Battle of Guadix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Guadix |
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| Part of Reconquista | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Castile Kingdom of Jaén Order of Calatrava |
 Emirate of Granada |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 16,500 | 4,600 | ||||||
The Battle of Guadix was an important fight between the Christian forces of Castile and the Muslim forces of the Emirate of Granada. It happened in January 1362, near the city of Guadix, which is now in Spain.
In this battle, the Castilian army was defeated by the soldiers loyal to Muhammed VI, Sultan of Granada. Even though Muhammed VI won, he soon tried to make peace. However, he was later killed on the orders of King Peter of Castile.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Changes in Leadership in Granada
Before the battle, the ruler of Granada, Muhammed V of Granada, was removed from power in 1359. He managed to escape to Morocco. His younger brother, Isma'il II, then became the new ruler.
But Isma'il II was killed just a few months later. His distant cousin, Isma'il bin Nasr, took over and became Sultan Muhammed VI. Soon after becoming sultan, Muhammed VI faced a Christian army near Guadix.
Castile's Support for Muhammed V
In the summer of 1361, Muhammed V, who had been removed from power, got help from King Peter of Castile. King Peter was also known as "the Cruel." They planned to help Muhammed V get his throne back.
In December 1361, a large Castilian army of 6,000 soldiers attacked and captured several towns in Granada. This set the stage for the big battle at Guadix.
The Battle of Guadix
Armies and Leaders
In January 1362, about 2,600 Castilian soldiers attacked a Muslim force of 4,600 at Guadix. The Castilian army had about 1,000 horsemen and 2,000 foot soldiers.
Their leaders included Diego García de Padilla, who was the Master of the Order of Calatrava. Other important leaders were Enrique Enríquez the Younger and Men Rodríguez de Biedma.
Low Morale Among Castilians
A writer from that time, Pero López de Ayala, said that the Castilian soldiers were not feeling very confident. This was because their king had unfairly taken valuable prisoners they had captured earlier. The soldiers also believed that bad signs were appearing, which made them even more worried.
The Fight Begins
When the Christian army arrived near Guadix, they didn't see any enemy soldiers. So, they split into two groups. One group stayed ready for battle by a small river. The other group marched towards a place called Alhama.
The Muslim forces had been secretly warned that the Castilians were coming. Six hundred horsemen and four thousand foot soldiers had been moved into Guadix to make the town's defenses stronger.
When the Castilian group marching to Alhama came into view, the Muslim soldiers attacked. At first, they only showed a small part of their army. But more troops came out from Guadix, hidden by hedges and gardens, so the Castilians didn't see them.
The Bridge and Panic
The fighting started at a bridge with a high arch between the two armies. The Granadan soldiers crossed this bridge but were quickly pushed back. About 200 Castilian horsemen chased them. However, these horsemen suddenly found themselves surrounded by Muslim foot soldiers who had come out of the town.
The Castilian horsemen were forced back. They gathered at the entrance to the bridge and held their ground, calling for help. Padilla and Enríquez, who didn't realize how strong the enemy was, carelessly left the bridge. They thought they could easily defeat any Muslim soldiers who crossed it.
The Castilian soldiers didn't understand why their leaders left the bridge. When they saw that the Muslim forces had taken control of the bridge, they panicked and ran away. The Muslim soldiers chased after them.
The Retreat and Defeat
The Castilian horsemen tried to protect their retreating army. The Muslim soldiers were busy looting the Castilian baggage. But there were too few Castilian horsemen to stop the increasing number of Muslim soldiers crossing the river. Night fell, but the fight continued.
Padilla was wounded in one arm and was captured along with eight of his fellow knights. Enrique Enríquez managed to get back to the border with what was left of his small army. The Castilians had been completely defeated. The commander of the Order of Santiago forces, Diego Fernández de Jaén, was killed in the battle.
What Happened Next
Aftermath of the Battle
After the battle, Muhammed VI released Diego García de Padilla and the other eight knights he had captured. Even though he had won an unexpected victory, Muhammed VI was worried. He thought that King Peter of Castile would want revenge for the defeat. He also feared that Christian knights from other countries would join the fight for glory and treasure.
Muhammed VI's ally, King Peter IV of Aragon, stopped supporting him. Instead, he sent 400 lances (soldiers) to help Castile.
Muhammed VI's Fate
Because of these worries, Muhammed VI tried to make peace with King Peter of Castile. However, King Peter had Muhammed VI killed in April 1362.
After this, Muhammed V of Granada regained control of Granada in 1362. He then formed an alliance with King Peter of Castile and helped him in his war against King Peter IV of Aragon.
Images for kids
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The Emirate of Granada showing land lost between 1292 and 1462. Guadix is east of the city of Granada.
