Siege of Toledo (1090)

For other sieges of toledo, see Siege of Toledo.

The siege of Toledo in 1090 was an Almoravid attempt to conquer the city, which in 1085 fell into Castilian hands.

Siege of Toledo (1090)
Part of the Reconquista
Statue of Alfonso VI of León and Castile in Toledo
Date 10 July - August 1090 Location Toledo, Kingdom of Castile Result Castilian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Castile	Almoravid dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Yusuf ibn Tashfin
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

Background

In 1086, the Taifa of Seville, Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad, who had launched a series of aggressive attacks on neighboring kingdoms arising from the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba, saw his domains threatened by Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon, who had conquered Toledo in 1085 and saw the introduction of parias, which strengthened the economy of the Christian kingdom. He asked for help from the Almoravids, who landed commanded by Yusuf ibn Tashfin at Algeciras to defeat the Christians in the Battle of Sagrajas, but Yusuf had to return to Africa because of the death of his son.

A second call for help in 1088 makes Yusuf ibn Tashfin win the siege of Aledo and perceive the weakness of the Taifas, undecided between the alliance with the Almoravids or the Christians. His position of strength enables him to settle in al-Andalus in the third expedition he sends, this time without being required.

The siege

Yusuf ibn Tashfin disembarked on June 10, 1090 and went directly to Toledo, as the first movement for the conquest of all Muslim territories. The Taifas, aware of the intentions of the Almoravid, did not support him in this campaign and negotiations had already begun with Alfonso VI of Castile and Leon.

The defenses of the city were prepared to withstand a long siege, and the garrison well prepared, and nearer were the Castles of Oreja and Maqueda. In the middle of July, Yusuf ibn Tashfin learned that a Castilian and Navarrese contingent led by Alfonso VI and Sancho I of Aragon were coming to the city, so he lifted the siege in August.

Consequences

After verifying the lack of support he received from the Taifas, Yusuf ibn Tashfin attacked them, gaining control of the various Muslim kingdoms. Thus, he deposes the ruler of Granada and places his cousin in his place as governor of the conquered Andalusian territories, with the mission of attacking and annexing new Taifas. In 1090, the Almoravids took Malaga and Granada; in 1091, Almeria, Córdoba and Seville, Badajoz in 1094 and Valencia in 1102.

Bibliography

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• Bennison, Amira K. (2016). Almoravid and Almohad Empires. ISBN 978-0-7486-4682-1.