Crusade of Tedelis facts for kids
The Crusade of Tedelis was an important fight between the Crown of Aragon (a powerful kingdom in what is now Spain) and the Kingdom of Tlemcen (a kingdom in North Africa) in the late 1300s. It was a time when these two powers often had conflicts.
Why the Crusade Happened
In 1398, something big happened that made King Martin of Aragon very angry. Pirates from Tlemcen attacked a town called Torreblanca. During this attack, they took something very important from a church called the consecrated host, and they also captured 108 people.
King Martin decided he had to strike back. He ordered a special attack on a city called Dellys, which was also known as Tedelis. He put Joan Gascó in charge of a large fleet of ships and Jaume de Pertusa in charge of the army.
The Attack on Dellys
The ships and soldiers gathered in Ibiza, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. They formed a huge force of 70 ships and about 7,500 crusaders (soldiers fighting for a religious cause).
In August 1398, the fleet set sail. They successfully reached Dellys and attacked the city. About 1,000 villagers were killed, and the city was sacked, meaning it was looted and damaged.
After attacking Dellys, the expedition sailed towards Avignon, a city in France. Their goal was to help Pope Benedict XIII, who was being attacked by a group led by Geoffrey Boucicaut. However, the fleet couldn't sail up the Rhône River because the water was too low. Even though they couldn't directly help, they did manage to arrange a three-month break in the fighting for the Pope.
What Happened Next
After the crusade, King Martin of Aragon was able to make a deal. He negotiated the release of the Aragonese people who had been captured by Tlemcen. In return, he agreed to release 300 prisoners from Tlemcen who had been captured during the raid on Dellys.
The very next year, King Martin decided to launch another similar campaign, but this time it was directed at a different city called Bona.
See also
In Spanish: Cruzada de Tedelis para niños
