Siege of Toledo Spanish history Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Toledo Give Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Toledo Feedback Written by Tony Bunting Tony Bunting is a historian who has recently completed a research project at the University of Central Lancashire on the evolution of nineteenth-century British imperialism. He was a contributor to 1001... Tony Bunting Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jul 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents

　　Siege of Toledo See all media Date: 1085 (Show more) Location: Spain Toledo (Show more) Participants: Moor Castile (Show more) Context: Reconquista (Show more) Key People: Alfonso VI (Show more) See all related content → Siege of Toledo, a key moment in 1085 during the struggle between the Christians and Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula. Toledo was the capital of the taifa kingdom of Al-Andalus, and its fall to King Alfonso VI of Castile spurred the Reconquista, the Christian conquest of Muslim Spain.

　　Reconquista Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Siege of Toledo 1085

　　Battle of Alarcos July 18, 1195

　　Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa July 16, 1212

　　Battle of Río Salado October 30, 1340 keyboard_arrow_right With a population of about 28,000, Toledo was the prosperous capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus, commanding a strategic position in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, in what is now Castile-La Mancha. Throughout its history, Al-Andalus had been in conflict with Christian kingdoms in the north. The tide began to turn in the Christians’ favor after Alfonso became king of Leon in 1065 and of Castile in 1072.

　　Alfonso carefully and cleverly exploited divisions within Moorish Spain. In 1075 he defeated the taifa kingdom of Granada with the help of their rivals in Seville, and later that year, he supported Toledo against its rivals in Córdoba. However, Alfonso lost his influence in Toledo when Yahya al-Qadir succeeded his father as caliph (Muslim head of state) and expelled Alfonso’s sympathizers.

　　Al-Qadir’s actions caused further divisions within the Moorish community; a rebellion lost him Córdoba and sent him into exile, and he was forced to ask Alfonso for assistance. The king agreed on the condition that Al-Qadir give up Toledo to Castile in return for the Moors holding onto Valencia. By the time Alfonso’s forces arrived at Toledo, the citizens were tired of conflict and invited him to enter. However, a faction linked to the kingdom of Zaragoza resisted and forced Alfonso to besiege the city. He set up his main battle line across from the al-Qantara (Alcántara) Bridge, allowing him to control the main supply route into the city. Little direct fighting ensued, aside from a few skirmishes. Given rivalries with other taifa rulers, al-Qadir was unable to secure support in lifting the siege, and he surrendered the city. The terms he secured allowed Muslims to retain their property and practice their religion freely. The city’s Jewish population won the same considerations.

　　The ultimate fall of Toledo in May 1085, after four years of mostly desultory military activity but with the formation of significant alliances, was a significant milestone in the Reconquista of Muslim Spain, allowing King Alfonso to claim the leadership of Spain for Leon-Castile.

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