Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr
| Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Fitna of al-Andalus | |
| |
| Date 22 May 1010 Location Espiel, Caliphate of Córdoba Result Rebel-Catalan victory | |
| Belligerents | |
| Andalusian Rebels Saqaliba (supporting Muhammad ibn Hisham) Catalan counties County of Barcelona County of Empúries County of Urgell |
Caliphate of Córdoba Berbers (supporting Sulayman ibn al-Hakam) |
| Commanders and leaders | |
| Muhammad ibn Hisham Wadih al-Siqlabi Ramon Borrell Hugh I Ermengol I † |
Sulayman ibn al-Hakam |
| Strength | |
| 30,000 Saqaliba Rebels 9,000 Catalans |
Unknown |
The Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr (22 May 1010) was a battle of the Fitna of al-Andalus that took place in the area in and around Espiel, Spain. The battle took place between the Berber forces of the Caliphate of Cordoba, commanded by Sulayman ibn al-Hakam, against a Catalan-Andalusian alliance of 30,000 Andalusian Saqaliba rebels with 9,000 Catalan,[1] trying to overthrow their Caliph overlords under the command of Muhammad ibn Hisham; Wadih al-Siqlabi, governor of al-Tagr al-Awsat; and several West Frankish counts and bishops, including Ermengol I of Urgell who was killed during the fight,[2] Hugh I of Empúries, and Ramon Borrell of Barcelona.[3][4]
The two armies met at Espiel on 22 May 1010 and the forces of the Caliphate of Cordoba were decisively routed, marking one of the first battles of the war and a significant gain for the rebel Catalan-Andalusian alliance. Although this battle took place in the general time frame of the Spanish Reconquista, it was not unusual for Christian and Muslim forces to join together to achieve common goals.[5][6]
References
- Back to citation Ygua, Ruben (10 April 2025). THE CHURCH IN CHECK. Ruben Ygua; hispano - arabic poetry. Slatkine. 1970. p. 12; Kennedy, Hugh (11 June 2014). Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus. Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-317-87041-8.
- Back to citation Scales (8 April 2024). The Fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba: Berbers and Andalusis in Conflict. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-61082-8.
- Back to citation "Biografía de Wadih" (in Spanish).
- Back to citation Suárez Fernández, Luis (1976). Historia de España Antigua y Media. Volume 23 of Manuales Universitarios Rialp. Ediciones Rialp. p. 667. ISBN 8432118826.
- Back to citation hispano - arabic poetry. Slatkine. 1970. p. 12.
- Back to citation Kennedy, Hugh (11 June 2014). Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus. Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-317-87041-8.