Battle of Las Babias

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Battle of Las Babias
Part of Razias of Hirsham I
the Reconquista
Península ibérica 814.svg
A map of the Iberian Peninsula around the time of the conflict.
Date18 September 795
Location
, near Astorga, Spain
Result Córdoban Victory
Belligerents
Emblema del Reino de Asturias.svg Kingdom of Asturias Emirate of Córdoba
Commanders and leaders
Emblema del Reino de Asturias.svg Alfonso II of Asturias Hisham I of Córdoba

Strength
Unknown 10,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
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The Battle of Las Babias occurred in the year 795 when the Emir of Cordoba, Hisham I of Córdoba sought to avenge his previous military incursions in 794 against the Kingdom of Asturias under the command of the brothers and . The previous battles resulted in devastating losses for the Emirate, most importantly at the Battle of Lutos where one of the Emir's generals was killed in action.[1] The battle resulted in a Córdoban victory.

Background[]

The Córdoban Emir, Hirsham I sought revenge for the defeat of his army in 794 at the Battle of Lutos in which the Córdoban general was killed in action.[note 1] To achieve this end, he sent his brother, at the head of an army of 10,000 men under arms against the Kingdom of Asturias.

The Emir also organized another army which marched against the Kingdom of Galicia to divert any potential conversion of Christian forces on his brother's army in Asturias. This second column entered Galicia and proceeded to lay waste to the land. Upon its withdrawal, it came into a separate engagement with Galician and Asturian forces and was routed. In this action, the Muslims suffered heavy losses and forces captured, but managed to escape eventually.

King Alfonso II of Asturias, who had reinforced his army with local machus[note 2] made his camp near Astorga.[2] The area had been a base of operations for Muslim attacks against Asturias via .[3] From there, the Asturian king sent the local inhabitants into the surrounding mountains and waited for the Córdoban forces to engage him. The location was favorable in that his line of retreat was guaranteed via .

Battle[]

Abd al-Karim sent his vanguard of 4,000 men against Alfonso II's main force under the command of , the commander of the Sidoniyya Division. himself advanced shortly afterwards with the rearguard and reserves and their combined forces managed to successfully rout the Asturians. As planned, the Asturians retreated via while fighting a rearguard action against pursuing Córdoban cavalry.

Aftermath[]

and proceeded to then defeat the forces of the Kingdom of Asturias at the , again at the , and culminating in the capture of .[4][note 3] With the onset of winter, the Córdoban forces retreated back to their lands without dealing a finishing blow to the Kingdom of Asturias. The Asturian king Alfonso II was able to escape with his host.

The death of Hisham I of Córdoba and the subsequent disputes between his heirs ensured that the Kingdom of Asturias could recover from the series of defeats in the course of a few years. The time allowed for Alfonso II of Asturias to cement an alliance with Charlemagne, King of the Franks.[5]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Abu al-Walid Hisham al-Rida (Hixem I in the old Spanish transcription; 26 de abril de 757 - 12 de junio de 796).
  2. ^ Basque idolaters
  3. ^ At Quirós, the famed Asturian magnate and knight was defeated along with his force of 3,000 men. Gadaxara himself was captured

References[]

  1. ^ Roger Collins, Caliphs and Kings: Spain, 796-1031, 65.
  2. ^ "Abd al-Karim". Enciclopedia de Oviedo (in Spanish). Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  3. ^ Suárez Fernández, Luis (1976). Historia de España Antigua y media (in Spanish). Ediciones Rialp. p. 170. ISBN 978-84-321-1882-1. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  4. ^ Menéndez Pidal, Ramón (1956). Historia de España. Tomo VI. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, pp. 45.
  5. ^ Junta de Castilla y León. "La consolidación del emirato". Artehistoria (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 43°20′00″N 6°25′00″W / 43.3333°N 6.4167°W / 43.3333; -6.4167

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