Siege of Lleida (1123)
| Siege of Lleida (1123) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
 Gardeny Castle, which was built by Alfosno the battler to besiege Lleida. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
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Almoravid dynasty County of Barcelona Duchy of Aquitaine | Kingdom of Aragon | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Abu Hilal Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona William IX, Duke of Aquitaine | Alfonso the Battler | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknwon | ||||||
The siege of Lleida took place in 1123 in a Christian effort to recapture territories from Muslim control in the Iberian Peninsula. This siege was led by Alfonso the Battler against the Almoravid-controlled city of Lleida.
Background
Following the loss of Zaragoza in 1118, the city of Lleida was under threat by Alfonso the Battler. For unknown reasons, Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, established an alliance with the governor of Lleida, Abu Hilal. Ramon acted as the defender against any attack by Alfonso. Abu Hilal would cede castles to Ramon in exchange for help against his own enemies and would pay tribute to Ramon.[1] After securing western borders with the Leonese kingdom, the Aragonese king, Alfonso the Battler, made preparations against Lleida.[2]
Siege
In February 1123, the Aragonese king marched to Lleida. The conquest of Lleida could reestablish an alliance with the County of Urgell. Alfosno constructed a castle called Gardeny on a hill above the city. The Aragonese forces used the castle they built to blockade the city, cutting off the supplies that were delivered through the Segre River, and trap its inhabitants. However, this strategy faced obstacles as the Almoravid garrison showed strong resistance. Relive forces led by Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, arrvied. Alfonso engaged in a battle or a tournament with Ramon and William, which ended in Alfonso raising the siege in May 1123.[3][4][5]
References
Sources
- Clay Stalls (2022), Possessing the Land, Aragon's Expansion Into Islam's Ebro Frontier Under Alfonso the Battler (1104–1134).[1]
- Thomas W. Barton (2019), Victory's Shadow, Conquest and Governance in Medieval Catalonia.[2]
- José Luis Orella Unzué (1995), Historia de Euskal Herria: Los vascos de ayer.[3]