The siege of Tomar was a military engagement that took place in 1190 between the Almohad caliphate who attacked the town of Tomar in Portugal, and the Templar Order, who owned the settlement and successfully defended it from the Muslim attack.
The master of the Templars in Portugal was the formidable Dom Gualdim Pais, who had spent five years in the Holy Land and shortly after his return to Portugal, construction began on the castle of Tomar.[4] Tomar was founded by Pais in March 1, 1160 and became the headquarters of the Order in Portugal.[4][5] Pais brought innovation and particular attention was paid to the layout and construction of Tomar, as it was the first Templar castle designed as the Orders headquarters in Portugal.[4] It featured a number of military design innovations like a keep, an angled wall and was a clear departure from the typical Iberian castle and featured Muslim elements.[4]
After king Sancho I of Portugal captured the major city of Silves in south-western Iberia, the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur decided to undertake a number of vigorous campaigns against Portugal. Silves was besieged and a truce was signed with king Alfonso VIII of Castile, leaving al-Mansur free to advance through the Alentejo. Alcácer do Sal, Palmela, Almada, Abrantes were captured and moving north beyond the Tagus river, Torres Novas was captured.[6] The caliph then split his forces. and attacked both Tomar and Santarém at the same time. Some Almohads marched north and reached the walls of Coimbra, destroying Leiria along the way.[7]
The siegeedit
Tomar was then one of the strongest castles in Portugal.[7]
Dom Gualdim Pais conducted a sally with 300 knights against the Almohad army.[3] The Almohads managed to capture the main city gate, but were ultimately repulsed after such bloody combats that the gate became henceforth known as Porta do Sangue or "Blood Gate".[8] Some of the Templars conducted a raid on the Almohad camp through a secret underground tunnel.[6]
Meanwhile, a number of English and French crusader vessels called at Silves and Lisbon. Sancho was at Lisbon at the time and with the support of these reinforcements, the king rejected Yaqubs peace proposals, which involved relinquishing Silves, and marched out to relieve Santarém. Facing stronger resistance than expected, the caliph ordered a withdrawal of all his forces. The Muslims were only able to ravage the unfortified outer suburbs of Tomar.[7]
Walls of Tomar.
Aftermathedit
The Templars broke the impetus of the Almohad offensive.[9] The successful defense of Tomar confirmed the military prowess of the Templars and established the Order as an indispensable part of the defense of Portugal.[1] The relatively short action was since recounted in Templar annals as a great victory.[2] Afterwards, the Order rejoined the Portuguese efforts at recapturing territory from the Muslims more actively.[2]
^ abGeordie Torr: The Templars: The Legend and Legacy of the Warriors of God, Arcturus Publishing, 2020.
^ abcKurt Villads Jensen: Crusading at the Edges of Europe: Denmark and Portugal c.1000 – c.1250 Routledge, 2016.
^ abHamilton White: The Tomar Hoard, Dolman Scott Publishing,2021, p. 23.
^ abcdDiana Jean Muir: TEMPLARS Who were they? Where did they go?, vol 2, Lulu Publishing, 2019, pp. 169-170.
^Gordon Napier: [The Pocket A-Z of the Knights Templar: A Guide to Their History and Legacy], The History Press, 2014.
^ abJosé Armando Vizela Cardoso: Templários Em Tomar, Edições Vieira da Silva, 2020, p. 59.
^ abcH. V. Livermore: A History of Portugal, Cambridge University Press, 1947, p. 97.
^Estevão de Sousa: A Expansão de Portugal no Mundo e as Ordens Religiosas, Clube de Autores, 2020, p. 30.
^Michael Haag: Templars History and Myth: From Solomon's Temple to the Freemasons, 2010, p. 315.
