Almoravid northern Expeditions | |||||||
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Part of the Reconquista | |||||||
![]() Map of the Iberian Peninsula in 1115 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Almoravid Empire | Kingdom of Aragon Catalan counties | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Muhammad ibn al-Hajj | Íñigo Sanz de Laves (POW) | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Heavy |
The Almoravid northern Expeditions was a series of raids led by Muhammad ibn al-Hajj, the governor of Zaragoza against the Kingdom of Aragon and Catalonia.
In 1110, the Almoravids took over the Taifa of Zaragoza and its capital Zaragoza. [1] The city of Zaragoza was the most important cities in Sharq al-Andalus, as the Almoravids made it the capital of the Upper March (Arabic : الثغر الاعلى), It was also a base for them to launch campaigns against the Kingdom of Aragon and Catalan Counties.
In 1112, Ibn al-Hajj left from Zaragoza with his forces heading to the lands of Aragon, where he destroyed the Huesca region and the surrounding cities, [2] the Almoravid forces reached the town of Ayera northeast of Huesca, where they captured and sacked it. Its governor Íñigo Sanz de Laves was among the prisoners. [3] [4] The invading forces continued their attacks north, raiding the Cinca River and foothills of the Pyrenees [5] [6]
Between 1113 and 1114, the Almoravids, led by Ibn al-Hajj carried out heavy raids on the regions of Huesca and Barbastro, during this campaign, the Almoravids recaptured the towns of Chalamera, Ontiñena, Pomar de Cinca , Sariñena and Velilla de Cinca, [7] [8] the attacks reached Catalonia and the foothills of the Pyrenees. [9] There was no Aragonese or Christian resistance, as Ibn al-Hajj returned to Zaragoza after that. [8]
The absence of Alfonso I had a profound impact on the southern borders of his kingdom, which he was then tasked with defending. [10] In late 1114, the governors of Zaragoza and Valencia, Muhammad ibn al-Hajj and Muhammad ibn Aisha, launched a campaign against Catalonia. While returning to Zaragoza, they were ambushed at Martorell by Catalan troops, resulting in the deaths of Muhammad ibn al-Hajj.
In 1118, after six years in captivity, Íñigo Sanz de Laves finally paid a ransom of 500 mithqals for himself, his wife, his son and his daughter. [11]