Siege of Lisbon

The Siege of Lisbon, from July 1 to October 25 of 1147, was the military action that brought the city of Lisbon under definitive Christian (Portuguese) control and expelled its Moorish overlords, in the process of the Reconquista, the general, centuries-long conflict for control of the Iberian peninsula against the Islamic force that invaded Visigothic Hispania. The Siege of Lisbon was the only success of the Second Crusade for the Christian crusaders.

Related Topics:
July 1 - October 25 - 1147 - Lisbon - Christian - Portuguese - Moorish - Reconquista - Iberian peninsula - Islamic - Visigothic - Hispania - Second Crusade - Crusade

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Several attemps to conquer Lisbon from the Moors had been made over the centuries and sometimes the city had been sacked. Since the rise of Portugal as an independent nation, these attemps became more frequent, as Lisbon emerged as a central objective for King Afonso I of Portugal. The Portuguese monarch had tried and failed to conquer Lisbon at least two or three times prior to 1147. Only with the help of the crusaders of the Second Crusade the conquest of Lisbon was achieved.

Related Topics:
Afonso I of Portugal - Crusade - Second Crusade

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The Fall of Edessa in 1144 led to a call for a new crusade by Pope Eugenius III in 1145 and 1146. The Pope also authorized a crusade in the Iberian peninsula (modern Portugal and Spain), although the war against the Moors had been going on for hundreds of years, since the defeat of the Muslims at Covadonga in 718. At the beginning of the First Crusade in 1095, Pope Urban II had urged Iberian crusaders (Portuguese, Castillians, Leonese, Aragonese, etc.) to remain at home, where their own warfare was considered just as worthy as that of crusaders travelling to Jerusalem. Eugenius repeated this, and also authorized Marseilles, Pisa, Genoa, and other Mediterranean cities to fight in Iberia as well.

Related Topics:
Fall of Edessa - 1144 - Pope Eugenius III - 1145 - 1146 - Iberian peninsula - Portugal - Spain - Moors - Covadonga - 718 - First Crusade - 1095 - Pope Urban II - Castillians - Leonese - Aragonese - Jerusalem - Marseilles - Pisa - Genoa

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On May 19 the first contingents of crusaders left from Dartmouth in England, consisting of Flemish, Frisian, Norman, English, Scottish, and some German crusaders. According to Odo of Deuil there were 164 ships, and there may have been as many as 200 by the time they reached Portugal. No prince or king led this part of the crusade; England at the time was in the midst of The Anarchy. The fleet was commanded by Arnold III of Aerschot (nephew of Godfrey of Louvain) Christian of Ghistelles, Henry Glanville (constable of Suffolk), Simon of Dover, Andrew of London, and Saher of Archelle.

Related Topics:
May 19 - Dartmouth - England - Flemish - Frisian - Norman - English - Scottish - German - Odo of Deuil - Portugal - The Anarchy - Arnold III of Aerschot - Godfrey of Louvain - Christian of Ghistelles - Henry Glanville - Suffolk - Simon of Dover - Andrew of London - Saher of Archelle

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They arrived at the northern city of Porto on June 16, and were convinced by the bishop, Pedro II Pitões, to continue to Lisbon. King Alfonso, who had reached the Tagus River and conquered Santarém in March, went to meet them in Lisbon when he heard a crusader fleet was on its way and the crusaders agreed to help him there. The English crusaders were at first unenthusiastic, but Henry Glanville convinced them to participate.

Related Topics:
Porto - June 16 - Pedro II Pitões - Lisbon - King Alfonso - Tagus River - Santarém

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The siege began on July 1. The Christians had soon captured the surrounding territories and besieged the walls of Lisbon itself, although the Muslim defenders were able to destroy their siege engines. After four months, the Moorish rulers agreed on their surrender (October 21), basically due to the hunger that was felt inside the city walls. The city fell to the Christian conquerors on October 25. The terms of the surrender indicated that the Muslim garrison of the city would be allowed to flee, but as soon as the Christians entered the city these terms were broken. The Muslims were killed, and the city was thoroughly plundered before King Afonso I of Portugal finally was able to stop the onslaught.

Related Topics:
July 1 - Siege engine - Moorish - October 21 - October 25 - Afonso I of Portugal

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Some of the crusaders settled in the newly captured city, and Gilbert of Hastings was elected bishop, but most of the crusaders' fleet continued to the east in 1148.

Related Topics:
Gilbert of Hastings - Bishop - 1148

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Legend says that a brave Portuguese warrior and nobleman, Martim Moniz (a real historical character), sacrificed himself in order to keep the city doors open to the conquering Christian armies.

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Lisbon eventually became capital city of the kingdom of Portugal in 1255.

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