Siege of Lleida (1149)
Part of the Reconquista and Second Crusade
DateSpring 1149 – 24 October 1149
Location
Lleida, Almoravid Emirate
Result Catalan victory
Belligerents
County of Barcelona
County of Urgell		 Almoravid Emirate
Commanders and leaders
Ramon Berenguer IV
Ermengol VI of Urgell		 Unknown
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

In the spring of 1149, Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona laid siege to the Almoravid city of Lleida. The city was captured on 24 October 1149.[1] Count Ermengol VI of Urgell also took part in the conquest.[2] Nicholas Breakspear, abbot of Saint-Ruf [fr] and the future Pope Adrian IV, was present at the siege.[3][4]

Although strategically significant, the capture of Lleida drew less attention than the siege of Tortosa the previous year, which involved international contingents as part of the Second Crusade.[5] At least one later source does, however, treat the 1149 siege as a crusade, attributing the victory "to the faith and worship of our Lord Jesus Christ".[6] No detailed contemporary account of the siege survives.[7]

In January 1150, Ramon Berenguer IV and Ermengol granted a municipal charter to Lleida.[8] Ramon Berenguer took the title marquis of Lleida and, acting as sovereign, granted the city to Ermengol in fief.[9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Jaspert 2001, p. 95.
  2. ^ Pascual Ramos 2000, p. 312.
  3. ^ Smith 2003, p. 36.
  4. ^ Constable 1953, p. 262.
  5. ^ Jaspert 2001, p. 96.
  6. ^ Jaspert 2001, p. 96 and n. 53, quoting Vones-Liebenstein 1996, p. 359: ad fidem et cultum Domini nostri Iesu Christi.
  7. ^ Constable 1953, p. 231.
  8. ^ Pascual Ramos 2000, p. 307.
  9. ^ Pascual Ramos 2000, p. 313.

Works cited

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Further reading

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