Battle of Algeciras (1278) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Algeciras
Part of the Reconquista
Marinid gravestone, 13th century (Museo Municipal de Algeciras).
Date 25 July 1278 Location Strait of Gibraltar, Emirate of Granada, Spain Result Marinid Victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Castile Order of Santa María de España	Marinid dynasty Emirate of Granada
Commanders and leaders
Pedro Martínez de Fe	Abu Yaqub Yusuf an-Nasr
Strength
Castilian navy •100 ships	Marinid navy • 72 ships Nasrid navy • 12 ships
Casualties and losses
All but 3 shipand hundreds of drowned	12 Marinid navy 8 navay of granda

The Battle of Algeciras was a big naval battle (a fight at sea) that happened on July 25, 1278. It was fought between the ships of the Kingdom of Castile and the combined ships of the Marinid dynasty and the Emirate of Granada. The battle took place near the Strait of Gibraltar. It was part of a larger conflict called the Reconquista, where Christian kingdoms in Spain tried to take back land from Muslim rulers. The Muslim forces won this battle.

This sea battle happened at the same time as a siege of the city of Algeciras. A siege is when an army surrounds a city to try and capture it. The siege lasted from 1278 to 1279. The Castilian prince, Infante Sancho, led the siege. He later gave up the siege in 1279. This battle was an important moment in the long struggle for control of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Why did the Battle of Algeciras happen?

The Marinids arrive

In 1275, the Marinid Sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq, brought his army across the sea to the Iberian Peninsula. His main goal was to capture the city of Tarifa. On his way, he was involved in other battles, like the Battle of Écija.

Castile's plan

By 1278, King Alfonso X of Castile sent a large fleet of ships from Sevilla. His plan was to block the city of Algeciras from the sea. This fleet had more than 100 ships of different kinds. It was led by the Order of Santa María de España. This was a special group of knights who focused on fighting at sea. The leader of the fleet was the Admiral of Castile, Pedro Martínez de Fe.

Muslim forces unite

The Marinid Sultan gathered his own fleet of 72 ships. He also got help from the Sultan of Granada, Muhammad II, who sent 12 more ships. These two Muslim fleets then joined together.

What happened during the battle?

The Muslim fleets noticed something important. The Castilian fleet was not in good shape. Many of its sailors were sick with scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Seeing this weakness, the Muslim forces decided to attack.

The battle happened on July 25, 1278, near the coast of Algeciras. The fight was fierce. In the end, almost the entire Castilian fleet was destroyed. It was a big victory for the Muslim forces.

What happened after the battle?

The loss of the Castilian fleet was a huge setback. There were problems with how the fleet and the siege were funded and supplied. King Alfonso X did not punish his son, Infante Pedro, who was partly responsible. Instead, he blamed others for the failure.

The defeat also caused problems for the Order of Santa María de España. This military order was later combined with the Order of Santiago in 1280. This happened after many of their knights were lost in another battle, the Battle of Moclín. After joining with the Order of Santiago, the Order of Santa María de España stopped existing as a separate group.

See also

• Siege of Algeciras (1278)
• Alfonso X of Castile
• Sancho IV of Castile
• Pedro de Castilla y Aragón
• Order of Santa María de España

Images for kids

• 

  A friendly robot.