Battle of Calatañazor facts for kids

The Battle of Calatañazor is a famous legend from a time called the Reconquista. This was a long period in Spanish history when Christian kingdoms fought to take back land from Muslim rulers. The battle supposedly happened in July 1002 near a town called Calatañazor in Soria, Spain.

It was said that a powerful Muslim leader named Almanzor led his army against Christian forces. These Christian armies were led by Alfonso V of León (from León), Sancho III of Navarre (from Navarre), and Sancho García of Castile (from Castile). The legend says Almanzor was badly hurt in this battle and died soon after.

However, historians today believe this battle never actually happened. There is no real proof of it in old records from that time. Experts like Reinhart Dozy and Évariste Lévi-Provençal showed that it was just a story, not a real event.

The Legend of Calatañazor

The story says that Almanzor was finishing a military campaign in Galicia. He then decided to attack Castile. He gathered a huge army at Calatañazor. Here, the armies from León and Castile met him.

Almanzor's Supposed Defeat

The legend describes a fierce fight where thousands of Muslim soldiers were killed. Almanzor himself barely escaped capture because night fell.

The story goes: "Many thousands of Saracens fell in the place called Calatañazor. If night had not come, Almanzor might have been captured. However, he was not defeated that day. But at night, he fled with his men."

Under the cover of darkness, Almanzor and his followers ran away. The next morning, the Christian leader Vermudo marched to the Muslim camp. He found it empty but full of valuable items left behind. Another Christian leader, García Fernández, chased the fleeing Muslims and captured many prisoners.

The Drum and the Devil

On the same day as the battle, a strange event supposedly happened far away. A fisherman was heard shouting, first in Arabic, then in Spanish: "In Calatañazor, Almanzor lost the drum!" Many Muslims from Córdoba came to see him. But every time they got close, he vanished. He would then reappear somewhere else, repeating the same words.

Some people, like Lucas of Tuy, believed this fisherman was actually the devil. They thought the devil was crying about the great loss of the Muslims at Calatañazor. The legend ends by saying that Almanzor never ate or drank after this defeat. He died in Medinaceli and was buried there.

Why Is It a Legend?

Even though the story is exciting, it's important to remember it's a legend. Historians have studied many old writings from that time. They have found no evidence that the Battle of Calatañazor ever took place.

Almanzor did die in August 1002. But it's believed he died from illness, not from wounds in a battle. The story of Calatañazor likely grew over time. It became a way to explain Almanzor's death and celebrate Christian victories in the Reconquista.