Siege of Toledo
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Siege of Toledo, a key moment in 1085 during the struggle between the Christians and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. Toledo was the capital of the taifa kingdom of Al-Andalus, and its fall to King Alfonso VI of Castile spurred the Reconquista, the Christian conquest of Muslim Spain.
With a population of about 28,000, Toledo was the prosperous capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus, commanding a strategic position in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, in what is now Castile-La Mancha. Throughout its history, Al-Andalus had been in conflict with Christian kingdoms in the north. The tide began to turn in the Christians’ favor after Alfonso became king of Leon in 1065 and of Castile in 1072.
Alfonso carefully and cleverly exploited divisions within Moorish Spain. In 1075 he defeated the taifa kingdom of Granada with the help of their rivals in Seville, and later that year, he supported Toledo against its rivals in Córdoba. However, Alfonso lost his influence in Toledo when Yahya al-Qadir succeeded his father as caliph (Muslim head of state) and expelled Alfonso’s sympathizers.
Al-Qadir’s actions caused further divisions within the Moorish community; a rebellion lost him Córdoba and sent him into exile, and he was forced to ask Alfonso for assistance. The king agreed on the condition that Al-Qadir give up Toledo to Castile in return for the Moors holding onto Valencia. By the time Alfonso’s forces arrived at Toledo, the citizens were tired of conflict and invited him to enter. However, a faction linked to the kingdom of Zaragoza resisted and forced Alfonso to besiege the city. He set up his main battle line across from the al-Qantara (Alcántara) Bridge, allowing him to control the main supply route into the city. Little direct fighting ensued, aside from a few skirmishes. Given rivalries with other taifa rulers, al-Qadir was unable to secure support in lifting the siege, and he surrendered the city. The terms he secured allowed Muslims to retain their property and practice their religion freely. The city’s Jewish population won the same considerations.
The ultimate fall of Toledo in May 1085, after four years of mostly desultory military activity but with the formation of significant alliances, was a significant milestone in the Reconquista of Muslim Spain, allowing King Alfonso to claim the leadership of Spain for Leon-Castile.
Losses: No reliable figures.
