Siege of Seville
| Siege of Seville | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Reconquista and Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula | |||||||||
The Torre del Oro (at right) anchored one end of the barricade in the Guadalquivir. It marks where the Moorish defenses spanned the river. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Almohad Caliphate | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Axataf | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Around 30,000 | Around 5,000 – 15,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The siege of Seville (July 1247 – November 1248) was a 16-month successful investment during the Reconquista of Seville by forces of Ferdinand III of Castile. Although perhaps eclipsed in geopolitical importance by the rapid capture of Córdoba in 1236, which sent a shockwave through the Muslim world, the siege of Seville was nonetheless the most complex military operation undertaken by Fernando III. It is also the last major operation of the Early Reconquista. The operation also marked the appearance of indigenous naval forces of Castile-León of military significance. In effect, Ramón de Bonifaz was the first admiral of Castile, although he never held an official title of that kind.