Siege of Algeciras (1342–1344)
| Siege of Algeciras (1342–1344) | |||||||
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| Part of the Battle of the Strait during the Reconquista | |||||||
Satellite pictures of Algeciras | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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Marinid Dynasty Emirate of Granada |
Crown of Castile Republic of Genoa Kingdom of Aragon Kingdom of Portugal Kingdom of Navarre European crusaders | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Abu al-Hasan Ali Yusuf I | Alfonso XI | ||||||
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The siege of Algeciras (1342–1344) was undertaken during the Reconquest of Spain by the Castillian forces of Alfonso XI assisted by the fleets of the Kingdom of Aragon and the Republic of Genoa. The objective was to capture the city of Algeciras, called Al-Jazeera Al-Khadra by the Arabs who occupied it. The city was the capital and the main port of the European territory of the Marinid Empire.
The siege lasted for twenty one months. The population of the city, about 30,000 people including civilians and Berber soldiers, suffered from a land and sea blockade that prevented the entry of food into the city. The Emirate of Granada sent an army to relieve the city, but it was defeated beside the Río Palmones. Following this, on 26 March 1344 the city surrendered and was incorporated into the Crown of Castile. This was one of the first military engagements in Europe where gunpowder was used.