Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, medieval

Battle of Cape Espichel

Battle of Cape Espichel was a naval engagement fought in 1180 at Cabo Espichel, in what is now Portugal. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Cabo Espichel. It was part of the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula, which ran from 1172 to 1212. The recorded result: Portuguese victory. Recorded strength: 9 vessels against 10 galleys.

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Fought1180
WhereCabo Espichel, Portugal38.414N, 9.222W, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomePortuguese victory
BelligerentsKingdom of PortugalagainstAlmohad Caliphate
Casualties and lossesUnknownandSeveral galleys captured; Many dead
Part ofAlmohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula1172 to 1212

Where it sits in the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula

Battle of Palmela, 1165Battle of Fahs al-Jullab, 1165Siege of Santarém, 1171Battle of Calatrava, 1173Conquest of Cuenca, 1177Siege of Abrantes, 1179Capture of Coruche, 1180Battle of Cape Espichel, 1180Siege of Évora, 1181Battle of Silves, 1182Siege of Cáceres, 1184Siege of Santarém, 1184Siege of Silves, 1189Siege of Silves, 1190Siege of Tomar, 1190Siege of Alcácer do Sal, 1191Siege of Silves, 1191Battle of Alarcos, 1195Siege of Al-Dāmūs, 1210Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, 1212Fall of Ubeda, 121211651212Battle of Cape Espichel, 1180
22 placed engagements of the Almohad wars in the Iberian Peninsula in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1180 (year precision)
PlaceCabo Espichel, Portugal
38.414N, 9.222W
KindNaval engagement, medieval
Strength9 vessels10 galleys
Casualties and lossesUnknownSeveral galleys captured; Many dead
Battle of Cape EspichelBattle of Cape EspichelBattle of Sesimbra BayAction of 11 November 1779Siege of LisbonSiege of al-LixbûnâSiege of LisbonBattle of Sesimbra BayAction of 11 November 1779Siege of LisbonÉvoraBejaSantarém100 km38.414N, 9.222W
Placed at Cabo Espichel; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1180

Battle of Cape Espichel is one of 438 engagements of the 12th century in the atlas and one of 135 in present-day Portugal.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q124485717, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Cape Espichel, revision 1370436165, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.