Battle of Valdejunquera facts for kids

The Battle of Valdejunquera was a big battle that took place in a valley called Iuncaria (which means "valley of reeds"). It happened on July 26, 920. The fight was between the Muslim kingdom of Córdoba and the Christian armies from the kingdoms of León and Navarre.

The battle was a victory for the Córdobans (the Muslims). It was part of a larger military plan called the "Muez campaign." This campaign mainly aimed to attack León's southern defenses, especially the area of Castile along the Duero river.

What Happened at Valdejunquera?

The earliest information about this battle comes from a book called the Chronicon. It was written by a Leonese church leader named Sampiro around the late 980s.

Sampiro wrote that the Muslims arrived at a place called Mois (Muez). They were threatening the kingdom of Navarre. The king of Navarre, Sancho Garcés I, asked for help from Ordoño II of León, the king of León.

King Ordoño II met the Muslim army in the Valdejunquera valley. We know from other old writings that the Muslim army was led by their ruler, ‘Abdarrahmān III. The Christian forces were badly defeated.

Captured Bishops and a Brave Nephew

During the battle, two Christian bishops, Dulcidio and Ermogio, were captured. They were taken as prisoners to Córdoba.

Ermogio's nephew, a young man named Pelagius, later became famous. He bravely offered to go into captivity instead of his uncle, so Ermogio could be free. King Ordoño paid money to free Dulcidio.

Impact on Clunia

Another result of the battle was that a fortified town called Clunia had to be left empty. This town had been resettled in 912 by the Castilian count Gonzalo Fernández. After the battle, Clunia stayed under Muslim control for many years, until at least 1007–1010.

Where Was Valdejunquera?

The exact location of the Valdejunquera valley is not known today. A historian from Navarre in the 1600s, José de Moret, thought it was north of Irujo. He believed it was south of the mountains of Andía. He even said that people in his time still called the area "Iuncadia" in their local language.

Another old history book, the Historia Silense, written in the late 1000s, said the battle happened in King Sancho Garcés's territory. It placed the location somewhere between Estella and Pamplona.

The Bishops' Dioceses

Historians have also found it difficult to figure out exactly which areas (called dioceses) the bishops Dulcidio and Ermogio were in charge of.

A writer named Pelayo of Oviedo, who continued Sampiro's work in the 1100s, thought they were bishops of Salamanca and Tuy. However, this isn't possible. In 920, the area around Salamanca was mostly empty. Also, the bishop of Tuy at that time was someone named Nausto.

After studying the old texts, historian Justo Pérez de Urbel concluded that Dulcidio was the bishop of Zamora. He believed Ermogio was the bishop of Oporto, but with connections to the Tuy region.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Valdejunquera para niños