Battle of Alhandic

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Battle of Alhandic
Part of the Reconquista

The walls of Zamora.
Date 5 August, 939
Location Zamora, Spain
Result Victory for the Caliphate of Córdoba
Belligerents
Kingdom of León Caliphate of Córdoba
Commanders and leaders
Ramiro II of León Abd-ar-Rahman III
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The Battle of Alhandic (Spanish: Batalla de Alhandic), also known as Zamora's trench Battle (Batalla del Foso de Zamora), was a battle that occurred on August 5, 939 in the city of Zamora, Spain.[1] The battle occurred when the troops of Abd-ar-Rahman III assaulted the walls of Zamora. The defending troops were those loyal to Ramiro II of León, King of the Kingdom of Leon. The fighting was so bloody that the tide of the battle did not turn until the ditch surrounding the city walls was entirely filled with corpses.[2] The troops of Aberraman III won the day and were able to seize the city of Zamora. This battle should not be confused with the Day of Zamora (Día de Zamora or Jornada del Foso de Zamora) which took place a few decades before in the year 901.

History

Once Abd-ar-Rahman III came to power, he was quick to assert his power and made it his goal to finish the rebels in Al-Andalus. He wanted to consolidate his power base and reestablish the internal order of the Emirate of Córdoba. He decided to go to the border and attack the cities that acted as a protective buffer against the Asturian / Leonese lands to the north. It was on this defensive line that he came upon Zamora.[2] The city was strategically important because it was squarely in the path of march typically used by the Leonese troops. Abderraman attacked the city on August 5, 939. His strategy was to fill the pit, or moat around the city with bodies and debris so that his men could more easily climb the parapets and thus engage the defending soldiers directly. This bloodthirsty strategy lends its name to the battle which is sometimes known as the Batalla del Foso de Zamora (Zamora's trench [moat] Battle).

The final result was a victory for the troops of Abderramán III who conquered the city of Zamora. The actual occupation of the city however lasted less than one year, as the troops of Abderraman were defeated by Ramiro II of León in the Battle of Simancas in July of the same year, 939.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Álvarez Martínez, Ursicino; Ursicinio Álvarez Martínez (1965). Historia General Civil y Eclesiástica de la Provincia de Zamora (primera ed.). Madrid: Editorial Revista de Derecho Privado. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ferrero Ferrero, Florián (2008). "La configuración urbana de Zamora durante la época románica". STVDIA ZAMORENSIA, Segunda Etapa (Zamora) VIII: 9–44. 

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