The Marinid campaign in Andalusia of 1277–1278 was the second campaign led by the Marinid Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub in the Iberian Peninsula. Supported by the Emir of Granada, Muhammad II of Granada, towards the end of the campaign, the Muslims ravaged the Christian territories without achieving any strategic conquests. Fearing a confrontation, the Castilian King Alfonso X requested peace, which was eventually signed on 25 February 1278.
| Marinid campaign in Andalusia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Castile |
_(1554-1659).svg){kind=small} Marinid dynasty Emirate of Granada | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Alphonse X of CastileSancho IV of Castile |
Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd al-Haqq Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The campaign
editFirst Expedition
editThe Marinid army invaded Castile and reached the gates of Seville on 13 August 1277, the day of Mawlid Nabawi[1]. Sancho, son and heir presumptive of King Alfonso X, was in charge of the kingdom in his father’s absence, who was occupied fighting the French in the north[2]. Prince Sancho, who was present in the city, hesitated at first but then attempted a sortie against the Marinid troops stationed on the banks of the Guadalquivir. The battle turned into a rout for the Castilians, and the Marinids inflicted heavy losses on them to the point where the Guadalquivir River was "covered with their corpses." The Moroccans killed many, took numerous prisoners, and then plundered and burned the countryside around Seville throughout the night[3].
Abu Yusuf Yaqub then left the area around Seville, continuing his campaign of plunder and seizing numerous fortresses. By the end of August, he returned to Algeciras with a large booty and many captives[4]
Second Expedition
editAround mid-September, the Marinids resumed hostilities and launched an incursion on Jerez, which they besieged. They devastated the countryside around the city, while Prince Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr, leading a cavalry troop, raided and ravaged the strongholds in the Guadalquivir Valley, including Rota. Prince Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr even reached the province of Seville, where he ravaged the countryside. The Marinids then returned to Algeciras with a substantial amount of loot[4]
Third Expedition
editAfter pillaging the regions of Seville and Jerez, Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub called on his ally, Mohammed II al-Faqih, the Emir of Granada, to join him in an expedition against the Córdoba region. He agreed, and the Moroccan-Granadian armies met at Archidona[4]. The Muslims invaded the Christian territory once again and captured the fortress of Benamejí[5], killing all its defenders. The fortress was completely destroyed, and the women and children were taken captive. The Muslims continued their incursion, ravaging everything in their path, and reached Córdoba, where they set up camp nearby[6].
The Muslims remained for three days under the walls of Córdoba, ravaging all the countryside around the city. They then captured the fortresses of Ezzahra, Berkouna, and Arjona, which they completely razed. Moorish detachments also went to raid the region of Jaén. Fearing a direct confrontation and seeing his country being ravaged, King Alfonso X of Castile requested peace. A peace treaty favorable to the Muslims was eventually signed on 25 February 1278[7].
References
edit- ^ Khanboubi 1987, p. 86.
- ^ Mercier 1894, p. 212.
- ^ Alnassiri 1934, p. 78.
- ^ a b c Alnassiri 1934, p. 79.
- ^ Josserand 2017, p. 250.
- ^ Alnassiri 1934, p. 80.
- ^ Alnassiri 1934, p. 81.
Bibliography
edit- Alnassiri, Ahmad ibn Khalid (1934). Kitâb Elistiqsâ li-Akhbâri doual Elmâgrib Elaqsâ (in French).
- Mercier, Ernest (1894). Histoire de l'Afrique septentrionale (Berbérie) depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'à la conquête française (1830) (in French).
- Ahmed Khaneboubi (1987). Les premiers sultans mérinides: 1269-1331 : histoire politique et sociale (in French). L'Harmattan..
- Josserand Philippe (2017). Église et pouvoir dans la péninsule Ibérique: Les ordres militaires dans le royaume de Castille (1252-1369) (in French). Casa de Velázquez..