Navas de Tolosa, Battle of Las

Navas de Tolosa, Battle of Las

▪ Spanish history
also called  Battle Of Al-ʿuqāb  

      (July 16, 1212), major battle of the Christian reconquest of Spain in which the Almohads (a Muslim dynasty of North Africa and Spain) were severely defeated by the combined armies of Leon, Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Portugal. The battle was fought about 40 miles (64 km) north of Jaén, in Andalusia, southern Spain.

      Immobilized for several years by his crushing defeat at Alarcos (1195) at the hands of the Almohads, King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Leon gained the sympathy of the archbishop of Toledo, Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada, who proceeded to stir up religious indignation at the Muslim victory over Christians. A proclamation of a crusade was obtained from Pope Innocent III, which elicited further support from several French bishops; and, in the spring of 1212, contingents of French knights and Knights Templars began to converge on Toledo. After some delay, the crusade set out southward on June 21, augmented by the armies of Aragon, Castile, and Leon. Despite their success in taking two Muslim fortresses, the non-Spanish forces were soon discouraged by adverse climatic and living conditions and returned home. The armies of Navarre, however, were then recruited for the expedition.

      Meanwhile, on June 22 the Almohad caliph Muḥammad an-Nāṣir had moved to Jaén, then the mountainous area around Baeza, intending to cut off the Christians at the plain of Las Navas de Tolosa. Soon after their arrival on July 12, the Christians took Castroferral with hopes of then reaching the Muslim encampment through the pass of La Llosa. The pass was heavily guarded, however, and it was through a local shepherd who directed the Christians to an alternate opening that they were able to reach the Muslim base. Alfonso himself led the Christians into battle and shattered the Almohad forces on July 16. An-Nāṣir fled, while Alfonso followed up his victory by immediately taking Baeza and Úbeda. The extensive effects of the Muslim defeat did not become apparent until after 1233, when the Almohad empire disintegrated owing to dynastic squabbles, and the Muslim hold on Spain, lacking a central leader, slipped rapidly before the armies of the Christian reconquest.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Las Navas de Tolosa — Bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa Pour les articles homonymes, voir Navas. bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa Peinture à l’huile du …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Las Navas de Tolosa, Battle of — or Battle of Al ʽUqāb (July 16, 1212) Major battle of the Christian reconquest of Spain. It occurred during a Christian Crusade against the Muslim Almohad dynasty. Led by King Alfonso VIII, the combined armies of León, Castile, Aragon, Navarra,… …   Universalium

  • Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa — Part of the Reconquista …   Wikipedia

  • Bataille De Las Navas De Tolosa — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Navas. bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa Peinture à l’huile du …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bataille de las navas de tolosa — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Navas. bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa Peinture à l’huile du …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Navas. Bataille de Las Navas de Tolosa Peinture à l’huile du XIXe siècle, de F.P van …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Batalla de Las Navas de Tolosa — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Batalla de Las Navas de Tolosa Parte de la Reconquista Batalla de Las Nav …   Wikipedia Español

  • Las — (as used in expressions) Las Casas Bartolomé de Las Navas de Tolosa Battle of Las Palmas Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Las Vegas * * * …   Universalium

  • battle — battle1 battler, n. /bat l/, n., v., battled, battling. n. 1. a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces: the battle of Waterloo. 2. participation in such hostile encounters or engagements: wounds received in battle. 3. a… …   Universalium

  • Battle of Ceuta — Part of Moroccan Portuguese conflicts …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”