Weekend with AEAC part 4 end.

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (link)

The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, known in Arab history as the Battle of Al-Uqab (معركة العقاب), took place on 16 July 1212 and was an important turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain.The forces of King Alfonso VIII of Castile were joined by the armies of his Christian rivals, Sancho VII of Navarre, Pedro II of Aragon and Afonso II of Portugal in battle against the Almohad rulers of the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula. The Caliph al-Nasir (Miramamolín in the Spanish chronicles) led the Almohad army, made up of people from the whole Almohad empire.

Alfonso crossed the mountain range that defended the Almohad camp, sneaking through the Despeñaperros Pass, being led by a local shepherd that knew the area. The Christian coalition caught the Moorish army at camp almost by surprise.

The crushing defeat of the Almohads significantly hastened their decline both in the Iberian Peninsula and in the Maghreb a decade later.

This is a very simple resume of the facts please check appropriate sources, thanks.

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Weekend with AEAC part 3

Caracuel Castle (link)

castillo of Caracuel is a military castle, originally built by the Muslims from the IX century in successive periods. It is located to the municipality of Corral de la Calatrava in the province of Ciudad Real, Spain. In 1085 the Muslims lost the city of Toledo and as a consequence Caracuel became momentarily property of the king Alfonso VII. Few years later though in 1091 it was included in the dowry of the Muslim princess Zaida! Lost and reconquered many times the castle of Caracuel became property of the brotherhood after the battle of Las Navas of Tolosas. (see part 4)

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Weekend with AEAC part 2

Calatrava La Nueva (link)

Calatrava la Nueva (Sacro-convento Castillo de Calatrava la Nueva) is a medieval castle and convent situated on the high hill across the valley of Alacranejo, within the municipality of Aldea del Rey, near Almagro, in the province of Ciudad Real, Spain.

Looking for a convenient location for a new headquarters the Brotherhood of Calatrava, a group of warrior monks whose aim was to drive the Muslims from the Spanish peninsula built Calatrava La Nueva. They moved in 1217

The castle was both a defensive structure as well as a monastery.

Thus, the original site became known as "Calatrava la Vieja" ("Old Calatrava") and the new site as Calatrava la Nueva (“New Calatrava”).

Across the valley on the opposite hill is another castle called Salvatierra, originally constructed in the 10th century by the Moors on the site of a Roman fort. (today privately owned.)

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Confiscated by King Joseph (1808), re-established by Ferdinand VII at the Restoration (1814), the possessions of Calatrava were finally dissipated in the general secularization of 1838.The castle survived until then as such.

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Weekend with AEAC (Asociación Española de los Amigos de los Castillos) Part 1

Calatrava la Vieja (link)

The reason behind the travel was the VIII century anniversary of the battle of Las Navas of Tolosa a key milestone in the history of Spain, our final destination on Sunday. Saturday we stopped at some other Castles related to the history of it. So let's stop first at Calatrava la Vieja, located in the village of Carrión de Calatrava, in Ciudad Real province.

Calatrava la Vieja (formerly just Calatrava) is a medieval site and original nucleus of the Order of Calatrava Knights. Calatrava during the High Middle Ages was the only important city in the Guadiana River valley. It thus guarded the roads to Córdoba and Toledo.

Its name is derived from the Arabic Qal'at Rabāḥ قلعة رباح ("fortress of Rabah"), a reference to the Moorish nobleman who held this area in the 8th century.

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In 1147, Calatrava was conquered by Alfonso VII, becoming one of the farthest Christian outposts during this stage of the reconquista. A The castle was placed under the protection of the Templar Knights, but this proved unsatisfactory, and Sancho III of Castile made an offer: he would grant the town and fortress of Calatrava to anyone who promised to defend it from the Moors. The Calatrava Knights replaced the Templar Knights.
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In 1217, the Order of Calatrava moved to Calatrava la Nueva (castle of Dueñas), 60 km to the south. Thus, the original site became known as "Calatrava la Vieja" ("Old Calatrava").
Calatrava la Vieja remained the center of the royal land grant, but it was completely abandoned by the early fifteenth century, when the Knight Commander of Calatrava moved his residence to Calatrava la Nueva. This is a too short resume introduction of the castle history. Please visit Wikipedia or refer to the appropriate books for the complete information.
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Click to link above to open the slideshow
end of part 1#