The Battle of Palmela, which took place in 1165, was an armed encounter during the Reconquista between King Afonso I of Portugal and the Muslim governor of Badajoz, who was defeated at the time.
History
In 1158, the king of Portugal conquered the important port city of Alcácer do Sal and after this city fell into his hands, numerous other villages in the Alentejo surrendered or were conquered. All of these positions were reconquered by the Almohads after the Battle of Alcácer do Sal in 1161, except for Alcácer, which remained in Catholic hands.[1][2]
On February 21, 1165, Afonso I conquered the castle of Sesimbra after realizing that the fortification was poorly defended.[3][4]
The Almohad governor of Badajoz, the largest and most powerful Muslim city in the west of the peninsula, as soon as he learned of what had happened, left for the region to reconquer the castle with a large detachment of soldiers, including knights and pawns.[5] However, the Muslims advanced in poor order. Upon learning of the governor's approach, the Portuguese king took to the field and defeated him in battle near Palmela.[5] Following the battle, Palmela surrendered.[5]
In the same year of the conquest of Sesimbra, the battle of Palmela and the occupation of Palmela took place, Évora was also conquered by Gerald the Fearless.[6]
^Manuel Sílvio Alves Conde: Sesimbra, Sobre a Costa do Mar (Séculos XII-XIII) in ARQUIPÉLAGO • HISTÓRIA, 2ª série, VII (2003), p. 252.
^José Augusto Oliveria: "Vigiar o Tejo, Vigiar o Mar: A Definição dos Concelhos de Almada e Sesimbra" in Da Conquista de Lisboa à Conquista de Alcácer 1147-1217, Edições Colibri, 2019, p. 291.
^ abcSamuel A. Dunham: The History of Spain and Portugal, Volume 3, 1832, pp. 184.
^Samuel A. Dunham: The History of Spain and Portugal, Volume 3, 1832, pp. 184-185.
