Battle of Écija (1275) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Écija |
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| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
 Farmland near Écija, close to where Nuño González de Lara was killed. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Castile |
.svg){kind=small} Sultanate of Morocco Emirate of Granada |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alfonso X of Castile Nuño González de Lara "el Bueno" † |
Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 90,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 18 000 | Unknow | ||||||
The Battle of Écija was an important fight during the Reconquista in Spain. This battle happened in September 1275. It was fought between the Christian forces of the Kingdom of Castile and the Muslim armies. The Muslim armies included troops from the Emirate of Granada and their allies from Morocco, called the Marinids. The battle ended with a victory for the Muslim forces.
What Led to the Battle?
The Emirate of Granada was a Muslim kingdom in southern Spain. At this time, it was facing a difficult civil war. The Christian kingdom of Castile often attacked Granada. They saw a chance to take land and treasure because the Muslim forces were busy fighting among themselves.
To get help, the ruler of Granada, Muhammad II, asked his allies in Morocco for support. The Moroccan Sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq, agreed to help. In 1275, he brought a large army across the sea to Spain. His main goal was to capture the city of Tarifa.
The Battle Begins
At this time, the Castilian King, Alfonso X of Castile, was away from Spain. His son, Infante Ferdinand, was ruling in his place. When he heard about the Moroccan invasion, Ferdinand quickly gathered an army. He started moving south to stop the invaders. Sadly, he suddenly died in August 1275.
On September 8, 1275, the Muslim armies were marching north. They met a Castilian army near the town of Écija. This Castilian army was led by Nuño González de Lara. He was a brave leader who tried to block the Marinid army's path.
The Fight and Its Outcome
The Marinid forces were very strong. They defeated the Castilian army in a big way. Nuño González de Lara was killed during the battle or very soon after. The Marinid Sultan ordered that Nuño González's head be cut off. He sent it as a prize to the Sultan of Granada, Muhammad II. This act made their alliance even stronger. They continued to fight against the Castilian forces for several years.
Later that year, in October, another Castilian army faced a similar defeat. This army was led by Archbishop Sancho of Toledo in the battle of Martos. The Christian kingdom was eventually saved by another prince, Infante Sancho. He managed to bring the Castilian forces together. By the end of the year, King Alfonso X of Castile had to sign a peace agreement with the Muslim rulers.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Écija para niños
