Siege of Albarracín (1284) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Albarracín |
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| Part of the War of the Castilian Succession (1284-90) | |||||||
 View of the city of Albarracín. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kingdom of Aragón |
 House of Lara Señorío de Albarracín |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Peter III of Aragon |
Juan Núñez I de Lara |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 200 Knights | |||||||
The Siege of Albarracín was an important battle that happened in Spain during the year 1284. It took place from April to September. The city of Albarracín was attacked by the forces of Peter III of Aragon, who was the King of Aragon.
At that time, Albarracín was controlled by Juan Núñez I de Lara. He was the leader of a powerful family called the House of Lara. The siege ended with the Aragonese army successfully capturing the city. After its capture, King Peter III gave Albarracín to his son, Ferdinand of Aragon.
Contents
Why the Siege Happened
Albarracín's Special Status
Albarracín was a special territory that had once been part of a Muslim kingdom. It was called a Señorío. This area was given to a noble from Navarre who helped the kingdom of Valencia. People from Navarre then moved to live in Albarracín.
Later, when James I of Aragon conquered Valencia, Albarracín's legal status became unclear. The local nobles used this confusion to declare that they were independent. They didn't want to be part of Valencia or Aragon.
A War for the Throne
Around this time, there was a big fight over who would be the next king of Castile. This was called the War of the Castilian Succession. The main people fighting were Sancho IV of Castile and Alfonso de la Cerda.
Juan Núñez I de Lara, who ruled Albarracín, often changed sides in this war. In 1284, he was supporting Alfonso de la Cerda. Juan Núñez I had also made an alliance with the kingdoms of Navarre and France. This agreement was known as the Treaty of Ágreda from 1281.
Aragon's Plan
To weaken Juan Núñez I de Lara, King Sancho IV of Castile made a deal with Peter III of Aragon. They agreed that if either Castilian or Aragonese forces captured Albarracín, it would become part of the Kingdom of Aragon. Before this, Albarracín had been considered part of Castile.
Juan Núñez I de Lara had previously tried to capture King Peter III of Aragon. He wanted to take Peter III to France to give him to the French King, Philip III of France. This happened in June 1283, when Peter III was attacking towns in Navarre and Aragon.
The Battle for Albarracín
In the winter of 1283, Juan Núñez I de Lara went to Treviño. He was trying to gather more soldiers from Navarre to help defend Albarracín. He knew that the Aragonese had declared war on him.
While he was away, King Peter III of Aragon began the siege of Albarracín. Juan Núñez I de Lara had only about 200 knights defending the city.
The siege lasted for many months, from April to September 1284. The Aragonese soldiers set up their camp right in the streets of Albarracín. This helped them stay safe and comfortable during the long siege. They also had supplies for the winter.
Finally, on September 29, 1284, after many months, the city surrendered. The troops of the Crown of Aragon took control of Albarracín. After capturing the city, King Peter III gave it as a gift to his son, Ferdinand of Aragon.
What Happened Next
After the siege, Juan Núñez II de Lara, who was the son of the defeated Juan Núñez I, tried many times to get Albarracín back. He wanted to reclaim his family's property from the Aragonese.
However, his efforts were not successful. The city of Albarracín eventually became a permanent part of the Aragonese Crown.
See also
- Juan I Núñez de Lara
- Peter III of Aragon
- Sancho IV of Castile
