The Battle of Sagrajas (23 October 1086), also called Zalaca or Zallaqah (Arabic: معركة الزلاقة, romanized: Maʿrakat az-Zallāqah), was a conflict fought in 1086 between the Almoravid army, led by their king, Yusuf ibn Tashfin, and the forces of King Alfonso VI of Castile. The Almoravids were called into battle by the taifas, Muslim principalities in Al-Andalus that often fought amongst themselves but united against the expanding Christian kingdoms to the north.
In addition to the Almoravid forces, the Taifas bolstered the Muslim side, tilting the battle in their favor. The battlefield became known as az-Zallaqah (meaning "slippery ground") due to the immense bloodshed that made the terrain treacherous, giving rise to its name in Arabic. Before the battle, Alfonso VI captured the former Visigothic capital of Toledo in 1085 CE, establishing it as a Christian stronghold after the Muslims had ruled the city for 372 years.
As the Taifa of Zaragoza faced similar threats, many Muslim rulers sought help from Yusuf ibn Tashfin. Delegations traveled to Marrakesh to appeal for military support against the advancing Christian forces. Yusuf ibn Tashfin honored the envoys and promised to cross into Al-Andalus to provide the military assistance needed to counter the growth of the Christian kingdoms.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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