Battle of Paterna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Paterna |
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| Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
 Map of the Taifa of Valencia. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of León |
Taifa of Valencia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ferdinand I of León and Castile |
Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Muẓaffar | ||||||
The Battle of Paterna was an important fight that happened in 1065 near the city of Paterna in Spain. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Reconquista. This was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain tried to take back land from Muslim rulers. In this battle, the army of the Kingdom of León, led by King Ferdinand I of León and Castile, fought against the forces of the Taifa of Valencia. The Valencian army was led by Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Muẓaffar. The battle was a victory for the Kingdom of León.
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Why the Battle Happened
This battle took place during a time when Christian kingdoms in Spain were expanding. In 1063, King Ferdinand I of León sent his son, Prince Sancho, to help a ruler named Ahmad al-Muqtadir. Ahmad was the king of the Taifa of Zaragoza, a Muslim kingdom. His city, Graus, was being attacked by Ramiro I of Aragon, who was King Ferdinand's brother. Ramiro was defeated and died in that battle.
King Ferdinand's Demands
After that battle, many Christians were killed. To make things right, Ahmad al-Muqtadir stopped paying his "tribute" to the Kingdom of León. A tribute was like a payment a weaker ruler made to a stronger one for protection. King Ferdinand I was not happy about this.
In 1065, King Ferdinand decided to act. He led his army into the Ebro River valley. They caused a lot of damage to the land. They defeated Ahmad al-Muqtadir again. This forced Ahmad to become a "vassal state" once more. This meant he had to obey King Ferdinand and pay tribute again.
Marching Towards Valencia
After dealing with Zaragoza, King Ferdinand's army continued their journey. Their next target was the Taifa of Valencia. This city was ruled by Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Muẓaffar. King Ferdinand wanted to make Valencia a vassal state too, just like Zaragoza.
The Battle of Paterna
King Ferdinand I and his army began to surround the city of Valencia. They tried to take it by force. However, the city's defenses were very strong. The walls were tough, and the defenders fought bravely. King Ferdinand realized it would be too difficult to capture the city with a direct attack.
A Clever Ambush
So, the king decided to order his army to retreat. As the Leonese forces started to pull back, the Muslim defenders of Valencia came out of the city. They began to chase and attack the retreating Leonese soldiers.
The Leonese troops set a trap at a place called Paterna. This spot was about five kilometers from Valencia, near the Turia River. The Valencian attackers were completely surprised by this ambush. They were almost all wiped out. It is said that their leader, Abd al-Malik, only escaped because his horse was incredibly fast.
A Poet's Words
A poet named Abu Ishaq al-Tarasuní wrote about the battle. He described what happened in these lines: "The Christians were clad in bright armour, but ye were arrayed in silken robes of various colours. Partana is the spot where your valour and their cowardice became once more manifest."
This poem means that the Christian soldiers wore strong armor, while the Valencian soldiers wore fancy silk clothes. It suggests that the battle at Paterna showed who was truly brave and who was not.
Aftermath of the Battle
After the victory at Paterna, King Ferdinand I went back to trying to capture Valencia. He continued to surround the city. However, during this second siege, King Ferdinand became very ill.
Because of his illness, he ordered his army to retreat again. They headed back to León. King Ferdinand I died in León on December 27 of the same year, 1065.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Paterna para niños
