Battle of Martos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Martos |
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| Part of the Spanish Reconquista | |||||||
 The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Crown of Castile |
.svg){kind=small} Marinid sultanate Kingdom of Granada |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sancho of Aragon, Archbishop of Toledo † |
Uzmén |
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| Strength | |||||||
| (Unknown) | (Unknown) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| (Very large) | (Unknown) | ||||||
The Battle of Martos was a small but important fight during the Reconquista in Spain. The Reconquista was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain fought to take back land from Muslim rulers. This battle happened in 1275 near the towns of Martos and Torredonjimeno in Andalusia. It was fought between the Christian soldiers of the Crown of Castile and the Muslim forces from the Emirate of Granada and the Marinid dynasty. The Castilian army was completely defeated in this battle. Historians have different ideas about the exact date, but most agree it was in late 1275.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
In the early 1270s, the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, which was Muslim, used to pay a special tribute called parias to the powerful Christian Crown of Castile. This was like a payment to keep the peace.
A High Price to Pay
In 1273, King Alfonso X of Castile decided to make the tribute much higher. He asked for a huge amount of money, 300,000 maravedis. This was too much for King Muhammad II of Granada.
Calling for Help
King Muhammad II decided he needed help. He asked the Marinids, a powerful Muslim group from North Africa, for support. Their leader, Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq, quickly agreed. In the summer of 1275, he crossed the Gibraltar strait with a large army. This army joined with the Granadine troops to attack Castilian lands.
Castile's Leadership Problem
At this time, King Alfonso X was not in Spain. His son and heir, Infante Ferdinand, was in charge. Ferdinand quickly tried to gather soldiers. But sadly, he died unexpectedly in August 1275. This left the Castilian kingdom without a clear leader. The Muslim forces then had an advantage in the south of Spain.
A Brave but Lost Fight
In September, a Castilian leader named Nuño González de Lara tried to stop the invaders. But he was defeated and killed in the Battle of Écija. After this, the young Archbishop of Toledo, Infante Sancho of Aragon, took charge. He led a group of knights from cities like Toledo and Madrid. They marched south to fight the invaders. Another group of soldiers was also heading towards Jaén under Lope Díaz de Haro.
The Battle of Martos
The Castilian soldiers, led by Archbishop Sancho, were staying in a place called Torre del Campo. The Archbishop received news that a Muslim force was nearby. This force was carrying lots of stolen goods and Christian prisoners.
A Risky Decision
Archbishop Sancho's own men told him to wait. They advised him to join forces with Lope Díaz de Haro's army before attacking. But the young Archbishop Sancho was very determined and decided to attack right away.
The Fight and Defeat
The battle likely took place near Torredonjimeno. The Castilian army was much smaller than the Muslim forces. They were completely defeated. Many knights were killed or captured, and only a few managed to escape.
The Archbishop's Fate
Archbishop Sancho was captured. He was a very important person because he was the son of King James I of Aragon. His captors, the Granadine and Marinid officials, started arguing about who he belonged to. To end the argument, a Granadine leader from Málaga killed the Archbishop. His body was later recovered by Lope Díaz de Haro.
What Happened Next
After the battle, Lope Díaz de Haro found the Archbishop's body. However, he did not chase after the Muslim forces.
New Leadership and Truce
Later, King Alfonso X's second son, Infante Sancho, returned from France. He quickly took charge and organized a strong defense of the southern lands. At the same time, the Christian kingdom of Aragon attacked Granada from the southeast. Because of these events, Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq went back to North Africa. A truce, or a temporary stop to fighting, then began between Castile and Granada. These events were the start of a longer conflict known as the Battle of the Strait, which lasted for many years.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Martos para niños