March 15, 2024
siege, tomar, siege, tomar, military, engagement, that, took, place, 1190, between, almohad, caliphate, attacked, town, tomar, portugal, templar, order, owned, settlement, successfully, defended, from, muslim, attack, part, almohad, campaign, against, portugal. The siege of Tomar was a military engagement that took place in 1190 between the Almohad caliphate who attacked the town of Tomar in Portugal and the Templar Order who owned the settlement and successfully defended it from the Muslim attack Siege of TomarPart of Almohad campaign against Portugal 1190 1191 Citadel of TomarDate13 July 18 19 July 1190 1 2 LocationTomar PortugalResultKnights Templar victoryBelligerentsKingdom of Portugal TemplarsAlmohad CaliphateCommanders and leadersGualdim PaisYaqub al MansurStrength300 knights 12 000 men 3 Contents 1 Context 2 The siege 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 ReferencesContext editThe master of the Templars in Portugal was the formidable Dom Gualdim Pais who had spent five years in the Holy Land and shortly after his return to Portugal construction began on the castle of Tomar 4 Tomar was founded by Pais in March 1 1160 and became the headquarters of the Order in Portugal 4 5 Pais brought innovation and particular attention was paid to the layout and construction of Tomar as it was the first Templar castle designed as the Orders headquarters in Portugal 4 It featured a number of military design innovations like a keep an angled wall and was a clear departure from the typical Iberian castle and featured Muslim elements 4 After king Sancho I of Portugal captured the major city of Silves in south western Iberia the Almohad caliph Yaqub al Mansur decided to undertake a number of vigorous campaigns against Portugal Silves was besieged and a truce was signed with king Alfonso VIII of Castile leaving al Mansur free to advance through the Alentejo Alcacer do Sal Palmela Almada Abrantes were captured and moving north beyond the Tagus river Torres Novas was captured 6 The caliph then split his forces and attacked both Tomar and Santarem at the same time Some Almohads marched north and reached the walls of Coimbra destroying Leiria along the way 7 The siege editTomar was then one of the strongest castles in Portugal 7 Dom Gualdim Pais conducted a sally with 300 knights against the Almohad army 3 The Almohads managed to capture the main city gate but were ultimately repulsed after such bloody combats that the gate became henceforth known as Porta do Sangue or Blood Gate 8 Some of the Templars conducted a raid on the Almohad camp through a secret underground tunnel 6 Meanwhile a number of English and French crusader vessels called at Silves and Lisbon Sancho was at Lisbon at the time and with the support of these reinforcements the king rejected Yaqubs peace proposals which involved relinquishing Silves and marched out to relieve Santarem Facing stronger resistance than expected the caliph ordered a withdrawal of all his forces The Muslims were only able to ravage the unfortified outer suburbs of Tomar 7 nbsp Walls of Tomar Aftermath editThe Templars broke the impetus of the Almohad offensive 9 The successful defense of Tomar confirmed the military prowess of the Templars and established the Order as an indispensable part of the defense of Portugal 1 The relatively short action was since recounted in Templar annals as a great victory 2 Afterwards the Order rejoined the Portuguese efforts at recapturing territory from the Muslims more actively 2 See also editPortugal in the Reconquista Portuguese conquest of Lisbon Siege of Silves 1189 Siege of Santarem 1184 References edit a b Geordie Torr The Templars The Legend and Legacy of the Warriors of God Arcturus Publishing 2020 a b c Kurt Villads Jensen Crusading at the Edges of Europe Denmark and Portugal c 1000 c 1250 Routledge 2016 a b Hamilton White The Tomar Hoard Dolman Scott Publishing 2021 p 23 a b c d Diana Jean Muir TEMPLARS Who were they Where did they go vol 2 Lulu Publishing 2019 pp 169 170 Gordon Napier The Pocket A Z of the Knights Templar A Guide to Their History and Legacy The History Press 2014 a b Jose Armando Vizela Cardoso Templarios Em Tomar Edicoes Vieira da Silva 2020 p 59 a b c H V Livermore A History of Portugal Cambridge University Press 1947 p 97 Estevao de Sousa A Expansao de Portugal no Mundo e as Ordens Religiosas Clube de Autores 2020 p 30 Michael Haag Templars History and Myth From Solomon s Temple to the Freemasons 2010 p 315 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of Tomar amp oldid 1193312868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
