Sack of Lisbon (798)
Sack of Lisbon by Alfonso II of Asturias From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The sack of Lisbon was an expedition to Lisbon led by Alfonso II of Asturias.[4][2] The expedition was successful and he secured Galicia up to the Minho.[5][6] However, he abandoned the city the same day.[7] According to Mariano Torrente, it was revenge for the military incursions sent by the Emir of Córdoba against the Kingdom of Asturias after the Battle of Lutos.[3]
| Sack of Lisbon | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Reconquista | |||||||
 Statue of Alfonso II of Asturias by Víctor Hevia | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Asturias | Caliphate of Córdoba | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alfonso II of Asturias | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Low | 50,000 killed or captured[3] (seems exaggerated) | ||||||
The expedition
Alfonso II of Asturias, since he had an alliance with the Frankish Kingdom, decided to invade the western part of the peninsula to distract the Moorish forces, already broken by their civil war.[8] He crossed the Duero, reached the Tagus and, after some resistance, captured and sacked the city.[4][2][9][10][11][7] However, he abandoned the city the same day.[7]
Aftermath
After the sacking, Alfonso II sent to Charlemagne coats of mail, mules, Moorish captives and a tent from a Saracen chief.[12][13] Lisbon may had remained abandoned for a decade until Tumlus started a rebellion and was executed by the Caliphate of Córdoba in 808.[14]
References
Bibliography
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