BATTLE OF SIMANCAS

Battle of Simancas (August 8, 939)

In 939, the caliph of Córdoba Abd el-Rahman III claimed a Jihad (Holly War), and raised an army of 100,000 men to end with the kingdom of León. They razed the cities of Medina del Campo, Íscar and Alcazarén (previously abandoned by their population), and, finally, they reached the city of Simancas (near the actual city of Valladolid), where the king of León, Ramiro II, waited for them.

Next day, the battle started in the neighboring plains and hills, in the right side of the Pisuerga river. The battle lasted three days.

The first day, combat was favourable to the Moslems, but during the next days Ramiro II took advantage of the weak points in the Moslem line. Finally, and also for logistical difficulties, the Caliph ordered the retreat along the Duero, in his way, they destroyed the fortress of Tudela, and razed Roa.

The leonese followed the Moslem, waiting the best moment to attack them. Finally, they did when Moslems entered a region of gorges (some people place it near Caracena, in the province of Soria). There, Moslem were severly defeated. Abd el-Rahman managed to escape, but chronicles say he returned to Córdoba with only 40 men. Moslems recognized 50,000 casualties.

(Translated from the article "Villalar y otras batallas", published in the journal "El Mundo de Valladolid" on April 24th, 1999.)

Return to Battles of Castile & Leon page.