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Battle of Sagrajas

Type Event Region Europe Time 1086

On October 23, 1086, Almoravid emir Yusuf ibn Tashfin led North African reinforcements and an Andalusian coalition to defeat Castile-León's King Alfo…

Timeline

  1. 1086Southern Al-Andalus · Al-AndalusAt the request of the taifa of Seville and others, Yusuf ibn Tashfin crossed from Morocco into Iberia and joined forces with the armies of the taifas of Granada, Seville, and other cities, preparing to face Alfonso VI's northward offensive.
  2. 1086Sagrajas (Zalaca) · ExtremaduraAlfonso VI led the main Castilian-Leónese force north and encountered the Almoravid-taifa coalition on the plains of Sagrajas. Yusuf coordinated Berber light cavalry with heavy infantry to organize a defense against the charge of Christian knights.
  3. 1086Battlefield of Sagrajas · ExtremaduraThe coalition's disciplined Berber phalanxes broke the charge of the Christian heavy cavalry. Alfonso VI was defeated and retreated, suffering heavy losses. Arabic sources call the battle Zallaqa, while Christian chronicles also call it Sagrajas.
  4. 1086–1087South-central Iberian Peninsula · Iberian PeninsulaThe Christian armies were forced to retreat, and Alfonso VI was for a time unable to expand further south. The Almoravids established military dominance in Al-Andalus, but Yusuf did not remain long at first, leaving political room for later intervention.

Sources