Battle of Linuesa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Linuesa |
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| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
 Map of the Nasrid Emirate of Granada. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Castile Kingdom of Jaén Order of Calatrava |
 Emirate of Granada |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Diego García de Padilla Enrique Enríquez el Mozo Men Rodríguez de Biedma |
Muhammed VI |
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The Battle of Linuesa was an important fight that happened on December 21, 1361. It took place near the city of Huesa in the Kingdom of Jaén, which is now part of Spain. This battle was part of the long series of conflicts known as the Reconquista.
The battle was fought between the army of the Kingdom of Castile and the forces from the Emirate of Granada. In the end, the Kingdom of Castile won a clear victory.
The Castilian army was led by several important commanders. These included Diego García de Padilla, who was the Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava. Also leading the troops were Enrique Enríquez "el Mozo" and Men Rodríguez de Biedma.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Muslim Forces Invade Jaén
Towards the end of 1361, Muslim troops from the Emirate of Granada entered the region of Jaén. They raided areas like the Adelantamiento de Cazorla. They also set fire to the town of Peal de Becerro.
These invading forces were quite large. They had about 600 cavalry (soldiers on horseback). They also had around 2,000 foot soldiers. The invaders took many people captive and gathered a lot of valuable items.
The Battle of Linuesa
Castilian Army Responds
When Diego García de Padilla, the Grand Master of Calatrava, heard about the invasion, he quickly acted. He gathered his soldiers to chase after the Muslim forces. He wanted to stop them from causing more damage.
The Castilian-Leonese troops moved quickly. They took control of a river crossing at Guadiana Menor. Their plan was to block the Muslim forces. They knew the invaders would need to cross this river to return to their own lands.
The Fight Begins
The battle started on December 21, 1361. The Muslim troops arrived at the river crossing. They found the Christian forces already there, blocking their way. The Muslim army immediately tried to push the Christians out of their position.
However, the Castilian-Leonese forces advanced on the Muslim troops. They fought bravely and completely defeated them. This happened at a place called Linuesa. Historical records from the time of King Peter I of Castile say that very few Muslim soldiers escaped alive. Most of them were defeated.
What Happened After the Battle
King Peter I's Reaction
When King Peter I of Castile heard about his army's victory, he was very happy. However, he then gave a surprising order. He told his captains to hand over all the valuable items they had taken from the defeated enemy. In return, he promised to give each of them three hundred Maravedies. A Maravedí was a type of coin used at that time.
A Broken Promise
Once the king had the treasure, he did not keep his promise. He failed to give the promised reward money to his commanders. This surely made Diego García de Padilla, Enrique Enríquez "el Mozo", and Men Rodríguez de Biedma very angry. They had fought and won the battle in the king's name. King Peter I of Castile is often remembered in history as "Pedro I el Cruel," meaning "Peter I the Cruel."
Another Battle Soon After
Just a few months later, the same Castilian army faced another challenge. They were led by the same commanders. However, this time they were defeated by Muslim troops at the Battle of Guadix. This battle took place in the winter of 1362.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Linuesa para niños
