Siege of Jaén (1245–1246) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Jaén
Part of the Reconquista
Muhammad I of Granada surrendering Jaén to Ferdinand III of Castile and agreeing to be his vassal. 1883 painting by Pedro González Bolívar.
Date 1245–28 February 1246 Location Jaén, Province of Jaén, Spain 37°46′10.99″N 3°47′20.00″W / 37.7697194°N 3.7888889°W / 37.7697194; -3.7888889 Result Handing over of the city of Jaén to Castile after the signing of the Treaty of Jaén.
Belligerents
Kingdom of Castile Order of Santiago	Taifa of Jaén (جيان) Emirate of Granada
Commanders and leaders
Ferdinand III of Castile Pelayo Pérez Correa	Muhammad I of Granada
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Siege of Jaén was a very important battle in Spain during a long period called the Reconquista. The Reconquista was when Christian kingdoms slowly took back control of lands from Muslim rulers in the Iberian Peninsula.

This siege happened from 1245 to February 28, 1246. The Christian forces were from the Kingdom of Castile and the Order of Santiago. They were led by Ferdinand III of Castile and Pelayo Pérez Correa. They fought against the Muslim defenders from the local Taifa of Jaén and the Emirate of Granada, led by Muhammad I. In the end, the Christian forces won, and the city of Jaén was given to the Kingdom of Castile after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Jaén.

Why the Siege Happened

Before this siege, Ferdinand III of Castile had tried to capture Jaén two times already. The first time was in 1225, and the second was in 1230. He hadn't fully won in those attempts, but he also hadn't been completely defeated.

Ferdinand III had become very powerful, ruling both the kingdoms of Castile and León. So, he decided to try capturing Jaén one more time. He had strong support from Pelayo Pérez Correa, who was the leader of the Order of Santiago, a group of knight-monks.

During the winter of 1245, the Castilian army prepared for the siege. They launched attacks on the areas around Jaén. This helped them capture important spots nearby before the main attack on the city itself.

What Happened During the Siege

When the siege began, the Castilian army started attacking the city's gates. Even though they tried hard, they couldn't capture any parts of the main city wall. However, they often managed to push the defenders away from the outer walls and defenses.

Old stories from that time also tell about surprise attacks and quick raids by the Muslim forces from Granada and Jaén. In one such event, a small group of seven Muslim knights managed to capture a Castilian supply convoy. This meant the Castilian soldiers had to chase after them to get their supplies back.

A group led by Don Alvar Gil de Villalobos went after the Muslim knights. But the Muslim knights ran away, leading the Castilian rescue team into a trap. About 50 more knights and 100 foot soldiers were waiting in ambush.

What Happened After the Siege

On February 28, 1246, Muhammad I, who was the King of Granada, decided to give up the city of Jaén to the Castilian forces. He did this because he signed the Treaty of Jaén.

This treaty was very important. It meant that the Emirate of Granada became a vassal state of the Kingdom of Castile. A vassal state is like a smaller country that has to obey and pay tribute to a more powerful country. This helped Muhammad I keep control over the rest of his lands.

See also

In Spanish: Asedio de Jaén (1245-1246) para niños

• Jaén, Spain
• List of Castilian Battles
• Ferdinand III of Castile