Battle of Llantada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Llantada |
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 Field where the battle occurred. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Castile | León | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sancho II of Castile Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar "El Cid" |
Alfonso VI of León | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown | unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Llantada or Llantadilla was a small fight that happened on July 19, 1068. It took place near the Pisuerga River, which was on the border between the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Castile. In this battle, King Sancho II of Castile of Castile defeated his brother, King Alfonso VI of León of León.
Even though Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as "El Cid," is often linked to this battle, historians are not sure if he was actually there. He was very young at the time, so it's unlikely he had a big role.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Llantada?
The Battle of Llantada was a border skirmish, which means it was a small fight, not a huge war. It happened in a village called Llantadilla, about 10 kilometers southwest of Melgar de Fernamental. This village was very close to the border, showing that it wasn't a major invasion.
Why Did the Battle Happen?
The battle likely happened because of the growing ambitions of King Sancho II. He was the oldest son of King Ferdinand I, but he had received a smaller part of his father's kingdom compared to his brother, Alfonso VI.
The Kings' Ambitions
Sancho might have been encouraged to fight because his brother, Alfonso, had tried to take money from the Taifa of Badajoz. The king of Badajoz, al-Muzzaffar, was very sick. This was a problem because the right to collect money from Badajoz was supposed to go to their younger brother, García II. Alfonso's actions showed he wanted to break the agreement their father had made about dividing the kingdom.
Who Wrote About the Battle?
One of the first people to write about the Battle of Llantada was a historian named Pelayo of Oviedo. He probably heard stories from people who were alive at the time or from his own childhood. Pelayo said that Sancho won the battle and Alfonso went back to León.
Later Historical Accounts
Later historians often saw this battle as a kind of "judicial duel." This means they thought it was a fight to decide which brother would rule the other's kingdom. The Chronica Naierensis, written in the late 1100s, confirmed the battle happened in 1068. Another old record, the Annales Complutenses, said it happened on July 19. However, there's a small mistake because July 19, 1068, was a Saturday, not a Wednesday as some records imply.
Was Alfonso Really There?
Some historians question if King Alfonso was actually at the battle. We know he signed a document for a monastery in Sahagún on July 7, 1068, which was just before the battle. Also, on July 20, the day after the battle, one of Alfonso's main commanders confirmed a donation to the same monastery.
After the Battle
The Battle of Llantada didn't have a huge, lasting effect right away. Alfonso soon went back to attacking Badajoz. He continued his efforts to get money from the city, which was now ruled by the sick king's two sons.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Llantada para niños
