Siege of Mahdia (1159–1160)

The siege of Mahdia was a seven month siege led by the Almohad Caliph Abd al-Mu’min against the Norman forces of King William I of Sicily.

Siege of Mahdia (1159–1160)
Date 1159–1160 Location Mahdia, Tunisia Result Almohad victory
Belligerents
Almohad Caliphate	Normans
Commanders and leaders
Abd al-Mu'min	William I of Sicily
Strength
100,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The people of Ifriqiya sought help from Abd al-Mu’min against Norman occupation.^[1] Abd al-Mu’min led a large army into Tunisia and took Tripoli, Sfax and other cities from the Normans.^[2] Abd al-Mu’min besieged Mahdia for seven months, eventually the Almohad navy defeated the Normans and Abd al-Mu’min negotiated with them which resulted in the Normans surrendering Mahdia thus ending Norman rule in Africa.^[3][2][1] Abd al-Mu’min was successful in establishing his authority over Ifriqiya.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Dictionary of World Biography: The Middle Ages Frank Northen Magill, Alison Aves
2. A History of the Crusades, Volume 2 Kenneth M. Setton Univ of Wisconsin Press
3. The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature ; the R.S. Peale Reprint, with New Maps and Original American Articles, Volume 23 Werner Company,