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In this thrilling episode, Yusuf Ibn Tashfin demonstrates his unparalleled military acumen and indomitable spirit. The Siege of Valencia tests his strategic brilliance, as he orchestrates a formidable assault against the well-fortified city. The valiant efforts of his troops and the ingenious tactics employed by Yusuf showcase his unmatched leadership and relentless determination.
Meanwhile, the Battle of Consuegra unfolds with a dazzling display of heroism. Yusuf's unwavering courage on the battlefield inspires his soldiers to fight with unwavering resolve. His strategic maneuvers and fearless confrontations with the enemy lead to a resounding victory, solidifying his reputation as a legendary conqueror.
The Battle of Consuegra took place during the Spanish Reconquista on 15 August 1097 near the village of Consuegra in the province of Castile-La Mancha between the Castilian and Leonese army of Alfonso VI and the Almoravids under Yusuf ibn Tashfin.
In 1097, the Almoravid leader, Yusuf ibn Tasfhin, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar where he went to Cordoba intending to sack the suburbs of Toledo.The Castilian-Leonese king, Alfonso, who had already musted his army to besiege Zaragoza, learned of the upcoming Almoravid invasion and decided to meet them. The Castilian knight, El Cid, send his son Diego Rodríguez with an army to assist the king all while staying in Valencia.
Yusuf had already gathered his army, which consisted of Almoravids and Andalusian men. Yusuf then gave the command to his general, Muhammad ibn Al-Haj.[4] Yusuf chose not to participate as he intended to cover the retreat of his troops in case they lost.[5] Both armies met at Consuegra. The Almoravids with their tactics, routed the Christians and threw their vanguard in confusion. Diego Rodriquez was slain in the battle and the king retreated towards the Consuegra castle.
The Almoravids invested in the castle for eight days before retreating. The battle happened on Saturday, August 15, 1097
Although the Almoravids had not gained much in the way of territory from the Christians, rather than merely offsetting the Reconquista, Yusuf did succeed in capturing Valencia. A city divided between Muslims and Christians, under the weak rule of a petty emir paying tribute to the Christians, including the famous El Cid, Valencia proved to be an obstacle for the Almoravid military, despite their untouchable reputation. Abu Bakr ibn Ibrahim ibn Tashfin and Yusuf's nephew Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad both failed to defeat El Cid. Yusuf then sent Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali al-Hajj, but he was not successful either.
In 1097, on his fourth trip to al-Andalus, Yusuf sought to personally dig down and fight the armies of Alfonso VI, making his way towards all but abandoned, yet historically important, Toledo. Such a concerted effort was meant to draw the Christian forces, including those laying siege to Valencia, into the center of Iberia. On August 15, 1097, the Almoravids delivered yet another blow to Alfonso's forces, the Battle of Consuegra in which El Cid's son Diego was killed.
Muhammad ibn 'A'isha, Yusuf's son, whom he had appointed governor of Murcia, succeeded in holding back the Cid's forces at Alcira; still not capturing the city, but satisfied with the results of his campaigns, Yusuf left for his court at Marrakesh, only to return two years later in a new effort to take the provinces of eastern al-Andalus. After El Cid died in the same year, 1099, his wife Jimena began ruling until the coming of another Almoravid campaign at the tail end of 1100, led by Yusuf's trusted lieutenant Mazdali ibn Tilankan. After a seven-month siege, Alfonso and Jimena, despairing of the prospects of staving off the Almoravids, set fire to the great mosque in anger and abandoned the city.
Yusuf had finally conquered Valencia achieving dominance over eastern al-Andalus. He receives mention in the oldest Spanish epic Poema del Cid, also known as El Cantar del Mio Cid.