- Conquest of Santarém
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Conquest of Santarém Part of the Reconquista 
The Conquest of Santarém by Alfredo Roque GameiroDate 15 March, 1147 Location Santarém, Portugal Result Portuguese victory[1] Belligerents 
Kingdom of Portugal
Almoravid EmpireCommanders and leaders Afonso I of Portugal Auzary, governor of Santarém Strength 250 knights Unknown Casualties and losses Unknown Very high Covadonga – Clavijo – Albelda – Monte Laturce – Valdejunquera – Simancas – Estercuel – Torrevicente – Cervera – Calatañazor – Torà – Albesa – Graus – Barbastro – Cabra – Piedra Pisada – Morella – Sagrajas – Alcoraz – Uclés – Cutanda – Ourique – Oreja – Montiel – 1st Santarém – Lisbon – 2nd Santarém – Alarcos – Las Navas de Tolosa – Jerez – Teba – Río Salado – GranadaThe Conquest of Santarém took place on 15 March 1147, when the troops of the Kingdom of Portugal under the leadership of Afonso I of Portugal captured the Moorish city of Santarém.
Contents
Prelude
On 10 March 1147, King Afonso I of Portugal departed from Coimbra with 250 of his best knights[2] intending to capture the Moorish city of Santarém, a goal that had previously failed to achieve.[3] The conquest of Santarém was of vital importance to Afonso's strategy; its possession would mean the end of the frequent Moorish attacks on Coimbra and Leiria, and would also allow a future attack on Lisbon.
The plan now was to attack the city during the night under cover of darkness, in order to catch the Moorish garrison by surprise.[4] King Afonso had previously sent the Portuguese Mem Ramires to Santarém disguised as a businessman in order to secretly study the city for the conquest.[5]
After the first day of the journey from Coimbra to Santarém, King Afonso I sent an emissary to Santarém announcing to the Moors that the truce had ended, for which three days' notice was required.[6]
Afonso I, first King of Portugal
Fall of Santarém
On the night of 14 March, King Afonso and his army arrived at Santarém.[7] With the help of ladders,[8] twenty five knights scaled the walls, killed the Moorish sentries and forced their way to the gate, allowing the main Portuguese army to enter the city.[9] Awakened by the screams of their sentries, the Moors ran from all sides to face the Portuguese attackers in the streets offering them a very strong resistance, but ended up being defeated and suffering a great slaughter.[10]
By morning the conquest was already complete, and Santarém became part of the recently formed Kingdom of Portugal.
Aftermath
After the conquest of Santarém, Afonso I of Portugal turned his attention to the important Moorish city of Lisbon, which he would conquer in October with the help of a crusader fleet of the Second Crusade who stopped in Portugal while on course to the Holy Land.
See also
Notes
References
- H.V.Livermore, A new history of Portugal (1976) ISBN 0-521-29103-8
- Ângelo Ribeiro, A Formação do Território-Da Lusitânia ao Alargamento do País (2004) ISBN 989-554-106-6
Categories:- Battles of the Reconquista
- Battles involving Portugal
- History of Portugal
- 1147 in Portugal
- Almoravid dynasty
- 12th century in Portugal
- Reconquista
- Al-Andalus
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