Siege of Oreja facts for kids

The Siege of Oreja was an important battle that happened in Spain. It was a long attack by the Christian forces of King Alfonso VII against the Muslim-held town of Colmenar de Oreja. The siege lasted from April to October in the year 1139.

This victory was a big step for the Christians in the Reconquista. The Reconquista was a long period when Christian kingdoms in Spain tried to take back land from Muslim rule. This win was one of the first major successes during the later part of King Alfonso's reign.

Why Oreja Was Important

The town of Oreja, with its strong castle, was located by the Tagus River. It was about 50 kilometers (31 miles) upstream from Toledo. This made Oreja a very important place for defending Toledo.

Over the years, Oreja had changed hands between Christians and Muslims several times. In 1113, during a civil war, Muslims took control of the town. Later, in 1115, it might have been back in Christian hands. In 1131, there was another fierce battle near Oreja, and the Muslims won again.

The Muslim soldiers stationed at Oreja were a constant threat to the Christian people living around Toledo. King Alfonso VII decided it was time to deal with this problem. In early 1139, he planned to besiege Oreja.

The Muslim commander of Oreja was named Ali. He was known as a strong leader and a fierce fighter against Christians. The castle's defenders included many archers, cavalry (soldiers on horseback), and some infantry (soldiers on foot). They were a mix of local Muslims and Almoravid Berbers from North Africa. The castle was well-prepared for an attack and even had catapults to throw large stones.

The Siege Begins

The siege started in April 1139. It was led by two brothers, Gutierre and Rodrigo Fernández. They were governors in the border areas and brought their own groups of knights. They also had soldiers from Toledo and other nearby Christian cities like Ávila, Guadalajara, Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, Talavera, and Zamora.

While the brothers began the attack, King Alfonso gathered all his soldiers from Galicia, León, and Castile. He then marched with a large army to Oreja.

King Alfonso arrived at the siege sometime before July 25, as he issued a royal document from there on that date. Many important leaders from Galicia joined him, but they left later. They might have gone to defend the border with Portugal, or perhaps they didn't like being away from home for such a long time. However, other important leaders like Gutierre and Rodrigo Fernández stayed until the end of the siege.

King Alfonso also brought engineers who built large siege engines. These machines, likely including tall siege towers, were used to attack the castle walls. To cut off the defenders' water supply, guards were placed along the riverbank. A protective barrier, called a mantlet, was set up where the Muslims secretly got water. One day, the Muslims attacked and burned the mantlet. After that, no one inside the castle could leave. The castle's stored water ran out, and people inside began to suffer from hunger and thirst. Many died because they had no food or water.

The Surrender

The siege engines caused a lot of damage, destroying the castle's towers. This made Commander Ali and his advisors decide to surrender. They sent messages to King Alfonso to discuss the terms of surrender.

The terms were agreed upon. Muslim hostages were sent to Toledo for safety. Both leaders promised to follow the agreement. The Muslim defenders sent messengers for help, but they returned with no good news. The castle finally surrendered early in the morning on October 31. However, some historical records suggest it might have been closer to October 20.

After the surrender, King Alfonso's flags were raised on the highest tower. Everyone cheered, shouting, "Long live Alfonso, the Emperor of León and of Toledo!" The clergy (church leaders) also praised God.

The surrendering Muslims were treated well for a few days in King Alfonso's camp. They even got their hostages back. Then, they were allowed to leave with their families and belongings. They were escorted by soldiers to Calatrava. Some local people from Toledo were angry about this mercy and wanted the Muslims killed.

A New Start for Oreja

After taking Oreja, King Alfonso made the castle stronger. He left soldiers and defensive siege engines there. He also made sure the castle had enough water and food.

King Alfonso then organized the resettlement of the town. In November, he gave the new settlers a fuero. A fuero was a special set of rules and privileges for a town. These rules were meant to encourage people to move to Oreja.

One interesting rule was that settlers had to give the king one-fifth of any treasure or goods they took from the enemy. Also, people who were in trouble with the king could find safety in Oreja.

The fuero also included a special rule about marriage. If a man took a woman to Oreja, he could find refuge there. The king would fine anyone who harmed him. This rule was designed to help men find wives and encourage more people to settle in the new town. However, there were strict conditions: the woman could not already be married, related to the man, or forced to come. She had to come willingly and be old enough to marry.

The fuero also protected the new settlers' property in their old homes. They didn't have to pay certain taxes or provide services for these properties. Settlers in new towns like Oreja usually had to stay for at least one year. After that, they could sell their new land if they wanted.

King Alfonso also made sure that people in Oreja didn't have to pay the portazgo, which was a toll for moving goods along roads or through certain areas. This rule applied everywhere in his kingdoms, except in the region of Toledo. If someone wanted to take legal action against an inhabitant of Oreja, they had to go to a specific place by the Tagus River, below the castle, to seek judgment. This rule was also common for new settlements, though people from Toledo were again an exception.

See also

In Spanish: Asedio de Oreja para niños