| Siege of Toledo (1085) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofReconquista | |||||||||
 The Siege of Toledo as depicted inazulejos at thePlaza de España inSeville, built for theIbero-American Exposition of 1929 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Taifa of Toledo | Kingdom of Castile | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Yahya al-Qadir | Alfonso VI | ||||||||
Thesiege of Toledo (Arabic:سقوط طليطلة,romanized: Suqūṭ Ṭulayṭilah,lit. 'Fall of Ṭulayṭilah') was theCastilian siege and eventual conquest ofToledo, the capital of theTaifa of Toledo, byAlfonso VI of León and Castile in Muharram 478 / May 1085. The city, ruled byYahya al-Qadir of theDhulnunid dynasty, fell after a prolonged campaign.[1][2]
TheCastilian conquest of Toledo marked a significant turning point in theReconquista and a major shift in power on theIberian Peninsula. The formerVisigothic capital was captured through a strategy ofattrition warfare, a method Castile had refined over the preceding years.[3] As one of the most significant events of thetaifa period, the siege underscored Castile's growing dominance in the region.[3]
In 1075, through an alliance with theTaifa of Seville,Alfonso VI defeated theTaifa of Granada.[1] Later that same year, Alfonso VI provided support to Toledo against theTaifa of Córdoba.[1]
After the assassination ofYahya al-Mamun, the king of Toledo, in Córdoba,Yahya al-Qadir assumed power in Toledo.[4] However, Yahya al-Qadir's actions, including the expulsion of Alfonso's supporters, deepened divisions among his subjects and destabilized his rule.[1]
In the autumn of 1084,Alfonso VI established a permanent camp south of Toledo. The purpose of this encampment was to maintain constant pressure on the city until he could return with a substantial army the following year. Alfonso himself had returned toLeón by December.[5]
In mid-March 1085, Alfonso brought his main forces back to Toledo.[6] After approximately two months of siege,Yahya al-Qadir—unable to secure assistance from neighboring taifas, pay off Alfonso, or defend the city effectively—surrendered.
The terms of surrender, finalized on May 6, 1085, guaranteed the safety of Muslims’ lives, property, liberty, and religious practices.[6] Separate agreements were also negotiated with theJewish population of Toledo.[6] Alfonso formally entered the city on May 25, 1085. By August, his forces had also conquered the surrounding territories of theTagus Basin, includingMadrid, incorporating them into theKingdom of Castile.[6]
The fall of Toledo prompted the rulers of the taifas ofSeville,Badajoz, andGranada to send a joint delegation toYusuf ibn Tashfin of theAlmoravid dynasty to request assistance againstCastile.