Conquest of Santarém facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conquest of Santarém |
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| Part of the Portuguese Reconquista | |||||||
.png) The Conquest of Santarém by Alfredo Roque Gameiro |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Portugal |
Taifa of Badajoz | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Afonso I of Portugal | Auzary, governor of Shantarin | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 250 knights | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Very high | ||||||
The Conquest of Santarém happened on March 15, 1147. This was when the army of the Kingdom of Portugal, led by Afonso I of Portugal, took over the city of Santarém. At that time, Santarém was called Shantarin and belonged to the Taifa of Badajoz, a Moorish kingdom.
Why Santarém Was Important
On March 10, 1147, King Afonso I of Portugal left Coimbra. He had 250 of his best knights with him. Their goal was to capture the Moorish city of Santarém. King Afonso had tried to take Santarém before, but he failed.
Taking Santarém was very important for King Afonso's plan. If he controlled Santarém, it would stop the frequent Moorish attacks on Leiria. It would also help him prepare for a future attack on Lisbon.
The Secret Plan
The plan was to attack Santarém at night. This way, they could surprise the Moorish soldiers defending the city.
Before the attack, King Afonso sent a Portuguese man named Mem Ramires to Santarém. Mem Ramires pretended to be a businessman. His real mission was to secretly study the city's defenses. He gathered information to help with the conquest.
After the first day of their journey, King Afonso sent a message to the Moors in Santarém. He told them that their truce, or peace agreement, was ending. This message gave them the required three days' notice.
How Santarém Fell
On the night of March 14, King Afonso and his army reached Santarém. They hid their ladders in the fields nearby. Just before dawn the next morning, 25 knights quietly climbed the city walls.
They killed the Moorish guards and quickly opened the city gate. This allowed the main Portuguese army to rush into Santarém. The Moors woke up because of the screams from their guards. They ran into the streets to fight the Portuguese attackers.
The Moorish soldiers fought very bravely. However, they were eventually defeated and many were killed. By morning, the conquest was complete. Santarém officially became part of the new Kingdom of Portugal.
What Happened Next
After taking Santarém, King Afonso I of Portugal focused on another important Moorish city: Lisbon. He would later conquer Lisbon in October of the same year.
He got help from a fleet of crusaders. These crusaders were part of the Second Crusade. They stopped in Portugal on their way to the Holy Land.
The oldest and most detailed story about the conquest of Santarém comes from a book called De expugnatione Scalabis.
See also
In Spanish: Conquista de Santarém para niños
