| Siege of Seville | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theReconquista andAlmohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula | |||||||||
 TheTorre del Oro (at right) anchored one end of the barricade in the Guadalquivir. It marks where the Moorish defenses spanned the river. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Almohad Caliphate | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Axataf | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Around 30,000 | Around 5,000 – 15,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Thesiege of Seville (July 1247 – November 1248) was a 16-month successfulinvestment during theReconquista ofSeville by forces ofFerdinand III of Castile.[1] Although perhaps eclipsed in geopolitical importance by the rapid capture ofCórdoba in 1236, which sent a shockwave through theMuslim world, the siege of Seville was nonetheless the most complex military operation undertaken by Fernando III.[2] 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.[3]
In 1246, after theconquest of Jaén, Seville andGranada were the only major cities in theIberian Peninsula that had not acquiesced to Christian suzerainty. Of the two, Granada would remain semi-independent until 1492.
During the summer of 1247, Castilian armies isolated the city to the north and east. This paved the way for the siege, which started when Ramón de Bonifaz sailed with thirteengalleys, accompanied by some smaller ships, up theGuadalquivir and scattered some forty smaller vessels trying to oppose him. On 3 May the Castilian fleet broke thepontoon bridge linking Seville andTriana.[1]
St Albertus Magnus wrote that the Moorish defenders used artillery loaded with rocks in the siege, but this is not certain that is describing the type of firearms.
Due to a famine, the city capitulated on 23 November 1248. The terms specified that the Castillian troops would be allowed to enter thealcázar no later than a month later. Ferdinand made his triumphant entry into the city on 22 December 1248.[1] Muslim chronicles record that some 300,000 inhabitants left the city. This number is considered exaggerated by O'Callaghan.[1]
37°22′42″N5°59′45″W / 37.3783°N 5.9958°W /37.3783; -5.9958