years in captivity, Íñigo Sanz de Laves finally paid a ransom of 500

mithqal Mithqāl () is a unit of mass equal to which is mostly used for measuring precious metals, such as gold, and other commodities, like saffron. The name was also applied as an alternative term for the gold dinar, a coin that was used throughout ...

s for himself, his wife, his son and his daughter.

References

Sources

* *

* * * * * * * * {{refend 1112 in Europe Conflicts in 1113 Conflicts in 1114 Battles of the Reconquista Battles involving the Almoravid Empire 12th century in al-Andalus Military expeditions Military raids Military history of the Mediterranean